Audi A6 vs Mercedes-Benz C-Class

The Audi A6 starts from $123,600 before on-road costs, while the Mercedes-Benz C-Class opens at $76,900. That makes the Mercedes-Benz C-Class the more affordable entry point by $46,700.

Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $135,960 and $84,590 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs are nearly identical since both have similar efficiency.

Both the Audi A6 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 92% for the Audi A6 and 91% for the Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. The Audi A6 packs more ADAS features with 8 out of 10 key systems fitted, compared to 6 in the Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 7 in the Audi A6 and 9 in the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. The Audi A6 adds a 360-degree camera that the Mercedes-Benz C-Class misses.

The Audi A6 features a 10.1-inch touchscreen, while the Mercedes-Benz C-Class gets a 11.9-inch display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Audi A6 stands out with heated front seats, ventilated seats, power tailgate and Bang & Olufsen audio that you will not find on the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

The Audi A6 uses a Diesel MHEV producing 210kW and 620Nm of torque, sent through a automatic to a AWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 5.6 seconds.

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class responds with a Petrol making 150kW and 300Nm, paired to a automatic driving the rear wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 7.8 seconds.

The Audi A6 has the clear power advantage at 210kW vs 150kW. In the real-world sprint, the Audi A6 is 2.2s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Audi A6 measures 4,939mm long on a 2,924mm wheelbase, 188mm longer than the Mercedes-Benz C-Class at 4,751mm (2,865mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Audi A6 generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 530L in the Audi A6 and 455L in the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, giving the Audi A6 a 75L advantage.

For towing, the Audi A6 leads with a 2,500kg braked capacity vs 1,800kg. That 700kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $1,967/year for the Audi A6 and $1,910/year for the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. That is a $57 annual difference in favour of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

Estimated annual total: $1,967 (Audi A6) vs $1,910 (Mercedes-Benz C-Class). The Mercedes-Benz C-Class saves you roughly $57 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

Warranty: 5 years / 999,999km (Audi A6) vs 5 years / 999,999km (Mercedes-Benz C-Class). Both match on warranty length.