Compare the2025 Audi S8VS 2025 Mercedes AMG E-Class Sedan

Both the S8 and AMG E-Class Sedan 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 E-Class Sedan’s 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 E-Class Sedan doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The S8 has a standard Secondary Collision Brake Assist, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The AMG E-Class Sedan doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

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 E-Class Sedan doesn’t offer a night vision system.

The S8’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the AMG E-Class Sedan.

Both the S8 and the AMG E-Class Sedan 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, daytime running lights, around view monitors, available blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

The Audi S8 weighs 882 pounds more than the Mercedes AMG E-Class Sedan. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The S8’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the AMG E-Class Sedan’s (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’s 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 37 lbs.-ft. more torque (590 vs. 553) than the AMG E 53 HYBRID Sedan’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid. The S8’s 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 37 lbs.-ft. more torque (590 vs. 553) than the AMG E 53 HYBRID Sedan’s optional 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid.

The S8 has 4.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the AMG E-Class Sedan (21.7 vs. 17.4 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

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

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 E-Class Sedan’s standard 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 E-Class Sedan.

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 E-Class Sedan; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

The front and rear suspension of the S8 uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the AMG E-Class Sedan, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The S8 has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The S8’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The AMG E-Class Sedan doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the S8’s wheelbase is 6.6 inches longer than on the AMG E-Class Sedan (123.2 inches vs. 116.6 inches).

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 E-Class Sedan doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the S8 a Large car, while the AMG E-Class Sedan is rated a Mid-size.

The S8 has 11 cubic feet more passenger volume than the AMG E-Class Sedan (111 vs. 100).

The S8 has 1 inch more front headroom, 1.3 inches more front shoulder room, .9 inches more rear headroom, 8.1 inches more rear legroom and .5 inches more rear shoulder room than the AMG E-Class Sedan.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the S8’s available rear seats recline. The AMG E-Class Sedan’s rear seats don’t recline.

The S8 has standard front air conditioned seats and offers them optionally in the rear. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The AMG E-Class Sedan doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats in the rear.

The S8 has standard massaging front seats. Massaging front seats cost extra on the AMG E-Class Sedan. The S8 also offers optional massaging rear seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging rear seats aren’t available in the AMG E-Class Sedan.

The S8 offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The AMG E-Class Sedan doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.