Car and Driver Showdown: 2013 Audi S6 vs. 2013 BMW M5 vs. 2013 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG!

Yet another win for Audi! The S6 follows in the footsteps of its A7 and A8 relatives, whom also finished in first place over their respective BMW and Mercedes-Benz counterparts.

Audi's S6 wins first place AGAIN! The S6 also finished first over the BMW M5 and Benz E63 AMG when the previous generation models were compared. BMW has clearly lost its edge over the competition.

Audi clearly has the formula for success from both a critical and sales perspective. Not only did Car and Driver admit that the S6, much like the A7 and A8, was as capable as its rivals in every category, but it also offered significant cost savings.

Audi's ability to offer identical or superior levels of luxury, performance, technology, handling etc. has propelled it to become the most profitable luxury car maker (more profitable than BMW), and second in global sales (slightly behind BMW, after already overthrowing Mercedes-Benz for second place.

THE RS6 WILL DESTROY the M5 if the S6 (which will be down at least 100 horsepower to the RS6) already beats the M5. Audi engineers have admitted the old RS6 was only good for straight-line speed and not much else. They have said the new RS6 will be more dynamic, involved, balanced, and lighter than the old model.

Uh, oh. I think the agents here at BMWSpies are either 1.) crying in a corner in the fetal position or 2.) concocting all of the excuses why the M5 really is the winner and comparison tests mean nothing.

This is a surprising result, though for various reasons. The Audi appears to have won, not based on performance or driving dynamics, but proved to be a superior "package". The Mercedes stomped the other two in performance and dynamics, and fun to drive and lost by "only" 3 points. The M5 lost by 20 points.

I don't care who won or lost, all 3 of those cars are beasts and I would love to have any of them. Granted I have my preferences, but those 3 are an amazing work of engineering.

My only question is, they tested the S6. Is Audi going to make an RS6, and if so, how does it slot against the others?

Above them.

Car and Driver sums it up perfectly:

"In some respects, the story of this car isn’t about what BMW got so wrong because, by itself, the M5 is a dazzling and beautiful vehicle. It’s about what others are getting so right."

"We’ve been here before with the A7 and the A8: down to the final paragraph of a comparison test musing about how the Audi offers comparable or better features, only slightly reduced performance, and a significantly lower price. Bavarians aren’t big on change, but down here, old regimes are rapidly being overthrown."

BMW and Mercedes-Benz are being overthrown by Audi rapidly in almost every new comparison test (see A7 and A8 wins). Mercedes-Benz was overthrown in global sales last year and BMW was overthrown in profitability by Audi.

Audi is closing in on overthrowing BMW in global sales within the next 3 years if not sooner.

When you build beautiful cars and offer a more complete "package" of design, luxury, performance, and value than your competition and can do it at a higher margin, you will win, and Audi CLEARLY is.

I can't ever recall a BMW not winning a comparo in Car and driver, much less coming dead last. Its the zombie apocalypse I tell you!!!

You cannot go wrong with any of these 3 vehicles. I still prefer the MB or the BMW. Anyone thinks getting a 2 to 3 year old with low miles would be a good idea?

The future RS6 will use a twin-turbo V8 rated at 580 horsepower and close to 490 lb.ft of torque. The previous RS6 used a heavier V10 engine rated at the same horsepower and torque numbers.

With a significantly lighter engine (V8 instead of previous model's V10) and a big reduction in weight (current A6/S6 are at least 140 lbs. lighter than the previous model) the upcoming RS6 will be MUCH faster than the S6.

While the 0 to 60 time for the S6 with launch control and AWD makes for a nice head line. 60 times are a fairly irrelevant way of measuring performance. Especially with launch control. I have never seen a launch controlled start in the real world...It’s a pointless novelty.

