Mercedes-Benz E-Class vs Audi A5
Figures updated
The Mercedes-Benz E-Class and Audi A5 are two of the UK's most popular executive cars. We compare the W214 (2023–) E-Class and the B10 (2024–) A5 on price, size, boot space, performance, safety and running costs, plus how reliable each has been across 355,143 real MOT tests.
The short answer
Pick the Mercedes-Benz E-Class for the bigger boot, or the Audi A5 for the lower price and lower fuel costs.
- The Audi A5 is the cheapest to buy new: from £42,760, £14,410 less than the Mercedes-Benz E-Class.
- The Mercedes-Benz E-Class has the biggest boot: 540 litres, 95 more than the Audi A5.
- Their MOT records are close: once age and mileage are taken into account, they fail about as often as each other.
- The Audi A5 is the cheapest to fuel: comparing petrol versions, about £352 a year less than the Mercedes-Benz E-Class at 7,500 miles a year.
- Watch the wheels on a Mercedes-Benz E-Class: it fails on them 2.9 times as often as the average car.
| Figure | Mercedes-Benz E-ClassW214 (2023–), 4-door saloon | Audi A5B10 (2024–), 5-door hatchback |
|---|---|---|
| Price and practicality | ||
| Price newUK list prices, across the range | £57,170 to £88,520June 2026 price list | from £42,760October 2026 price list (best) |
| Body | 4-door saloon | 5-door hatchback |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| BootSeats up / folded | 540 litres (best) | 445 litres / 1,299 |
| Length | 4,949mm | 4,829mm |
| WidthWithout mirrors | 1,904mm | 1,860mm |
| Height | 1,468mm | 1,444mm |
| Performance | ||
| Power | 197–313 PS (best) | up to 299 PS |
| 0–62mph | 6.4–7.6 sec | from 5.9 sec (best) |
| Safety | ||
| Euro NCAP ratingTests get tougher each year | ★★★★★ (2024) | ★★★★★ (2024) |
| Economy and emissions | ||
| Fuel types | Diesel, Petrol, Plug-in hybrid | Diesel, Hybrid, Petrol, Plug-in hybrid |
| Official economyVersions of this generation | 23.3–60.1 mpg | 38.7–57.6 mpg |
| CO2 | 11–276 g/km | 46–166 g/km |
| Running costs at 7,500 miles a year | ||
| Petrol or hybrid171.6p a litre, today's UK average | £1,762 (33.2 mpg) | £1,410 (41.5 mpg) (best) |
| Diesel198.4p a litre | £1,412 (47.9 mpg) | £1,221 (55.4 mpg) (best) |
| Cheapest version to fuelWhichever fuel costs least | £1,412 (diesel) | £1,221 (diesel) |
| Car tax a yearCars registered from April 2017 | £200£640 in years 2–6 for versions listed over £40,000 | £200 |
| Reliability from real MOT tests | ||
| Reliability score | 133Well above average | 135Well above average |
| Failed MOT first time (ages 3–20) | 22.5% | 22.0% |
| Failed at 3 years old | 13.3% | 12.7% (best) |
| Failed at 5 years old | 14.7% | 15.0% |
| Failed at 10 years old | 25.1% | 23.8% (best) |
| Most common MOT fault | Tread depth (2.7% of tests) | Tread depth (3.4% of tests) |
| Fails more than average on | Wheels (2.9×) | Nothing stands out |
| MOT tests analysed | 230,974 | 124,169 |
| About the cars | ||
| Type | Executive car | Executive car |
| Owners' average miles a year | 10,600 | 9,300 |
| On sale | 2023 on | 2024 on |
Green marks the better figure where the difference is more than 3%. Reliability figures cover every version of each model tested in the year. Running costs use the typical official economy of recent versions (WLTP where available); real-world economy is usually a little worse for every car.
More comparisons
Frequently asked questions
›Is the Mercedes-Benz E-Class or the Audi A5 more reliable?
There's little in it. Once age and mileage are taken into account, both fail their MOT about as often as each other (reliability scores 133 and 135, where 100 is average).
›Which is bigger, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class or the Audi A5?
The Mercedes-Benz E-Class is 120mm longer (4,949mm against 4,829mm). The Mercedes-Benz E-Class has the bigger boot: 540 litres against 445.
›Which is cheaper to buy, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class or the Audi A5?
The Audi A5: new prices start at £42,760, £14,410 less than the Mercedes-Benz E-Class (from £57,170). These are manufacturer list prices; dealers and brokers often sell for less.
›Which is cheaper to run, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class or the Audi A5?
Comparing petrol versions, the Audi A5 costs about £352 a year less to fuel at 7,500 miles (£1,410 against £1,762), using typical official economy and current UK average fuel prices.
›Which is safer, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class or the Audi A5?
Euro NCAP gave the Mercedes-Benz E-Class 5 stars (2024) and the Audi A5 5 stars (2024). Euro NCAP makes its tests tougher every few years, so ratings from different years aren't directly comparable.
›Should I buy the Mercedes-Benz E-Class or the Audi A5?
Pick the Mercedes-Benz E-Class for the bigger boot, or the Audi A5 for the lower price and lower fuel costs. The comparison above sets out price, space, performance, safety, running costs and reliability side by side.
Sources: manufacturers' UK specifications and price lists and Euro NCAP (listed on each model's page); DVSA anonymised MOT tests 2024 (Open Government Licence v3.0); Vehicle Certification Agency car fuel data, © Crown copyright, VCA cannot accept liability for its accuracy; fuel prices from the GOV.UK Fuel Finder scheme. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited under each picture.