Mercedes-Benz E220 vs Audi Sq6 E-Tron

What's the difference?

Given Mercedes-Benz's rich heritage with station wagons, it is a bit of a shame Australia’s preference for SUVs has reduced the line-up to just one variant this time around.

I'm glad they've picked the All-Terrain to fly the flag though, and Merc wagon loyalists should appreciate the extra versatility of its dirt road ability - if they're not mourning the loss of the extra two seats in the rear. Like the rest of the current E-Class range, the E 220 d All-Terrain is an excellent product overall.

When it comes to a performance electric SUV, the Audi SQ6 e-tron is a fine example and showcases a masterclass in design. It drives and handles beautifully, even if it’s not as fun as I expected.

The technology looks amazing and I'm sure the little bumps we experienced will be ironed out with a software update.

The SQ6 will suit a smaller family best but the decent driving range and fast charging capabilities means regional families might like it too.

The All-Terrain styling pack is comprised of tough-looking front and rear bumpers, with unpainted plastic side skirts and wheelarch flares on all corners. This will all be welcomed by anyone who travels regularly on dirt roads, but the All-Terrain bits will also provide a handy disguise from urban parking scrapes.

The double-blade grille, wheels and roof rails are also bespoke to the All-Terrain, and the net result is a distinct personality that should satisfy the majority of previous E-Class Estate buyers previously opting for the AMG styling pack.

Interior trim is based on the regular E-Class Avantgarde package, but with specific rubber studded pedals and All-Terrain branded floor mats to align with the exterior treatment.

In the default suspension setting, the All-Terrain sits 29mm higher than a regular E-Class. Taller tyres make up 14mm of this, while the remaining 15mm is thanks to an elevated 'Air Body Control' air suspension. A further 20mm of lift is available with the All-Terrain drive mode selected, but only at speeds up to 35km/h.
 
The All-Terrain’s 20-inch alloys are a staggered fitment with 245/40 tyres up front and 275/35 at the rear, while taller-sidewalled 245/45R19 at each corner are a no-cost option, and essential if you wish to use snow chains.

Like the Estate available internationally, the All-Terrain rides on the same 2939mm wheelbase as the E-Class sedan but gains an extra 24mm in rear overhang to measure 4947mm overall.

The wagon body, extra kit and all-wheel drivetrain also add an extra 240kg to the kerb weight over the E 220 d sedan, with the All-Terrain tipping the scales at 1920kg.

The SQ6 has a distinct look compared to the other mid-size SUVs in Audi’s stable with panelling that lacks some of the severe pleating of its cousins, instead incorporating swoopy lines and a more pronounced moulding around the base of the car.

The sporty S styling is seen in the large 21-inch alloy wheels and red calipers but the customisable light designs inside and out really make this stand out.

The interior is sumptuously styled with Nappa leather and suede upholstery and trims, and sports front seats, while the use of displays in the dashboard makes the SQ6 feel like a spaceship.

However, the main panel curves towards the driver and it still feels accessible and intimate for a cockpit. The cabin looks as expensive as what you’d want it to look like at this price point.

Aside from the All-Terrain’s rugged looks, the greatest departure from E-Class Estate tradition is the omission of the third row of seats, which makes this one a strict five-seater.

One could argue that the Estate’s traditional rearward-facing third row is a bit old school next to the forward-facing setup used by seven-seat SUVs like the GLS, but it's a shame given the third row is still available in other markets.

The All-Terrain does offer a vast cargo area however, with an extra 130 litres (VDA) over the sedan with the seats up to total 670 litres (VDA). Seats down, this extends to 1820 litres (VDA), but it’s worth noting that both wagon figures are marginally smaller than the previous Estate’s 695/1950 measurements.

Facilitating full use of this space is the classic Merc Estate retractable cargo net, and a 670kg payload promises good scope for loading beyond a full passenger count. The air suspension will also automatically maintain a level ride height regardless of load.