In terms of performance numbers the M5 and E63 kill the S6. especially when you put these car on a track which is the only place you can even think of approaching there limits (if all you care about is real world get a 3.0t of 535). From a dead stop the M5 hits 100mph over a full second faster, and 130mph three full seconds faster than the S6!!! THAT IS HUGE. And traps the 1/4 mile 8mph faster!! Its honestly no comparison. The RS6 is going to need 100+ more hp to match the kind of acceleration the E63 and M5 can pull (and I honestly even doubt that is enough, b/c there are videos online of the M5 out dragging a Panamer Turbo S from a rolling start). The M5 also slaloms considerably faster, and pulls more g's than the awd S6. And if you did elasticity acceleration time, like you would experience coming out of a corner at a track the M5's gap would be that much larger to the S6.

The S6 won (or gained points in this comparison) over the others because of price, styling (which is pure opinion), and fuel economy (but isn’t it expected that the car with the smallest least powerful motor would get the best economy?). That’s kind of why this comparison makes no sense. They are testing 3 performance sedans, but give the victory to the one with the worst performance, and because it accels in non performance areas. what?!

@PQ40... Isn't it funny how in your first paragraph, you say 0-60 with launch control is irrelevant in the real world, yet in the second paragraph, you go on to talk about tracking the car (as if that is any more relevant in the real world)...

I see your point, but I believe that while it is absolutely absurd to put the S6 against the two other cars, it is not the fault of Audi that Car and Driver pins the S6 against these two cars and for it to b able to keep up with vehicles a trim above it is an amazing feat, nonetheless... This "victory" for Audi, no matter how senseless it may sound, does not take away from the fact that the vehicle is a hell of a machine nor does it take away from the M5 and the E63...

Could the M5 be quicker on the track than the S6? Possibly but if you read the article it clearly says that the M5 loses out badly on the road which is what you paid the money for unless your primary goal of buying a 4,300 pound sedan is to use it on the track.

"Could the M5 be quicker on the track than the S6? Possibly"

Possibly?.. lol its more like they ARE much faster.

"read the article it clearly says that the M5 loses out badly on the road"

And the M5 is a much higher performance vehical than the S6, so its expected to be a little more focused, and stiffer. Wait and see how the RS6 rides on the street, lol. They also said the S6 was "More squishiness in corners, steering is less reactive than the Benz's, a choppier ride on 20s" which dosent sound like the best daily driver as well...if you want a daily drive stick to a 535 or E350.

So how do you explain "M5 suffers shortfalls in three areas where an M usually excels: steering, suspension, and brakes." is it because it's too much racecar?

pondo: thanks. but i'll keep my 535i over the GS350 ANY DAY. and 6000 buyers this month alone chose--and paid more for--the 535i compared to 2000 buyers for the less expensive GS.

I don't think there is a "loser" in this bunch. They are all winners and personally, I don't see what the big deal is. They are all great cars and anyone would be proud to own and if you think otherwise, you are just an idiot...

The S6 did very well, although, to be fair, the RS6 is really more of a competitor to the BMW M and Mercedes AMG than the standard S6. Can't believe my eyes, BMW M5 steering feel and feedback criticized? BMW must really be losing their minds, Its one thing to tone down non-M cars, but to tone the M5 down to where steering feel in any M car is questionable is just unacceptable. BMW is losing its way. Hard to say what I'll be driving in the future unless something is done to make these cars better. Get rid of that annoying artificial feeling throttle by wire, and give me back my throttle cable for starters. The E34 and E39 M5's were great, so was the previous M5 with the high revving V-10 engine. they ruined this one. Any car can be fast, but if an auto maker can get the feedback and feel right, it makes the car that much better, and a cut above the rest. BMW used to have this, now I'm afraid it is now compromising all of that to please a broader audience. My feeling on this is if they can't appreciate a car with that level of driver oriented feedback, then they should shop elsewhere for something else. Seems like the CTS-V is more BMW like than this new M5. Don't get me wrong, the numbers are impressive, 11.9 seconds on the 1/4 is fast for any stock vehicle, especially a sedan.

all great cars, but disappointed in the M5 losing its harder edge in performance. bmw has caved to the masses in their desire for luxury at the expense of sharper performance. will push up sales for sure, but leaves those who loved bmw for handling in particular a bit cold. porsche here i come...