Pecheles Automotive Compares 2018 Audi A6 VS 2018 Mercedes E-Class Near Washington, NC

Both the A6 and E-Class Sedan have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The A6 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 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 A6 has a standard Audi Backguard System, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Audi Backguard System moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The E-Class Sedan doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The A6 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 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.

An active infrared night vision system optional on the A6 Prestige helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera and near-infrared lights to detect heat, the system then projects the image on the windshield, near the driver’s line of sight. The E-Class Sedan doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the A6 and the E-Class Sedan have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available all-wheel drive, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems and around view monitors.

The A6’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the E-Class Sedan’s (12 vs. 5 years).

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2016 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Audi vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Audi 11th in reliability, above the industry average. With 1 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is ranked 12th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ April 2017 Auto Issue reports that Audi vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Audi fourth in reliability. Mercedes is ranked 17th.

As tested in Motor Trend the A6 2.0T 2.0 turbo 4 cyl. is faster than the E 300 Sedan 2.0 turbo 4 cyl.:

On the EPA test cycle the A6 gets better fuel mileage than the E-Class Sedan:

The A6 has 2.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the E-Class Sedan 300/400’s standard fuel tank (19.8 vs. 17.4 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The A6 stops shorter than the E-Class Sedan:

For better traction, the A6’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the E-Class Sedan (255/40R19 vs. 245/40R19).

The A6’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the E-Class Sedan’s optional 40 series front tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the A6 offers optional 20-inch wheels. The E-Class Sedan’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

The A6 3.0T Premium Plus Quattro handles at .95 G’s, while the E 300 Sedan pulls only .90 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The A6 3.0T Premium Plus Quattro executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the E 300 Sedan (25.1 seconds @ .74 average G’s vs. 25.8 seconds @ .7 average G’s).

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the A6 3.0T Competition Quattro is quieter than the E 300 Sedan 4MATIC:

The A6 has a larger trunk than the E-Class Sedan (14.1 vs. 13.1 cubic feet).

The A6 has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats cost extra on the E-Class Sedan. The A6 also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the E-Class Sedan.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Audi A6, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The A6 was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 5 of the last 18 years. The E-Class has never been a Car and Driver “Top Ten” pick.