As with all current E-Classes, there are bottle holders in each door plus two cupholders front and back and ISOFIX child seat mounts in the outward rear positions.

As per the non-AMG Mercedes passenger car norm, run flat tyres take the place of a spare tyre, but a space saver can be optioned to sit above the boot floor.

The cabin's primary objective seems to be one of passenger comfort. Everything you touch feels soft under hand and while seat padding is on the firmer side, all but the rear middle seat is comfy on a longer journey because of their extra functions.

The rear-row back rest has two recline positions and the seat beds offer long under-thigh support. The middle seat bulges up, and coupled with the compromised legroom, it won't be a nice seat for an adult.

The front row offers the best legroom and there is enough space in the rear for my six foot three brother to squeeze into (somehow) but I wouldn't want to be in the rear for a longer journey if you're super tall.

Access is good for each row with wide door apertures and seats that aren't positioned too high. There will be no groans getting in and out of the SQ6.

Up front the glovebox and middle console shoulder most of the storage burden but there is a handy flip-down drawer at the driver's knee for a wallet and a centre console with the charging stuff but it is an awkward space that could have been better utilised. Things tend to move around in there if not secured.

In the rear there are a couple of net map pockets, storage bins and a total of four drink holders but that's about it. The other amenities back there soften the lack of storage options as you get directional air vents, climate control, heated outboard seats and a couple of USB-C ports.

The technology on a whole looks amazing and the touchscreen multimedia display is responsive and logically laid out. You'll be able to figure it out quickly and I like that important functions, like climate control, and shortcuts are pinned to the screen as it makes it easier to access them when on the go. The Audi voice assistant can be activated by 'Hey Audi' if you don't want to fiddle with screens on the road.

The wireless Apple CarPlay was simple to set up but at the beginning of the week it did tend to get booted whenever the climate or massage functions were activated. This was annoying as you'd have to reselect CarPlay and jump back into whatever app you were in and when you're using the Map app, it feels disjointed. However, this sorted itself out by the end of my week.

On the whole, all the screens and their functions are user friendly but there were a couple of gremlins that needed a car restart to fix. Randomly, my volume became useless and the touchpad/buttons on the steering wheel stopped working.

I do like a normal button over touchpad controls as I find them more responsive but the touchpad controls on the driver's door were really easy to use and I like the family-friendly option of being able to individually apply the child-lock to the rear doors.

Rounding out the cabin is the large 526L boot which offers a level loading space and the ability to adjust the height via the adaptive S air-suspension from buttons in the rear.

The rear row has a 40/20/40 split, which opens up storage options again and there is a deep under-floor storage pocket that houses the tyre repair kit. A handsfree-powered tailgate comes standard, which I always appreciate and the massive frunk (64L) takes care of all of the cable storage.

The launch of the flagship SQ6 e-tron brings the Q6 line up to three before a high-performance RS hits our shores sometime in the future. However, this new variant is priced at $151,400 before on-road costs and that's a hike of $28,900 over the mid-spec Q6 e-tron quattro.

Is it worth the jump? Mostly because this model has almost every feature that is found as an at-cost extra or pack for the other variants but it does miss out on a ventilation function for the front seats and at this stage Audi is saying it's not available to add, which is odd for a top model grade.

With the motor outputs and performance tweaks, the SQ6 competes in the world of the Porsche Macan 4S as they are mechanically related but you can pick up the 4S for $149,300 MSRP and the SQ6 can't match it's torque output of 820Nm.

The most exciting thing about the Q6 range in general is the technology and the SQ6 is no different. The dashboard is a visual feast for the eyes with a 14.5-inch multimedia display, an 11.9-inch digital instrument cluster, and a 10.9-inch touchscreen for the front passenger.

There is wired/wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, built-in satellite navigation and because the system is run by Android Automotive there are a whole bunch of downloadable apps like Spotify, YouTube and Amazon Alexa voice assistant on top of the connected Audi App. These apps are accessible from the passenger display, which means they can scroll the news or watch a video on a longer trip.

