Compare the2026 Mercedes E-Class SedanVS 2025 Audi A5

Both the E-Class Sedan and the A5 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, front seat center airbag, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and lane departure warning systems.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Mercedes E-Class Sedan is safer than the A5:

There are over 25 percent more Mercedes dealers than there are Audi dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the E-Class Sedan’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the E-Class Sedan second among upper midsize premium cars in their 2025 Initial Quality Study. The A5 isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Mercedes vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. With 59 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mercedes higher than Audi.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Mercedes vehicles are more reliable than Audi With 30 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Mercedes higher than Audi.

The E 450 Sedan’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 107 more horsepower (375 vs. 268) and 74 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 295) than the A5’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the E 450 Sedan 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Audi A5:

On the EPA test cycle the E-Class Sedan gets better mileage than the A5:

The E-Class Sedan has 2.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the A5 (17.4 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Mercedes E-Class Sedan higher (6 to 7 out of 10) than the Audi A5 (4). This means the E-Class Sedan produces up to 13.2 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the A5 every 15,000 miles.

The EPA certifies the Mercedes E-Class Sedan as a “Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle” (SULEV). The Audi A5 is only certified to “Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle” (ULEV) standards.

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Mercedes E-Class Sedan, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the A5.

For better stopping power the E-Class Sedan’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the A5:

The E-Class Sedan stops much shorter than the A5:

The E-Class Sedan’s 245/35R21 front and 275/30R21 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the A5’s optional 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the E-Class Sedan has standard 21-inch wheels. The A5’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

The E-Class Sedan offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The A5’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The E-Class Sedan has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The E-Class Sedan’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 A5 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The E-Class Sedan’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The A5 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the E-Class Sedan’s wheelbase is 2.8 inches longer than on the A5 (116.6 inches vs. 113.8 inches).

The E-Class Sedan’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (54% to 46%) than the A5’s (56% to 44%). This gives the E-Class Sedan more stable handling and braking.

The E 450 Sedan handles at .89 G’s, while the A5 pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The E 450 Sedan executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the A5 (25.8 seconds @ .73 average G’s vs. 26.4 seconds @ .69 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the E 350 Sedan’s turning circle is 1.6 feet tighter than the A5’s (38.1 feet vs. 39.7 feet). The E-Class Sedan 4MATIC’s turning circle is .3 feet tighter than the A5’s (39.4 feet vs. 39.7 feet).

The E-Class Sedan has .2 inches more front legroom, .5 inches more front shoulder room, .4 inches more rear headroom, .1 inches more rear legroom and 2 inches more rear shoulder room than the A5.

Pressing a switch automatically lowers the E-Class Sedan’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The A5 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

With its sedan body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the E-Class offers cargo security. The A5’s hatchback body style and non-lockable folding seat defeat cargo security.

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors in the A5, the E-Class Sedan has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are optional on the E-Class Sedan to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The A5 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the E-Class Sedan offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The A5 doesn’t offer cornering lights. The E-Class Sedan also offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

A power rear sunshade and manual rear side window sunshades are optional in the E-Class Sedan to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The A5 doesn’t offer a rear sunshade.

The E-Class Sedan offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the A5.

The E-Class Sedan’s Active Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Parking Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The A5 Premium Plus/Prestige’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

The E-Class Sedan is available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The A5 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Mercedes E-Class Sedan, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The E450 was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2025 and 2 more times in the last 9 years. The A5 has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

Motor Trend selected the E-Class Sedan as their 2025 Car of the Year. The A5 has never been chosen.