Premium comparison: New Audi A6 vs. BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E Class

The new premium limousine from Ingolstadt is ready and calls for battle the 5 Series and the Mercedes E class.

With the release of the new Audi A6 on the begging of 2011, the German premium trio of upper middle class is now complete - we are talking here about the sedans because the Avant Audi A6 will have to wait until the Frankfurt Motor Show in autumn 2011.

When it comes to the big show, the new Audi A6 is already a step ahead. With a total length of 4.92 meters the new A6 dominates both the E-class (4.87 meters) and the BMW 5 Series (4.90 meters). Even with the width of the A6 lies in front with 1.87 to 1.85 and 1.86 meters. When it comes to the height - well here is a similarity - all of them are around 1.46 meters. When it comes to the wheelbase the 5 series is the king - with it’s 2.97 meter, the 5 series has the largest wheelbase - Audi (2.91 meters) and Mercedes (2.87 meters).
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dotuno - 12/8/2010 10:52:22 AM

+2 Boost

Boy, does that Mercedes look ugly and dated compared to the other two! I'm not sure who at Mercedes decided that they go with a boxy theme on their cars, but it was a wrong move. Different alright, but wrong.

Agent63 - 12/8/2010 2:38:29 PM

+1 Boost

The E-Class has always been more about class than above and beyond designs that are evolutionary. The previous E-Class was one of the best looking in its class IMO in terms of luxury and class. The current one has set the same bar for itself.

Talk about dated, the Lexus GS is not even updated yet. Of course knowing Lexus they will come out with a bang or something. The whole Toyota bandwagon is losing sales and I don't know if they are aware of the importance of this segment for them. The entry-level to mid-size luxury segments are huge for all of these brands.

kablaam - 12/9/2010 10:59:04 AM

+3 Boost

IMO, while not a fan of lexus designs of vehicles, the GS, even being 6 years old, still looks pretty modern and meshes well with the other boys.

The A6 does look pretty good though. kudos.

theoptimisticpessimist - 12/8/2010 2:05:22 PM

+3 Boost

Perhaps you mean the Lexus GS, oh wait nobody considers it, because it is the most antiquated, least competitive, and worst seller in the class.

theoptimisticpessimist - 12/8/2010 10:22:40 PM

+1 Boost

"Random, out of nowhere Lexus slam"

So you havn't read any of sportbike80 previous post.

spiritfilled - 12/8/2010 11:13:08 AM

+6 Boost

Strongly disagree with you dotuno. I don't like any of these cars on internet pics, but in real life, they all look good though I can't speak for the Audi since I haven't seen it yet. I hated the front of the new 5 when I first saw it in pics but on the road it's something else, it looks great. Same for the new E, didn't like the pics, but it looks very elegant and clean on the road. Audi's always look good, clean and never a line out of place, but their models look too similar (A4,A6,A8,A7). These internet pics never do the cars justice, even the ones that look good on the web.

Willis - 12/8/2010 11:17:56 AM

+15 Boost

Audi fan: The Audi looks the best!
BMW fan: The BMW hands down!
Mercedes fan: The Benz of course!
Lexus fan: The Lexus is more reliable so therefore it looks the best!!!

Steve - 12/8/2010 11:55:26 AM

+2 Boost

Classic! +1

uaw_lax - 12/8/2010 12:08:00 PM

+6 Boost

What ever happened to jaguar being in these comparisons?

c36amg - 12/8/2010 1:27:13 PM

+3 Boost

1- E CLASS
2- BMW
3- Audi
4- JAG XF
5- CADILLAC CTS
6- LEXUS GS

ExarSadow - 12/8/2010 3:53:35 PM

+3 Boost

1 - BMW 5, Infiniti M
2 - Audi A6
3 - Mercedes E
4 - Jag
5 - Cadillac

For all you people who think the brand name is all that matters, what does the new Infiniti not have that the others do?

enthusiastx11 - 12/8/2010 5:12:12 PM

+5 Boost

the 2011 5-series is my pick. best looking, best interior, top technology and god do i love the engine. drove them all and it stood out.

spoke with my wallet not just opinions. got the 2011 535i.

JRobUSC - 12/8/2010 5:24:47 PM

+5 Boost

did you get the M Sport? I saw an Alpine White 535xi M Sport at my local dealer (it was in the showroom waiting to get picked up by whoever ordered it) and it was unbelievably good looking. People were literally flocking to the car, that package makes an enormous difference (and I already thought the new 5 looked great).

SoMuchChedda - 12/8/2010 5:55:52 PM

+4 Boost

nice choice the 535 would be my ideal daily driver

enthusiastx11 - 12/8/2010 6:45:06 PM

+4 Boost

it's a great car to drive daily....does everything well. and it's ridiculously comfortable. the seats may be the best on the market. you have to get the active ventilated seat package and the upgraded 16 speaker harmon kardon sound system. amazing.

got the 535i with sport package and the 331 19" wheels (not M sport because the low front air dam always gets destroyed by curbs at the front of parking spaces). if you get the dynamic handling package, it's the same suspension as the M. also definitely opt for the sport automatic with paddle shifters. much more fun.

motor1 - 12/8/2010 6:10:58 PM

+5 Boost

I've seen the new E and the new 5 in person and they both have a great presence. The 5 particularly creates attention in the M Sport package. They're both very good looking cars and I think the Audi's styling is a bit too conservative, yet still, in my opinion, reasonably elegant. Interior is where the E-Class is definitely lacking. They can woo customers all they want with powerful and efficient engines, but with the interior of a 7 Series, I'd take the 535d any day. The interiors of the A6 and the 5 Series mimic (in a good way) their older brothers (the A8 and 7 Series), whereas the new E-Class has an interior comparable to the C-Class. After seeing it in person compared to the new 5, the E-Class's interior looks cheap.

nguyenvuminh - 12/8/2010 9:13:19 PM

+4 Boost

Willis - hats off to you and you made my morning, best post of the year in my mind :-) To Lexus fans out there, I'm not complimenting Willis' humorous comment because I hate Lexus but because, and you have to admit it, it's quite funny.

Baby - 12/14/2010 2:20:16 AM

+1 Boost

No, that is exactly what you are saying. "You hate Lexus..." Thus the tool message.

ennisleon - 12/8/2010 9:47:03 PM

+1 Boost

In person front end of the E class is gorgeous but the rear is a train wreck, the previous gen 5 series was so hot but this one is missing the spark that its predecessor had FURTHERMORE that A6 is dread looks like all the other audis to me it has no flare or personality i prefer an A4 or A8

dayday - 12/8/2010 10:32:17 PM

+2 Boost

A8 looks even more boring... I've seen a few on the road, almost didn't recognize them... I think It will be good If the new A6 has the A7 headlight, The rear lights all look pretty ugly (A6,A7 and A8), they all look the same from the side (except A7)
A4 is the best looking sedan from Audi.

iamdabest1 - 12/8/2010 11:35:36 PM

+2 Boost

5 series , e class, then a6 for me...
when i picked up my m3, saw a 550i xdrive with M sport in white, it was just amazing !!!

JRobUSC - 12/9/2010 2:44:15 PM

+3 Boost

yep, Alpine White 5-Series w/ M Sport is stunning. That'd be my perfect car.