There are enough people out there for whom the statement a proper luxury saloon makes is far more important than how quickly it gets to 100kph. Of course build, quality and the luxury experience are important as well. Want proof? The four-cylinder A6 outsells its V6 brother by a huge margin. Need more proof? Mercedes is so convinced of this fact that it offers the facelifted E-class with just four-cylinder engines – there’s no V6 anymore.

Then there’s the case for the two cars here. Both drink petrol and are for people who cannot stand the thought of their luxury saloon droning and clattering away like a diesel. Not as important but still an attraction are their lower price-tags, and the Mercedes E 200 CGI and the Audi A6 2.0 TFSI cost a bit less than their diesel counterparts.   

The A6 2.0 TFSI and the E 200 CGI are the latest in this segment and that’s why we’ve got them together. Which one will give you the better experience?

From the front seats, it’s hard to decide. The A6’s cabin is thoroughly modern – attractive, technical dials, big screen for the MMI system and Audi’s typically futuristic dashboard. But then you notice the door-shut is quite light (thanks to the weight-saving aluminium doors), the paddle-shifters have a decidedly plasticky feel about them, and the shiny wood trim on the dash isn’t as attractive as it used to be. The E-class has the more traditional dashboard – the COMAND system is nowhere near as slick to operate as Audi’s MMI, the screen is much smaller and the dash design is rather cluttered and lacks the neatness of the A6. Then you notice inherent Mercedes traits – the ones we’ve always loved – like the vault-like door-shut and perfectly judged heft for all the controls. Even the inner door-handles feel like they’ve been cut out from one solid block of metal. The matte wood finish on the dash is particularly appealing and lends true elegance to the cabin, which is finished off by the analogue clock in the middle.