Audi A6 vs Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Audi A6

Audi’s executive saloon.

Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Mercedes' executive sedan on the MRA platform.

First car

Second car

Pick this one if…

Audi A6

Pick the A6 for quattro, the 530-litre boot and the frugal 2.0 TDI — but the climate controls are touchscreen-only.

Best engine: The mid-range 2.0 TDI diesel for the best balance of economy and torque — or the 2.0 TFSI petrol.

Read the full guide

Pick this one if…

Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Pick the E-Class for space, comfort and efficient engines in a premium executive sedan.

Best engine: The E 220 d (diesel) or E 200 (petrol) — the sweet spot.

Read the full guide

Performance

EA888 45 TFSI · Petrol vs M274 E 200 · Petrol

	Audi A6	Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Power	245 hp Winner	184 hp
Torque	370 Nm Winner	300 Nm
0–100 km/h	6,0 s Winner	7,7 s
Top speed	250 km/h Winner	240 km/h
Power-to-weight	148,5 hp/t Winner	114,6 hp/t
CO₂ emissions (WLTP)	160 g/km	138 g/km Winner
Consumption (WLTP)	7,1 L/100km	5,9 L/100km Winner

Dimensions & space

	Audi A6	Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Boot	530 L	540 L Winner
Boot (seats folded)	—	—
Wheelbase	2,92 m	2,94 m Winner
Length	4,94 m	4,92 m
Width	1,89 m	1,85 m
Height	1,46 m	1,47 m
Seats	5	5

Powertrain & tech

	Audi A6	Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Platform	MLB Evo (longitudinal)	MRA (rear-wheel-drive base, shared with the C-Class W205)
Drive	Front-wheel drive · All-wheel drive	Rear-wheel drive · All-wheel drive
Engine family	EA888 petrol · EA288 diesel · plug-in hybrid	M274/M264 petrol · OM654 diesel · plug-in hybrid
Fuel	Petrol · Diesel · Plug-in hybrid	Petrol · Diesel · Plug-in hybrid
Transmission	7-speed S tronic (DSG)	9G-TRONIC automatic
Euro standard	Euro 6d-TEMP (early) · Euro 6d (later)	Euro 6d-TEMP (early) · Euro 6d (later)
LEZ access	Euro 6 diesel allowed in the LEZ (Brussels/Antwerp/Ghent)	Euro 6 diesel allowed in the LEZ (Brussels/Antwerp/Ghent)

Reliability & watch-outs

Known issues

Audi A6

S tronic (DSG) mechatronics are the best-known weak point, especially on diesels
EA288 diesels: AdBlue/SCR needs attention with mainly short trips
Direct-injection TFSI petrols: carbon buildup with lots of short trips

Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Early OM654 diesel: rocker arm / camshaft concerns
9G-TRONIC: fluid changes recommended earlier than official intervals
AIRMATIC air suspension can leak at high mileage
Electronics/software: MBUX and driver-aid glitches (mostly fixed via updates)

Pros

Audi A6

quattro optional — standard on the 3.0-litre engines
530-litre boot
48V mild-hybrid standard on most engines

Mercedes-Benz E-Class

540 L boot (Estate: 640–670 L) — roomy for an executive sedan
Efficient OM654 2.0 diesel (E 220 d: 194 hp / 400 Nm, ~4.6 L/100 km)
MRA rear-wheel-drive platform with optional 4MATIC
E 300 e PHEV: 320 hp system output and 700 Nm, company-car friendly

Cons

Audi A6

Touchscreen-only climate controls (no physical buttons)
S tronic/tiptronic only — no manual gearbox

Mercedes-Benz E-Class

OM654 diesel: AdBlue/DPF watch-points with lots of short trips
PHEV (E 300 e) shrinks boot space
Complex electronics and air suspension need dealer maintenance

Driving experience

Audi A6

As a model line, the A6 steers accurately with light, consistent weighting and stays quiet at motorway speeds. Front-drive versions feel light and easy; quattro adds strong traction out of corners (standard on 3.0-litre engines, optional on 2.0-litre models). The 2.0 TDI is strong and frugal, the 45 TFSI is smooth, and the 3.0 TFSI is genuinely quick. The S tronic shifts quickly. It is tuned for comfort over sharp handling.