Audi A8 vs Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
What's the difference?

Audi A8

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2023 price

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Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class

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2022 price

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Maserati Quattroporte

Mazda 6

Mercedes-Benz A-Class

Mercedes-Benz A35

Mercedes-Benz AMG GT

Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Mercedes-Benz C43

Mercedes-Benz C63

Mercedes-Benz CLA

Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class

Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class

Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Mercedes-Benz E53

Mercedes-Benz EQS

Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Summary

2023 Audi A8

2022 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class

By James Cleary

By Tung Nguyen

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Diesel Turbo V6, 3.0L

Twin Turbo 6, 3.0L

Fuel Type

Diesel/Electric

Premium Unleaded/Electric

Fuel Efficiency

5.9L/100km (combined)

9.2L/100km (combined)

Seating

Likes

Refinement
Quality
Value

Confident design
Genuinely sporty performance
Frameless doors are always cool

Dislikes

Big turning circle
No folding rear seat
No front door bottle slots

Compromised rear-seat room
Pricier than rivals
Unergonomic steering wheel controls

2023 Audi A8 Summary

Audi’s flagship is the A8, a long, luxurious sedan where being driven is often as important as doing the driving.

To put this ultra-premium machine in context, it competes with other German heavyweights like BMW’s 7 Series and, of course, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class as well as Porsche’s Panamera. Not to mention the Lexus LS or Maserati’s Quattroporte.

What’s life like at the top of the Audi pyramid? Stay with us to find out.

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2022 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class Summary

Mercedes-Benz loves to fill a niche. This is the company, after all, that has a coupe version of its GLC and GLE SUVS, four-door coupes ranging in size from the CLA to the AMG GT 4-door, and enough electric vehicles to make Tesla jealous.

The nichest of all though, might the CLS, which has been updated for the 2022 model year.

Positioned above the E-Class but below the S-Class in the line-up as a sporty sedan for customers after a blend of style, technology and performance, the new CLS is available in just one engine now, while styling and equipment have also been tweaked in the update.

Can the CLS earn its place in the Mercedes line-up or is it destined to be a bit player amongst more popular models?

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Deep dive comparison

2023 Audi A8 2022 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class

Verdict

The Audi A8 swims in a luxury car shark tank where those paying the big dollars expect top-shelf everything. It delivers a serene driving experience whether you’re in the front or the back, in a superbly engineered and executed luxury sedan package. Not perfect, but very, very impressive.

Verdict

Comfortable when it needs to be and sporty when you want it to be, the CLS 53 is a bit like Mercedes’ Doctor Jekyll and Mr Hyde – or maybe Bruce Banner and the Hulk is a better frame of reference for some.

While it doesn’t excel in any one particular area, its breadth of useability is commendable, but ultimately it might be its all-too-familiar aesthetics that is the biggest letdown.

From the inside, it looks and feels like any other large Mercedes model (not necessarily a criticism), while the exterior – in my opinion – doesn’t go far enough to differentiate it from the CLA.

After all, if you wanted a stylish and sporty sedan, shouldn’t feel special too?

Audi A8 vs Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Audi A8 vs Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
What's the difference?