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Audi A6 vs Mercedes-Benz E-Class: which is the better used buy?

On DVSA MOT records the Audi A6 does better at its MOT: measured against cars of the same age, it comes out 3.3 percentage points ahead of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class on first-time MOT passes. That comparison covers 36,417 real tests across every generation on the road, not a survey. A pass with rectification at the station counts as a pass here, and as a failure in DVSA's own initial-test measure. The MOT checks safety and emissions items, not the engine, clutch or gearbox, so this is one measure of how each car holds up rather than a full reliability verdict; the common faults below cover the rest.

MOT first-time pass rate

Counted from DVSA’s anonymised MOT test records. “vs age-matched” compares each model against what the national fleet scores at the same age — the only fair better-or-worse number, because an older fleet fails more whatever its build quality.

Audi A6
Pass rate83.1%
Age-matched national76.6%
Difference+6.5
Tests12,504
Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Pass rate80.2%
Age-matched national77.0%
Difference+3.2
Tests23,913

These figures count every generation still on the road, not only the one described below: mostly Audi A6s registered 2006–2022 and Mercedes-Benz E-Class registered 2003–2022.

Source: DVSA MOT Anonymised Data 2025 (Open Government Licence v3.0). National first-time pass rate 77.3%. Class 4 tests in Great Britain, test type NT (a normal annual test), retests excluded. A pass, or a pass with rectification at the station, counts as a first-time pass; DVSA's own initial-test measure counts a rectified pass as a failure and so reports a lower figure. Testing in Northern Ireland is run separately by the DVA under its own rules. The difference is worked out before rounding, so it can be 0.1 away from the two rounded figures beside it.

Audi A6

C8, 2018–2024 · premium executive saloon

The C8 Audi A6 (2018–2024) is mechanically solid but suffers from MIB3 infotainment freezes pre-2022, DPF blockages on short-trip 2.0 TDI diesels, and owner-reported 48V mild-hybrid battery faults. The 2022 facelift fixed the infotainment. Best-buy years: 2022–2024. Worst: 2018.

What goes wrong

  • Safety recall R/2020/138recall
    Moisture may enter the belt-driven starter-alternator
    34,982 vehicles in the whole recall (DVSA’s figure for every model it covers) · built between 1 June 2017 and 31 March 2020
    Large recall — 34,982 vehicles. Check a car by registration on GOV.UK.
  • Safety recall R/2020/265recall
    Moisture may enter the belt driven starter-alternator
    11,936 vehicles in the whole recall (DVSA’s figure for every model it covers) · built between 10 August 2018 and 11 March 2020
    Large recall — 11,936 vehicles. Check a car by registration on GOV.UK.
  • MIB3 infotainment freezemoderate
    Screen goes black or freezes on Apple CarPlay / Android Auto; reboot required
    2018–2021 · Free under software update; £350–£800 if hardware MMI swap needed
    Check: During test drive, connect phone via Apple CarPlay and use it for 15+ minutes. Try switching audio sources. Reproduce the freeze and have it noted on inspection.
  • DPF blockage (2.0 TDI on short trips)major
    Limp mode warning; engine warning light; "DPF full" message
    All TDI variants · Mileage-independent — driving pattern matters more · £450–£900 forced regeneration + drive cycle; £1,800+ if DPF replacement
    Check: Avoid TDI variants that have only ever done short city trips. Ask about typical journey length. Look for forced-regen events in service history.
Typical asking price:
£12,990–£25,995, median £18,595 (middle 80% and median, cars on Autoza on 29 October 2026)
Fuel economy:
42–49 mpg for 2.0 TDI; 28–33 mpg for 55 TFSI petrol
Vehicle tax:
£200/year standard rate from the second year, hybrids included — the alternative-fuel discount ended on 1 April 2025 (2026/27 rates). A car registered from April 2017 that listed at over £40,000 new (options included) also pays the £440/year Expensive Car Supplement in years 2–6 — it is the price when new that counts, not what you pay for it used.
Best years:
2022, 2023
Years to avoid:
2018
Used Audi A6s for saleFull A6 fault guideUsed Audis

Also compare:

Mercedes-Benz E-Class

W213, 2016–2023 · premium executive saloon

The W213 Mercedes E-Class (2016–2023) is the most refined of the German big three. Cars built to November 2017 are covered by a DVSA fuel-hose recall (R/2018/327), owners report harsh 9G-Tronic shifts before the software update, and Estate rear air suspension can leak. Best-buy: 2020–2022. Worst: no single year stands out on DVSA MOT results.