There is also the upgraded 3D Bang & Olufsen surround sound system, a colour augmented reality head-up display (the screen is basically a dynamic 3D setup) and three-zone climate control.

Charging is taken care of with four USB-C ports (2/2), a 12-volt socket that moonlights as an actual cigarette lighter (complete with an nearby ashtray) and a wireless charging pad with its own 'arm' that secures your phone.

The LED lights at the rear can be customised with different light signatures which are downright cool and the front LED lights also have animated individual pixels that do a little light show when you turn on the car (to the delight of my child).

Other highlights include front sports seats with heat and massage functions, wine-red Nappa leather upholstery and black suede trims, a heated steering wheel, panoramic sunroof, heated rear outboard seats, and a handsfree powered tailgate.

Audi also includes three charging cables and a one-year subscription for Chargefox public charging stations for free, as well as installing an at-home 7kW charger, which is a nice way of making a new owner feel valued.

The All-Terrain’s excellent 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine and nine-speed torque converter auto are carried across from the E 220 d sedan, which produces a decent 143kW/400Nm. Max torque is available from 1600-2800rpm.

The All-Terrain is the only Australian E-Class to pair this engine with the '4Matic' all-wheel drivetrain though, which uses a slightly rear-biased (45/55) torque split in this application.

The SQ6 is a fully electric all-wheel drive and has two motors, one located on each axle. Together they produce up to 380kW of power and 580Nm of torque, which means this can do a 0-100km/h sprint in just 4.3 seconds when the launch control is activated.

There are three regenerative braking levels and a one-pedal mode which can be selected by sliding the gear-selector into 'B' otherwise the other two modes can be selected via the paddles on the steering wheel. You'll get the best efficiency when B is selected but it does take a beat to get used to and if you time your stops right, it can function as a proper one-pedal action.

The All-Terrain’s extra 240kg and no doubt less slippery body add 1.6L/100km to the E 220 d sedan official combined fuel consumption figure, but the wagon’s 5.7L/100km claim is still very impressive for a taller body nudging two tonnes. 

At this rate, the E-Class All-Terrain has a theoretical range of 1157km from its 66-litre fuel tank.

The SQ6 has a lithium-ion battery with a large 100kW capacity and can accept up to 270kW on DC power, which is excellent. There are two Type 2 charging ports (on either side of the car) and one has a CCS enhancement which means you can charge this from 10 to 80 per cent capacity in as little as 21 minutes on a 270kW ultra-rapid DC charger.

It is more common to see a 50kW DC charger though and that charge time sits closer to an hour and 20 minutes.

On a home 7.4kW charger, you'll get the same percentage after 15 hours, perfect for an overnight recharge.

With a claimed WLTP driving range of up to 568km and energy consumption between 17.5 and 18.6kWh/100km, the daily commute and odd family road trip is more than covered with this model.

My average consumption popped out at 18.1kWh based on the trip computer and that’s a good result for how hard I’ve pushed it over country roads, in the city and on the highway. 

Climbing aboard the All-Terrain, there’s a sense you're seated higher than its 29mm static ride height lift suggests. It's probably mostly psychological, and borne from the All-Terrain styling treatment, but something SUV fans will probably appreciate.

Otherwise it's mainly W213-generation E-Class from the driver's seat, which is a very good thing.

However, the extra 240kg of Estate body and All-Terrain spec over a regular E 220 d sedan is just enough to put a dent in the 2.0-litre diesel's performance. Mercedes claims an 8.0sec 0-100km/h figure, which is still more than enough to keep up with traffic, but just not as spritely as the sedan’s 7.3sec figure.

The combination of airbag suspension and the All-Terrain’s slightly taller tyre sidewalls help the wagon ride commendably well. There's no disguising the large-diameter 20-inch wheels over sharp potholes, but the experience is generally even better than we recall from any other existing E-Class.

