Compare the2026 Mercedes AMG E-Class SedanVS 2025 Audi S6

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the AMG E-Class Sedan are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The S6 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The AMG E-Class Sedan has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The S6 doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Mercedes AMG E-Class Sedan achieved a “Acceptable” rating - the second highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Audi S6 has not been tested.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The AMG E-Class Sedan has a standard Maneuvering Brake Function that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The S6 doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

The AMG E-Class Sedan has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. A system to reveal vehicles in the S6’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the AMG E-Class Sedan has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Alert and Active Brake Assist automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Audi charges extra for Rear Cross-Traffic Assist on the S6.

Both the AMG E-Class Sedan and the S6 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, 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, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors and available lane departure warning systems.

There are over 25 percent more Mercedes dealers than there are Audi dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the AMG E-Class Sedan’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the AMG E-Class Sedan second among upper midsize premium cars in their 2025 Initial Quality Study. The S6 isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Mercedes vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. With 59 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mercedes higher than Audi.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Mercedes vehicles are more reliable than Audi With 30 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Mercedes higher than Audi.

The AMG E 53 HYBRID Sedan’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 133 more horsepower (577 vs. 444) and 111 lbs.-ft. more torque (553 vs. 442) than the S6’s 2.9 turbo V6 hybrid. The AMG E 53 HYBRID Sedan’s optional 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 160 more horsepower (604 vs. 444) and 111 lbs.-ft. more torque (553 vs. 442) than the S6’s 2.9 turbo V6 hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the AMG E 53 HYBRID Sedan is faster than the Audi S6:

On the EPA test cycle the AMG E 53 HYBRID Sedan running on electricity gets better mileage than the S6 (55 city/68 hwy MPGe vs. 19 city/27 hwy).

On the EPA test cycle the AMG E 53 HYBRID Sedan 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder Hybrid running its gasoline engine gets better fuel mileage than the S6 (22 city/27 hwy vs. 19 city/27 hwy).

The AMG E 53 HYBRID Sedan can travel with zero emissions for 43 miles. The S6 can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Mercedes AMG E-Class Sedan higher (6 out of 10) than the Audi S6 (4). This means the AMG E-Class Sedan produces up to 12.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the S6 every 15,000 miles.

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Mercedes AMG E-Class Sedan, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the S6.

The AMG E-Class Sedan’s optional launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The S6 doesn’t offer launch control.

The AMG E-Class Sedan stops shorter than the S6:

For better traction, the AMG E-Class Sedan has larger tires than the S6 (F:265/40R20 & R:295/35R20 vs. 255/35R21).

The AMG E-Class Sedan’s optional 295/30R21 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 30 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the S6’s 35 series tires.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the AMG E-Class Sedan’s wheelbase is 1.3 inches longer than on the S6 (116.6 inches vs. 115.3 inches).

The AMG E 53 HYBRID Sedan handles at .93 G’s, while the S6 Prestige pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The AMG E 53 HYBRID Sedan executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.9 seconds quicker than the S6 Prestige (24.1 seconds @ .84 average G’s vs. 26 seconds @ 74 average G’s).

The Mercedes AMG E-Class Sedan may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 pounds less than the Audi S6.

The AMG E-Class Sedan has .2 inches more front legroom and .6 inches more rear shoulder room than the S6.

Pressing a switch automatically lowers the AMG E-Class Sedan’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The S6 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Mercedes AMG E-Class has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the S6.

The Mercedes AMG E-Class comes in sedan and station wagon bodystyles; the Audi S6 isn’t available as a station wagon.

Motor Trend selected the AMG E-Class Sedan as their 2025 Car of the Year. The S6 has never been chosen.

The Mercedes E-Class outsold the Audi A6/S6/RS 6 by 82% during 2024.