Two svelte upper crust saloons go into battle for supremacy in this head-tohead between top-notch German rivals. It’s a tough fight, pitching the latest Audi A8 against the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Only one can win, but which one?
CHAUFFEUR’S DAY OFF 2019 AUDI A8 vs. 2019 MERCEDES-BENZ S-CLASS W222
CAN THE NEW D5 AUDI A8 BEAT THE MIGHTY W222 MERC S-CLASS?
A or S? For this contest we have a pair of flagship models at either end of the alphabet. Audi’s new A8 or Mercedes-Benz’s latest S-Class, that’s our high class duel in this month’s twin test. It’s a battle of the biggies, long wheelbase range-toppers from two of the German triumvirate. Fresh on the scene this summer, the Audi A8 is a big smoothie with a couple of aces up its automotive sleeve: mild hybridisation and four-wheel-drive. The latest Mercedes-Benz S-Class is its sumptuous rival, and has its own ace feature, a cosseting cabin. These two are almost identical in size and within a whisker of one another for performance. So will it be four rings or a three-pointed star?
This new fourth generation 2019 Audi A8 D5 is the latest in a line of executive models stretching back to 1994, and it is very clearly the best yet. That shines through in the driving experience, which is both engaging and effortlessly civilised. With its lavish performance and cushioning ride, it is masterly over a long distance. The A8 shrugs off the miles with ease, as befits the chauffeur car status that many of these big Audis will have. Like its rival the A8 has a turbocharged 3.0-litre, six-cylinder, 24-valve engine, but in V-formation rather than the Mercedes-Benz’s straight six layout. Performance is virtually identical, and both cars have the same power output and level of torque, thought at slightly differing revs. The body has taut control through the bends and a serene ride. After several hundred miles you step out feeling no more fatigued than a trip round the block.
The rear-wheel-drive S-Class is a favourite chauffeur car in its class, and the engaging way it drives undoubtedly influences that. The car feels very poised from behind the wheel, while the overall ride quality will endear it to passengers. Under that long bonnet is a straight six-cylinder engine that is twin-turbocharged. Its 282bhp power output and 443lb ft of torque is exactly the same as that of its rival. The Mercedes-Benz is smooth and elegant in the way it behaves, with strong body control and a commanding feel of confidence on a twisty rural road. It lacks the mild hybrid technology of the Audi, resulting in marginally inferior economy and CO2 output higher by 7g/km. That, combined with a smaller fuel tank, means more frequent trips to the filling station than are needed by its rival.
INTERIOR AND COMFORT
The cabin of the 2019 A8 D5 is very plush, high class and all very high-tech. It is typical of Audi’s cool, clean interior design, which exudes muted sophistication, but could also be deemed a bit sterile. The programmable digital dials are a model of clarity. There are two screens in the centre dash, the upper one a large navigation and infotainment zone, the second one for climate and seat temperature controls. This lower one is set rather far down in the dash at knee level, where it could be a distraction that takes your eyes away from the road for longer than is ideal. There’s a lot of glass surface for annoyingly messy fingerprints on the touchscreens too, and the piano black surfaces accentuate that, too. Quality throughout the cabin is excellent, with precision fitment of all the panels, muted colours that give the decor an expensive look, and pleasingly tactile surfaces. The seats are substantially upholstered and supremely comfortable.
No question, the 2019 W222 S-Class scores higher for its cabin design. It’s a characterful work of art, with flowing lines and beautifully detailed trim that is as pleasing to touch as to look at. Dark, matt, wide-grained wood flows across the centre dash and along the doors, and is topped by exquisitely elegant leather panels with a perforated diamond pattern. This is echoed in the attractive design of the leather upholstery on the seats too, giving the whole cabin a beautifully co-ordinated ambience. The seats are particularly supportive too, with big side bolsters that cushion you well on the bends. There is more style about the Merc’s circular air vents, that are as much about adornment as functionality. The cabin has fewer straight lines and more artistic flair about it, making it a very pleasing place to be. The only slight Achilles’ heel is the central controller for the infotainment system, which feels a bit clumsy in use.
SPACE, PRACTICALITY AND VERSATILITY
These are two big cars and you expect them to have big boots, which they do. The A8’s is the smaller of the two, but only by five litres, and overall it’s a good size at 505 litres. With a long wheelbase chassis on each of these cars, there’s no shortage of cabin space, and the A8 has generous room up front with plenty of head and elbow room, Audi A8 Mercedes-Benz S-Class and a big stretch-out length for long legs in the rear seats.
There’s marginally more legroom in the back of the Audi, which has an overall length that is three centimetres longer than its rival, although the two are identical in overall width. It’s worth noting that the A8 has a better range between fuel stops than its rival, mostly thanks to a fuel tank that is bigger by 12 litres, giving the car a potential range of over 900 miles.
