Compare the2026 Audi RS 6VS 2026 Mercedes AMG E-Class Wagon

Both the RS 6 and AMG E-Class Wagon have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The RS 6 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 AMG E-Class Wagon’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 Audi RS 6 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The AMG E-Class Wagon doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the RS 6 helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The AMG E-Class Wagon doesn’t offer a night vision system.

The RS 6’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the AMG E-Class Wagon.

The Audi RS 6’s rear backup camera has a standard washer for maintaining a clear view under various conditions. In contrast, the Mercedes AMG E-Class Wagon does not offer a rear camera washer, meaning its effectiveness relies on manual cleaning by the user when necessary.

Both the RS 6 and the AMG E-Class Wagon 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, around view monitors, driver alert monitors, available blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

The RS 6’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the AMG E-Class Wagon’s (12 vs. 5 years).

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2026 Auto Issue reports that Audi vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Audi 6 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

The RS 6’s 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 44 more horsepower (621 vs. 577) and 74 lbs.-ft. more torque (627 vs. 553) than the AMG E 53 HYBRID Wagon’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid. The RS 6’s 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 17 more horsepower (621 vs. 604) and 74 lbs.-ft. more torque (627 vs. 553) than the AMG E 53 HYBRID Wagon’s optional 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid.

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the RS 6’s fuel efficiency. The AMG E-Class Wagon doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The RS 6 has 3.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the AMG E-Class Wagon (19.3 vs. 15.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

For better stopping power the RS 6’s brake rotors are larger than those on the AMG E-Class Wagon:

The RS 6 offers optional heat-treated ceramic brake rotors, which last ten to twenty times as long as conventional cast iron rotors, don’t rust, don’t fade during repeated high speed braking, and their lighter weight contribute to better braking, handling and acceleration. The AMG E-Class Wagon doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

For better traction, the RS 6 has larger standard tires than the AMG E-Class Wagon (275/35R21 vs. 265/40R20). The RS 6’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the AMG E-Class Wagon (285/30R22 vs. 265/40R20).

The RS 6’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the AMG E-Class Wagon’s standard 40 series front tires. The RS 6’s optional tires have a lower 30 series profile than the AMG E-Class Wagon’s optional 35 series front tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the RS 6 has standard 21-inch wheels. Smaller 20-inch wheels are standard on the AMG E-Class Wagon. The RS 6’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 21-inch wheels optional on the AMG E-Class Wagon.

The front and rear suspension of the RS 6 uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the AMG E-Class Wagon, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The RS 6 has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The RS 6’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The AMG E-Class Wagon doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the RS 6 is .8 inches wider in the front and 1.7 inches wider in the rear than on the AMG E-Class Wagon.

For better maneuverability, the RS 6’s turning circle is 1.4 feet tighter than the AMG E-Class Wagon’s (39.7 feet vs. 41.1 feet).

The Audi RS 6 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 200 pounds less than the Mercedes AMG E-Class Wagon.

The RS 6 has .8 inches more front headroom, 1.3 inches more rear headroom and 1.3 inches more rear legroom than the AMG E-Class Wagon.

The RS 6 Avant has a larger trunk with its rear seat folded than the AMG E-Class Wagon with its rear seat folded (69.5 vs. 64.6 cubic feet).

The RS 6’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The AMG E-Class Wagon does not have an oil pressure gauge.

Laser headlights, standard on the RS 6, produce their light by firing blue lasers through phosphorus, a process that uses one-half the power of the AMG E-Class Wagon’s LED headlights. Laser headlights can have double the range of LEDs with a much smaller surface area.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The RS 6 has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The AMG E-Class Wagon doesn’t offer headlight washers.