Audi A6
Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Shopping for your next executive sedan? It's quite likely that you'll have these two in mind.
Finished here in Mythos Black and new to our island, the Audi A6 is based on the firm's PPC platform (that is, short for Premium Platform Combustion) - it impressed us with its high refinement and cabin insulation when we first drove it just last month.
But it's not all sunny days ahead for the Audi, as it still must go up against one of Singapore's long favourites, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. Decked here for this comparison in High-Tech Silver, the E-Class has long been loved for its quality ride and eye-catching cabin.
So, which is now the better executive sedan?
You expect your executive sedan to reek of class and speak to your accomplishments. And neither of these cars disappoint.
But endowed with the benefit of being able to place these two right next to each other, I repeatedly find my eyes drawn to the Mercedes. Its front grille, made prominent thanks to the use of chrome, and the cleaner lines of its rear, give it a presence that is both elegant and regal.
Not that the Audi isn't a looker. Next to the E-Class, the A6 adopts a more aggressive stance. Its slim head lights and that unique profile of its boot lid give it a silhouette that smartly suggests forward motion. And those matrix lighting elements together with its distinctive taillight arrangement are appealingly futuristic and sure to elicit curious glances.
Think of it this way, if you will. Where the Mercedes is much like a traditional tailored suit, communicating aristocratic class with a clean form, the Audi stands more akin to the quarter zip jumpers that have recently become so popular amongst the nouveau riche of the tech and financial sectors.
And that tech-forward audience is likely to find much to like about the cabin of the A6. Dominated by gloss black plastic and sliver trim accent pieces, the cabin of the A6 looks and feels distinctly future-ready.
But it's more than just appearances at play here, for this space is also quite smartly designed. Navigating the smartphone-like tile-based menu system of Audi's 14.5-inch MMI touch display proves easy, and the fact that you get a view of the traffic around you on the car's 11.9-inch digital driver's cluster alongside a head-up display only serves to further elevate the sense of just how tech forward this space is.
The Mercedes-Benz E-Class counters all this with its visually impressive MBUX Superscreen, which combines a 14.4-inch central touchscreen and a 12.3-inch passenger display, so your front passenger can play the role of DJ or navigator on his/her own screen when you're on the go. And that open-pore maple wood centre console in the E-Class is both a visual and tactile treat.
If you find yourself more often in the back seat, you'll want to note that the Audi A6 comes with a four-zone climate system, while this 'Exclusive' trim E-Class does with a two-zone system. But the Mercedes does come with ventilated front seats.
Both cars score high for apparent build quality, but I must give additional points to the Audi for the fact that the leather/leatherette deployed on its seats and the leather on its steering wheel feel like they will better withstand wear.
Take the driver's seat, however, and the Audi A6 proves the more convincing sedan.
The E-Class may have long delivered when it comes to ride quality, but this Audi A6 comes impressively close, speaking volumes of the work done on the firm's new platform.
And it doesn't just offer a close match to the pliancy in the Mercedes. You get noticeably more eager turn-in, greater feedback via the steering wheel, and there's enough body control from its dampers that eager driving feels rewarding. I will also add that the cabin of the Audi A6 feels like the quieter place to sit in.
Not that the Mercedes doesn't offer its own set of unique skills. Where Audi's 2.0-litre unit is content to simply stay hushed, the engine in this E-Class offers up a pleasantly rorty soundtrack in its mid-ranges. I've also always been a fan of its steering column-mounted gear selector, which just makes multi-point turns so much easier. And the start/stop cycles from its engine are near impossible to detect from behind the wheel.
So, does this new Audi A6 have what it takes to dethrone the much-loved Mercedes E-Class?
There are arguments that one can line up in favour of the A6. That it offers a nearly as comfortable an experience as the Mercedes while still being entertaining to drive, where the E-Class is content to simply offer a detached drive, certainly points in favour of the Audi.
As does its lower asking price. At just $377,999 in this 'Advanced' trim, the A6 comes in at a significant discount against the $423,888 'Exclusive' trim E-Class (all prices as of press time, inclusive of COE).
But the Mercedes has its own draws: Its appealing exterior design, the irresistible boldness of its MBUX Superscreen, and the rich colours from its cabin ambient lighting system ensure the E-Class will be able to win over its own set of fans.
For the level-headed, these will not seem enough to justify that price difference. But I suspect Mercedes-Benz Singapore can get away with charging that premium simply because it knows many here will not be able to resist the appeal of driving a car with a three-pointed star up front.
And I don't fault them for doing so. I'd be having the single-breasted jacket in corduroy myself.
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BMW 520i M Sport vs Mercedes-Benz E200 AMG Line