The S-Class wins the boot battle by a whisker, with its 510 litres of luggage room, the bigger of these two. But there is no spare wheel in either car, and the Mercedes-Benz’s 70-litre fuel tank is smaller than the Audi’s. All-round room inside the S-Class feels very generous, pretty much on a par with the A8’s. There are some nice practical details in the back of the Mercedes-Benz, with our test car optionally configured for four occupants rather than the conventional five. A wide centre armrest between the two rear seats housed convenience features: a pair of airline style pull-up tray tables, and induction charging for a passenger’s smart phone. Both cars feature pull-down illuminated mirrors, housed in the ceiling, for back seat occupants to check their hair or titivate their make-up before disembarking.
RUNNING COSTS
With the powerplants in each of these cars producing an identical 282bhp and 443lb ft of torque, and almost identical performance figures, one of the main differences comes down to the efficiency, with the Audi out in front. And that’s thanks to the adoption of mild hybrid technology that incorporates a belt-starter-alterator and a lithium-ion battery that allows the engine to switch off at speeds of up to 99mph and harnesses braking energy when coming to a stop. CO2 emissions of 146g/km and a combined fuel economy figure of 50.4mpg for the A8 is compared to 153g/km and 48.7mpg for the S-Class. Fiscally, it means that the Mercedes-Benz driver will pay one per cent more company car tax, and the first-year vehicle excise duty jumps from £515 in the Audi to £830 for the Merc. After year one, owners of each of these cars will pay £450 per year until year six, with it dropping down to a more reasonable £140 thereafter.
And the good news continues for Audi when it comes to insurance, with the A8 in group 45, and the S-Class three higher at 48. Both cars feature a three-year warranty, with the Audi covered for the first 60,000 miles and the Mercedes-Benz rather impressively featuring an unlimited mileage warranty. For buyers that cover huge distances each year, this could make an important difference to the car that they choose. Maintenance requirements are decided by each of the car’s on board computer, with the sensors all around the car deciding when a service is required.
EQUIPMENT AND PRICE
We think it is safe to say that each of these cars are opulently appointed with an extremely long list of standard equipment, including leather upholstery, electric front seats with memory, heated chairs front and rear, power folding door mirrors, digital instruments, automatic headlights and windscreen wipers, a powered boot lid with hands-free opening, an electrically operated steering column and keyless entry and start. On the safety front, there’s six airbags, a pedestrian deployable bonnet, autonomous emergency braking and traffic sign recognition, with the Audi also gaining the reassurance of four-wheel- drive and a lane departure warning system, while the Mercedes-Benz features crosswind assist.
Had we been choosing the specification of these two cars, we would probably have matched up the 2019 A8 L S line 50 TDI quattro D5 priced at £77,905, instead of the standard car at £73,410. Not only does it better match the 2019 Mercedes-Benz S350d AMG Line L W222 price tag at £77,235, but it also gains a sportier appearance. Extra equipment for the A8 S line includes larger 19-inch alloy wheels, Matrix LED headlights, rear privacy glass, acoustic glazing and sports seats for the additional £4,495 price tag.
Comparing our two test cars, the Audi comes with 18-inch alloy wheels, while the Mercedes-Benz has 19-inch items, though disappointingly features a tyre repair kit, where Audi fits a space-saver spare tyre. Each of these two cars feature DAB radio, 10-speakers and USB sockets, but it’s the Audi that has an uprated system with subwoofer and a DVD player. The S-Class instead has a larger colour screen at 12.3-inches, compared to 10-inches on the Audi, and also features an integrated hard drive for music. Pleasingly, both cars feature Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, and have wireless induction charging for smartphones.
No matter which of the pair you choose, you get LEDs for the headlights, rear light clusters and daytime running lights, and both have parking sensors front and rear to protect the paintwork. Mercedes-Benz goes one step further by including an automated parking system as standard. Audi fights back by fitting adaptive cruise control, instead of an on-off system on the S-Class, a head-up display, high beam assist for the headlights, sunblinds for the rear doors and rear window, quad-zone climate control and a 5.7-inch tablet in the back to remotely control some of the car’s functions.
With each of these cars relatively new on the market and featuring a prestige name, we didn’t expect to get much of a discount – how wrong we were. Our team of researchers found deals of £60,158 on the table for the Mercedes- Benz S-Class, which represents a saving of £17,077 and a discount of 22 per cent at Drive The Deal (www.drivethedeal. co.uk). But the brand-new Audi A8 is available at an even cheaper price of £56,028 – a saving of £17,382, and a discount of 23 per cent. Opt for the sportier S line edition and the price is £59,668, a reduction of £18,237 and the same 23 per cent off. Both of these prices are offered by Coast 2 Coast Cars (www. coast2coastcars.co.uk).
VERDICT
So it’s decision time. Which of these two opulent limousines deserves the prize? After several hundred effortlessly low fatigue miles in the Audi, we’re wooed by its very capable and cosseting behaviour, its four-wheel-drive surefootedness, its mild-hybrid efficiency, its marginally better economy, its lower CO2, and its big benefit in range between refuels. It also costs less with similar equipment. But then there’s the delight of the S-Class’s gorgeous cabin, and the beguiling way it drives, different from the Audi, but just as good. It’s a tough call, but choose we must, and our winner is declared as the A8.
