Compare the2026 Mercedes AMG E-Class SedanVS 2025 Audi S5

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 S5 doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

Both the AMG E-Class Sedan and the S5 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available 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 AMG E-Class Sedan is safer than the S5:

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 S5 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 215 more horsepower (577 vs. 362) and 147 lbs.-ft. more torque (553 vs. 406) than the S5’s 3.0 turbo V6. The AMG E 53 HYBRID Sedan’s optional 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 242 more horsepower (604 vs. 362) and 147 lbs.-ft. more torque (553 vs. 406) than the S5’s 3.0 turbo V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the AMG E 53 HYBRID Sedan is faster than the Audi S5:

On the EPA test cycle the AMG E 53 HYBRID Sedan running on electricity gets better mileage than the S5 (55 city/68 hwy MPGe vs. 19 city/28 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 S5 (22 city/27 hwy vs. 19 city/28 hwy).

The AMG E 53 HYBRID Sedan can travel with zero emissions for 43 miles. The S5 can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the AMG E-Class Sedan’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The S5 doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The AMG E-Class Sedan has 1.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the S5 (15.9 vs. 14.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

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 S5 (4). This means the AMG E-Class Sedan produces up to 12.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the S5 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 a seven-speed automatic is available for the S5.

For better stopping power the AMG E-Class Sedan’s brake rotors are larger than those on the S5:

The AMG E-Class Sedan stops shorter than the S5:

For better traction, the AMG E-Class Sedan has larger tires than the S5 (F:265/40R20 & R:295/35R20 vs. 245/40R19).

The AMG E-Class Sedan’s standard 295/35R20 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the S5’s standard 40 series tires. The AMG E-Class Sedan’s optional 295/30R21 rear tires have a lower 30 series profile than the S5’s optional 35 series tires.

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 S5. The AMG E-Class Sedan’s optional 21-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the S5.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the AMG E-Class Sedan’s wheelbase is 2.6 inches longer than on the S5 (116.6 inches vs. 114 inches).

The AMG E 53 HYBRID Sedan executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the S5 (24.1 seconds @ .84 average G’s vs. 24.7 seconds @ .8 average G’s).

The AMG E-Class Sedan has .5 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 S5.

Pressing a switch automatically lowers the AMG E-Class Sedan’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The S5 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 S5’s hatchback body style and non-lockable folding seat defeat cargo security.

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors in the S5, 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.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the AMG E-Class Sedan to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The S5 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the AMG E-Class Sedan offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The S5 doesn’t offer cornering lights. The AMG 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 AMG E-Class Sedan to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The S5 doesn’t offer a rear sunshade.

The AMG E-Class Sedan has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the car heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the S5.

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 S5 Premium Plus/Prestige’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

Motor Trend selected the AMG E-Class Sedan as their 2025 Car of the Year. The S5 has never been chosen.