What goes wrong

  • Safety recall R/2021/134recall
    The behaviour of the emergency call system might not meet specifications
    162,581 vehicles in the whole recall (DVSA’s figure for every model it covers) · built between 4 January 2016 and 29 January 2021
    Large recall — 162,581 vehicles. Check a car by registration on GOV.UK.
  • Safety recall R/2021/110recall
    The behaviour of the emergency call system might not meet specifications
    108,971 vehicles in the whole recall (DVSA’s figure for every model it covers) · built between 4 January 2016 and 29 January 2021
    Large recall — 108,971 vehicles. Check a car by registration on GOV.UK.
  • 9G-Tronic harsh shiftsminor
    Notchy 2-3 and 3-4 upshifts; flare on downshifts
    2016–2018 · Free under software update at MB dealer; £600+ if mechatronic affected
    Check: During test drive, hold gears manually and observe shift quality. Service history should show software update applied.
  • Rear air suspension leak (Estate)moderate
    Tail end sits low overnight; pump cycles excessively; "AIRMATIC fault" warning
    All Estate variants with rear air suspension · 75,000+ miles · £500–£900 per side air bellow + valve service
    Check: Park overnight on level ground. Check rear ride height next day. Listen for compressor at idle (pump should rest).
Typical asking price:
£11,560–£29,995, median £14,995 (middle 80% and median, cars on Autoza on 29 October 2026)
Fuel economy:
42–50 mpg for E220d real-world
Vehicle tax:
£200/year standard rate from the second year, hybrids included — the alternative-fuel discount ended on 1 April 2025. A car registered from April 2017 with a list price over £40,000 when new adds the £440/year Expensive Car Supplement in years 2–6 (£640 in all). Cars registered 2001–2017 pay a CO2 band, roughly £20–£790/year (2026/27 rates).
Best years:
2020, 2021, 2022
Used Mercedes-Benz E-Class for saleFull E-Class fault guideUsed Mercedes-Benzes

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Which one suits you

Audi A6

Good for: Buyers prioritising interior quality, long-distance comfort, and quattro all-wheel-drive grip in UK winters.

Less good for: Buyers averse to electronics complexity, anyone who only ever does short city trips (TDI), drivers without tolerance for MIB3 quirks pre-2022.

Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Good for: Long-distance comfort buyers; motorway commuters; buyers prioritising interior refinement above sportiness.

Less good for: Short-trip city users (DPF on diesel), drivers who don't budget for MB-specialist servicing (£500+ per service).

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is more reliable, the Audi A6 or the Mercedes-Benz E-Class?
On the MOT measure, the Audi A6: measured against cars of the same age, it comes out 3.3 percentage points ahead of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class on first-time MOT passes, across 36,417 DVSA-recorded tests covering every generation on the road. A pass with rectification at the station counts as a pass here, and as a failure in DVSA's own initial-test measure. The MOT checks safety and emissions items, not the engine, clutch or gearbox, so this is one measure of how each car holds up rather than a full reliability verdict.
How do the MOT pass rates of the Audi A6 and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class compare?
83.1% of Audi A6s pass their MOT first time (12,504 tests in DVSA's records) and 80.2% of Mercedes-Benz E-Class pass their MOT first time (23,913 tests). The national first-time rate is 77.3%, but cars of the Audi A6's age average 76.6% and cars of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class's age 77.0% — so the Audi A6 runs 6.5 points better than its age group and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class runs 3.2 points better than its own. A pass with rectification at the station counts as a pass here, and as a failure in DVSA's own initial-test measure.
Which years of the Audi A6 and Mercedes-Benz E-Class should I avoid?
Audi A6: Pre-2022 infotainment freezes are the most reported complaint on owner forums. Software updates helped, but owners of 2018–2019 cars report they never fully resolved it on the hardware those cars shipped with. The DVSA MOT table on this page rates 2019 registrations above all cars registered that year, so it is not named as a year to avoid. Mercedes-Benz E-Class: The earliest cars carry the generation's safety recalls: R/2018/327 (the fuel feed hose may chafe and leak; E-Class built October 2015 to November 2017) and R/2016/255 (the rear seat frame can foul the fuel pump wiring so the engine may cut out; built October 2015 to August 2016). Owners also report gearbox harshness before the 2019 software update. The DVSA MOT table on this page rates 2016 and 2017 registrations above all cars registered those years, so they are not named as years to avoid. Judge a E-Class by its registration, service history and the checks below rather than by year.
Is the Audi A6 or the Mercedes-Benz E-Class cheaper to run?
On fuel the two are too close to call: the most economical versions return up to 49 mpg (Audi A6) and 50 mpg (Mercedes-Benz E-Class), on the figures in our model guides. For cars registered from April 2017, vehicle tax works the same way for both: the £200/year standard rate from the second year, hybrids included, plus the £440/year Expensive Car Supplement in years 2–6 on a car that listed at over £40,000 new — the price when new, not what you pay for it used. Any Audi A6 or Mercedes-Benz E-Class registered between 1 March 2001 and 31 March 2017 pays a CO2 band instead, roughly £20–£790/year (2026/27 rates). Insurance differs mainly by driver and postcode rather than by model, so treat any model-level insurance figure with caution.

MOT figures are counted from DVSA records and are the only measured statistic here. Prices, economy and tax bands are indicative and vary by specification, condition and where the car has lived. Last reviewed: 2026-10-06 / 2026-10-06.