“…the D5 A8 has a turbocharged 3.0-litre, six-cylinder, 24-valve engine, but in V-formation rather than the W222 Mercedes-Benz’s straight six layout.”
ALSO CONSIDER
BMW 7 SERIES G11/G12
Munich’s missile forms part of a three-pronged attack by the Germans in the hard-fought luxury saloon class. Lavishly packed with the latest technology, and marginally cheaper than the sporting variants of its rivals, the 7 Series has much to recommend.
JAGUAR XJ X351
The XJ is the grandfather of the luxury limousine class, having first gone on sale back in 2010. But thanks to clever regular updates and a refreshingly bold design when it was launched, it’s still up there with the best. For driving prowess, for instance, it’s our favourite.
LEXUS LS XF50
Lexus has gone all out to prove that the LS can cut it in this distinguished company, with a car that simply oozes style and sophistication. Arriving in showrooms just now, it features a petrol-hybrid drivetrain to compete against its diesel-powered counterparts.
STANDARD EQUIPMENT
2019 Audi A8 D5
18-inch alloy wheels with 235/55/R18 tyres and space saver spare wheel
Adaptive cruise control
Air suspension with adaptive damping
Alarm system
Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone compatibility
Anti-lock brakes with brake assist
Automatic headlights
Autonomous emergency braking system
Auto-dimming rear view mirror and door mirrors
Bluetooth connectivity
DAB radio/DVD with 10-speakers and subwoofer, 10.1-inch colour screen and
USB sockets and steering wheel controls
Digital instruments with 12.3-inch widescreen display
Digital lower controls with 8.6-inch display and haptic touch
Driver, passenger, side and head airbags with passenger side de-activation
Driver drowsiness detection
Electric and heated mirrors with power folding
Electric boot lid with hands-free opening
Electric front and rear windows
Electric front seats with memory functionality
Electric park brake
Electric rear sunblinds for rear and side windows
Electric steering column
Electronic stability programme
Four-wheel-drive system Head-up display
Heated seats front and rear
High beam assist
ISOFIX child safety seat fasteners for rear outer seats
Keyless entry and start
Lane departure warning system
Leather steering wheel and gear lever
Leather upholstery
LED daytime running lights
LED headlights LED rear lights
Navigation system
Parking sensors front and rear
Pedestrian deployable bonnet
Quad-zone climate control
Rain sensing windscreen wipers
Rear seat remote control with 5.7-inch tablet
Reversing camera Traction control
Traffic sign recognition
Tyre pressure monitors Voice control
Wireless charging for smartphones
What’s Hot 48-volt mild hybrid technology. quattro all-wheel-drive.
Cheaper list price. Longer list of standard equipment. Lower CO2 emissions and better fuel economy. Bigger fuel tank.
Faster acceleration. Better towing weight. Impressively hi-tech. Effortless performance. Comfortable ride. Spacious. What’s Not Smaller boot. Only a tyre repair kit provided as standard. The digital centre console can be distracting while on the move. Russian doll looks – is it an A4 or an A6 from afar. The piano black and shiny surfaces garner fingerprints all too easily.
STANDARD EQUIPMENT
2019 Mercedes-Benz S-Class W222
19-inch alloy wheels with 245/45/R19 tyres at the front and 275/40/R19 tyres at the rear and tyre repair kit
Air suspension with adaptive damping
Alarm system
Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
smartphone compatibility
Anti-lock brakes with brake assist
Automated parking system
Automatic headlights
Autonomous emergency braking system
Auto-dimming rear view mirror and driver’s side mirror
Bluetooth connectivity
Brushed stainless steel sports pedals
Crosswind assist
Cruise control
DAB radio with 10-speakers, 12.3-inch colour screen, with hard disc, SD card and
USB sockets and steering wheel controls
Digital instruments with 12.3-inch widescreen display
Driver, passenger, side and head airbags with passenger side de-activation
Driver drowsiness detection
Dual-zone climate control
Electric and heated mirrors with power folding
Electric boot lid with hands-free opening
Electric front and rear windows
Electric front seats with memory functionality
Electric park brake
Electric steering column
Electronic stability programme
Heated seats front and rear
Heated windscreen wipers
ISOFIX child safety seat fasteners for rear outer seats
Keyless entry and start
Leather steering wheel
Leather upholstery
LED daytime running lights
LED headlights
LED rear lights
Navigation system
Parking sensors front and rear
Pedestrian deployable bonnet
Rain sensing windscreen wipers
Reversing camera
Traction control
Traffic sign recognition
Tyre pressure monitors
Voice control
Wireless charging for smartphones What’s Hot Marginally larger boot. Space saver spare wheel standard. Super plush interior. Lots of space and especially roomy in the back. Magic carpet-like ride. It glides along effortlessly. It’s the most popular luxury saloon – chauffeurs can’t be wrong, can they?
What’s Not More expensive list price, with less equipment as standard. Higher CO2 emissions and fuel economy figures that aren’t as impressive. This results in a larger company car tax bill. Lower driving range because of smaller fuel tank. 0.1 of a second slower to 62mph. Largely academic, but towing weight is lower by 200kg. Four-wheel-drive unavailable.
