Compare the2026 Mercedes AMG E-Class SedanVS 2025 Audi RS 5 Sportback

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the AMG E-Class Sedan are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The RS 5 Sportback doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The AMG E-Class Sedan has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The RS 5 Sportback doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Mercedes AMG E-Class Sedan achieved a “Acceptable” rating - the second highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Audi RS 5 Sportback has not been tested.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The AMG E-Class Sedan has a standard Maneuvering Brake Function that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The RS 5 Sportback doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

Earlier warning of stopped traffic, traffic signals, dangerous road conditions, weather, or accidents, can keep driver's safer and prevent crashes. The AMG E-Class Sedan has Car-to-X Communication, a system that seamlessly communicates important warnings to the driver about impending danger, if they're available. The RS 5 Sportback doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from infrastructure or other vehicles.

The AMG E-Class Sedan has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. A system to reveal vehicles in the RS 5 Sportback’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the AMG E-Class Sedan has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Alert and Active Brake Assist automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Audi charges extra for Rear Cross-Traffic Assist on the RS 5 Sportback.

The AMG E-Class Sedan’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The RS 5 Sportback doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the AMG E-Class Sedan and the RS 5 Sportback 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, rearview cameras and available lane departure warning systems.

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

J.D. Power and Associates rated the AMG E-Class Sedan second among upper midsize premium cars in their 2025 Initial Quality Study. The RS 5 Sportback 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 AMG E 53 HYBRID Sedan’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 133 more horsepower (577 vs. 444) and 111 lbs.-ft. more torque (553 vs. 442) than the RS 5 Sportback’s 2.9 turbo V6. The AMG E 53 HYBRID Sedan’s optional 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 160 more horsepower (604 vs. 444) and 111 lbs.-ft. more torque (553 vs. 442) than the RS 5 Sportback’s 2.9 turbo V6.

As tested in Car and Driver the AMG E 53 HYBRID Sedan is faster than the Audi RS 5 Sportback:

On the EPA test cycle the AMG E 53 HYBRID Sedan running on electricity gets better mileage than the RS 5 Sportback (55 city/68 hwy MPGe vs. 18 city/25 hwy).

On the EPA test cycle the AMG E 53 HYBRID Sedan 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder Hybrid running its gasoline engine gets better fuel mileage than the RS 5 Sportback (22 city/27 hwy vs. 18 city/25 hwy).

The AMG E 53 HYBRID Sedan can travel with zero emissions for 43 miles. The RS 5 Sportback can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Mercedes AMG E-Class Sedan higher (6 out of 10) than the Audi RS 5 Sportback (4). This means the AMG E-Class Sedan produces up to 12.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the RS 5 Sportback every 15,000 miles.

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Mercedes AMG E-Class Sedan, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the RS 5 Sportback.

The AMG E-Class Sedan’s optional launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The RS 5 Sportback doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the AMG E-Class Sedan Dynamic PLUS’ brake rotors are larger than those on the RS 5 Sportback:

For better traction and acceleration, the AMG E-Class Sedan has larger rear tires than the RS 5 Sportback (295/35R20 vs. 265/35R19). The AMG E-Class Sedan’s rear tires are larger than the largest rear tires available on the RS 5 Sportback (295/35R20 vs. 275/30R20).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the AMG E-Class Sedan has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the RS 5 Sportback. The AMG E-Class Sedan’s optional 21-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the RS 5 Sportback.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the AMG E-Class Sedan’s wheelbase is 5.3 inches longer than on the RS 5 Sportback (116.6 inches vs. 111.3 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the AMG E-Class Sedan is 1.2 inches wider in the front and 2.2 inches wider in the rear than on the RS 5 Sportback.

The AMG E-Class Sedan has 9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the RS 5 Sportback (100 vs. 91).

The AMG E-Class Sedan has .5 inches more front legroom, 2.1 inches more front shoulder room, .6 inches more rear headroom, 1.1 inches more rear legroom and 2.6 inches more rear shoulder room than the RS 5 Sportback.

Pressing a switch automatically lowers the AMG E-Class Sedan’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The RS 5 Sportback doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

With its sedan body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the AMG E-Class offers cargo security. The RS 5 Sportback’s hatchback body style defeats cargo security.

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the RS 5 Sportback, the AMG 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, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The AMG E-Class Sedan’s standard easy entry and exit feature raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The RS 5 Sportback doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The AMG E-Class Sedan’s standard power windows have a locking feature to keep children in the rear seat from operating them, but the driver can still raise and lower all of them with the lock engaged. Audi does not offer a locking feature on the RS 5 Sportback’s standard power windows.

The AMG E-Class Sedan’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The RS 5 Sportback’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The RS 5 Sportback’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The AMG E-Class Sedan’s optional adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

A power rear sunshade and manual rear side window sunshades are optional in the AMG E-Class Sedan to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The RS 5 Sportback doesn’t offer a rear or rear side window sunshades.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the AMG E-Class Sedan keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The RS 5 Sportback doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The AMG 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 RS 5 Sportback’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park and it doesn’t offer remote control parking.

The Mercedes AMG E-Class comes in sedan and station wagon bodystyles; the Audi RS 5 Sportback isn’t available as a station wagon.

Motor Trend selected the AMG E-Class Sedan as their 2025 Car of the Year. The RS 5 Sportback has never been chosen.