Compare the2025 Audi S8VS 2025 Mercedes AMG S-Class

Both the S8 and AMG S-Class have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The S8 has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The AMG S-Class’ child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

The Audi S8 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The AMG S-Class doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the S8 helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard and even aims one of the vehicle’s headlights in the direction of the person or object. The AMG S-Class doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the S8 and the AMG S-Class have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, front seat center airbag, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, around view monitors, available blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

The S8’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the AMG S-Class’ (12 vs. 5 years).

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Audi vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Audi 10 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

The S8 has 1.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the AMG S-Class (21.7 vs. 20.1 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

For better stopping power the S8’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the AMG S-Class:

For better traction, the S8 has larger tires than the AMG S-Class (265/35R21 vs. 255/45R20).

The S8’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the AMG S-Class’ standard 45 series front and 40 series rear tires. The S8’s tires are lower profile than the AMG S-Class’ optional 40 series front tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the S8 has standard 21-inch wheels. Smaller 20-inch wheels are standard on the AMG S-Class.

The S8 has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the AMG S-Class; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

For better maneuverability, the S8’s turning circle is 1.7 feet tighter than the AMG S-Class’ (38.7 feet vs. 40.4 feet).

The Audi S8 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 600 pounds less than the Mercedes AMG S-Class.

The S8 uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The AMG S-Class doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The S8 has .1 inches more front legroom and .5 inches more rear legroom than the AMG S-Class.

The S8 has a much larger trunk than the AMG S-Class (12.5 vs. 10.7 cubic feet).

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the S8 has standard extendable sun visors. The AMG S-Class doesn’t offer extendable visors.