Audi A6 vs Mercedes-Benz E-Class

The Audi A6 starts from $123,600 before on-road costs, while the Mercedes-Benz E-Class opens at $105,900. That makes the Mercedes-Benz E-Class the more affordable entry point by $17,700.

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 $116,490 respectively.

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

ANCAP safety ratings have not been published for both models yet. We will update this section when crash test results are available.

The Audi A6 features a 10.1-inch touchscreen, while the Mercedes-Benz E-Class gets a 14.4-inch display and 12.3-inch instruments. 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 — features our data doesn't list for the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

Interior trim differs: the Audi A6 gets leather upholstery while the Mercedes-Benz E-Class offers synthetic leather. Climate control is 3-zone in the Audi A6 and 2-zone in the Mercedes-Benz E-Class.

The Audi A6 uses a Diesel 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 E-Class responds with a Petrol making 150kW and 320Nm, paired to a automatic driving the rear wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 8.3 seconds.

The Audi A6 has the clear power advantage at 210kW vs 150kW. In the 0-100 sprint (manufacturer-claimed), the Audi A6 is 2.7s 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, 10mm shorter than the Mercedes-Benz E-Class at 4,949mm (2,961mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Mercedes-Benz E-Class generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 530L in the Audi A6 and 540L in the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, giving the Mercedes-Benz E-Class a 10L advantage.

For towing, the Audi A6 leads with a 2,500kg braked capacity vs 2,100kg. That 400kg 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 $2,052/year for the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. That is a $85 annual difference in favour of the Audi A6.

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