The steering also feels slightly heavier, as though the level of assistance has been tuned for a touch more weight to add to the All-Terrain’s semi-SUV aura. If our perception is correct, it only adds to the sense of substance from the driver’s seat.

Its overall composure is maintained on dirt too, with the All-Terrain’s Victorian launch route offering a good dose of gravel and muddy unsealed roads. The all-wheel drive system keeps you pointing where you want and enables clean acceleration from the greasiest of corners. All of this highlights the All-Terrain’s potential as a ski field chaser.

We also detoured via some moderate fire trails, which gave us the chance to try the All-Terrain driving mode that lifts the suspension an extra 20mm and slackens the stability control and ABS to better suit low grip scenarios.

At speeds above 35km/h it reverts to Comfort mode, but will return to All-Terrain settings if you slow down again. In Sport mode or above 125km/h, the suspension lowers 15mm below normal to reduce aerodynamic drag. Even at full height it won’t challenge a GLE for clearance, but it’s significantly more capable than regular E-Class models.

Outside of the initial acceleration thrill, I have to say that the SQ6 sort of drives like a lot of the other Audi SUVs I’ve sampled. Which is fine because it’s dynamic and handles beautifully on the highway or city but it’s just not as fun as what I was hoping it would be. The power will satisfy everyone though. 

The different driving profiles and adaptive S air suspension really personalises the on-road experience when you want it and my favourite profile is Dynamic as the suspension and steering feels more performance focused, which I prefer. 

Ride comfort is up there with the best and you won’t really be bothered by the bumps in the road, even with the stiffer suspension, but road noise does creep in at higher speeds. 

The visibility all round is good despite thicker pillars but the rear visibility is narrow even before a car seat or passengers are back there. A digital rearview mirror would have been handy here. 

Just something interesting to note is that when you accelerate from a full stop, there can be a small lurch as if it’s rolled backwards or the brakes have held a tad too long. It’s so quick when it happens that it’s not annoying but it is noticeable in stop/start traffic.

The SQ6 is really simple to park and navigating small car parks feels like a dream. The dimensions are forgiving and the 360-degree camera system is top notch. 

The SQ6 is covered by a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating from testing done in 2024, and features nine airbags which includes side chest airbags for the second row but it’s more common to see those just on the first row so it's nice to see on a family car.

There’s a host of safety equipment included but standouts are the emergency call capability, and safe exit assist which will delay your door from opening if it detects a car or cyclist which is a handy feature if you have a kid that throws open their door like mine.

Other equipment includes driver attention warning and alert, blind-spot monitoring, tyre-pressure monitoring, intelligent seatbelt warning, adaptive cruise control with stop/go function, lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, emergency lane keeping, park assist, front/rear parking sensors, 360-degree camera system, rear cross-traffic alert, and traffic sign recognition.

There is auto emergency braking (AEB) with forward collision warning, car, pedestrian, cyclist and junction turning assist which is operational from to five to 250km/h.

There are ISOFIX child seat mounts on the rear outboard seats and three top-tether anchor points but two seats will fit best. Front passenger space might get cosy when a rearward facing child seat is installed but I had no issue fitting my big booster seat this week.

The E220 d All-Terrain is covered by Mercedes’ three-year, unlimited kilometre warranty, with service intervals pegged at either 12 months or a generous 25,000km.

Mercedes is yet to confirm capped service pricing for Australia, but we don’t expect the All-Terrain to stray too far from the $556, $1112 and $1112 figures applied to the E220 d sedan’s first three services.

The SQ6 is covered by Audi’s five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty and the battery is covered by an eight-year or up to 160,000km warranty, which are all standard terms for the class.

Audi also offers six years of complimentary roadside assistance and a servicing program for six years that costs $2080, which is competitive, and servicing intervals are at every two years or 30,000km. 

Audi includes the installation of a 7.4kW AC home charger, three charging cables and a one-year Chargefox public charging subscription with this model.