Compare 2012 Audi A8 vs 2012 BMW 7-Series vs 2012 Mercedes-Benz S Class

2012 Audi A8
X
2012 BMW 7-Series
X
2012 Mercedes-Benz S Class
X
Select style
4-Door Sedan
Style MPG City MPG Hwy Invoice MSRP
A8 4-Door Sedan 18 28 $73,237 $78,750
A8 L 4-Door Sedan 18 28 $78,772 $84,700
A8 L 4-Door Sedan W12 14 21 $124,157 $133,500
Select style
4-Door Sedan 740Li RWD
Style MPG City MPG Hwy Invoice MSRP
7 Series 4-Door Sedan 740Li RWD 17 25 $69,460 $75,500
7 Series 4-Door Sedan 740i RWD 17 25 $65,320 $71,000
7 Series 4-Door Sedan 750Li ActiveHybrid RWD 17 24 $92,920 $101,000
7 Series 4-Door Sedan 750Li RWD 14 22 $81,145 $88,200
7 Series 4-Door Sedan 750Li xDrive AWD 14 20 $83,905 $91,200
7 Series 4-Door Sedan 750i ActiveHybrid RWD 17 24 $89,240 $97,000
7 Series 4-Door Sedan 750i RWD 15 22 $77,555 $84,300
7 Series 4-Door Sedan 750i xDrive AWD 14 20 $80,315 $87,300
7 Series 4-Door Sedan 760Li RWD 13 19 $126,315 $137,300
7 Series 4-Door Sedan ALPINA B7 LWB RWD 14 22 $116,380 $126,500
7 Series 4-Door Sedan ALPINA B7 LWB xDrive AWD 14 20 $119,140 $129,500
7 Series 4-Door Sedan ALPINA B7 SWB RWD 14 22 $112,790 $122,600
7 Series 4-Door Sedan ALPINA B7 SWB xDrive AWD 14 20 $115,550 $125,600
Select style
4-Door Sedan S 350 BlueTEC 4MATIC
Style MPG City MPG Hwy Invoice MSRP
S-Class 4-Door Sedan S 350 BlueTEC 4MATIC 21 31 $86,072 $92,550
S-Class 4-Door Sedan S 400 Hybrid RWD 19 25 $85,421 $91,850
S-Class 4-Door Sedan S 550 4MATIC 15 24 $90,675 $97,500
S-Class 4-Door Sedan S 550 RWD 15 25 $87,885 $94,500
S-Class 4-Door Sedan S 600 RWD 12 19 $148,335 $159,500
S-Class 4-Door Sedan S 63 AMG RWD 15 23 $129,549 $139,300
S-Class 4-Door Sedan S 65 AMG RWD 12 19 $196,137 $210,900

Pricing

Invoice Price
$73,237
$69,460
$86,072

Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price
$78,750
$75,500
$92,550

Monthly Payment Estimate
$1313 / month
$1258 / month
$1543 / month

The Car Connection's Take

TCC Rating
8.8
9.4
9.2

TCC’s Bottom Line
The 2012 Audi A8 models might still be fighting for the most prestige among flagships, but they're in the top tier from inside, thanks to their impeccable cabin, innovative cabin tech, and a lean, athletic driving feel. The 2012 BMW 7-Series is the Bavarian automaker's flagship model, and it cleverly wraps vast interior space, industry-leading tech, and the expected BMW fleet-footedness. The Mercedes-Benz S-Class has a wide range of personalities--all of them superbly comfortably, some of them outrageously powerful.

TCC Likes

TCC Dislikes

Fuel Economy

City
18 mpg 17 mpg 21 mpg

Highway
28 mpg 25 mpg 31 mpg

Vehicle

EPA Classification
Large Large Large

Interior Dimensions

Second Hip Room (in)
- TBD - - TBD - 60.9

Front Shoulder Room (in)
59.1 59.2 59.1

Passenger Volume (ft³)
115.1 115 109.0

Second Head Room (in)
38.1 38.9 38.5

Second Shoulder Room (in)
57.8 57.6 58.7

Front Leg Room (in)
41.4 41.3 41.9

Passenger Capacity
5 5 5

Front Hip Room (in)
- TBD - - TBD - 60.8

Second Leg Room (in)
38.7 44.3 42.3

Front Head Room (in)
37.2 40.8 37.8

Exterior Dimensions

Track Width, Front (in)
64.7 63.4 63.1

Min Ground Clearance (in)
4.7 5.8 5.75

Length, Overall (in)
202.2 205.2 206.5

Height, Overall (in)
57.5 58.3 58.0

Track Width, Rear (in)
64.4 65.0 63.2

Wheelbase (in)
117.8 126.4 124.6

Liftover Height (in)
- TBD - - TBD - - TBD -

Width, Max w/o mirrors (in)
76.7 74.9 73.7

Cargo Area Dimensions

Trunk Volume (ft³)
13.2 17.7 16.4

Brakes

Drum - Rear (Yes or )
NA NA NA

Brake ABS System
4-Wheel 4-Wheel 4-Wheel

Disc - Rear (Yes or )
Yes Yes Yes

Rear Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)
14.0 x - TBD - 13.6 x 0.94 11.8 x 0.9

Brake Type
Pwr Pwr Pwr

Rear Drum Diam x Width (in)
NA NA NA

Disc - Front (Yes or )
Yes Yes Yes

Front Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)
15.0 x - TBD - 14.7 x 1.42 13.2 x 1.25

Fuel Tank

Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx (gal)
23.8 21.7 23.8

Steering

Steering Ratio (:1), Overall
15.1 19.1 17.83

Turning Diameter - Curb to Curb (ft)
41.7 41.7 40.0

Steering Type
Pwr Rack & Pinion Pwr Rack & Pinion Steering Pwr Rack & Pinion

Lock to Lock Turns (Steering)
- TBD - NA 2.8

Turning Diameter - Wall to Wall (ft)
- TBD - - TBD - - TBD -

Tires

Rear Tire Order Code
NA NA NA

Front Tire Size
P255/45R19 P245/50R18 P255/45R18

Spare Tire Size
Compact NA - TBD -

Front Tire Order Code
NA NA NA

Spare Tire Order Code
NA NA NA

Rear Tire Size
P255/45R19 P245/50R18 P255/45R18

Trailering

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)
NA - TBD - NA

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)
NA NA NA

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)
NA - TBD - NA

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)
NA NA NA

Weight Information

Base Curb Weight (lbs)
4409 4178 4784

Wheels

Front Wheel Size (in)
19 x - TBD - 18 x 8.0 18 x 8.5

Spare Wheel Size (in)
Compact NA - TBD -

Rear Wheel Material
Aluminum Aluminum Aluminum

Rear Wheel Size (in)
19 x - TBD - 18 x 8.0 18 x 8.5

Front Wheel Material
Aluminum Aluminum Aluminum

Spare Wheel Material
Aluminum NA - TBD -

Cooling System

Total Cooling System Capacity (qts)
12.7 9.5 - TBD -

Electrical

Cold Cranking Amps @ 0° F (Primary)
- TBD - - TBD - - TBD -

Maximum Alternator Capacity (amps)
140 180 - TBD -

Engine

SAE Net Torque @ RPM
328 @ 3500 332 @ 1500-4500 455 @ 2400

Engine Order Code
NA NA NA

Displacement
4.2L/254 3.0L/182 3.0L/182

SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM
372 @ 6800 326 @ 5800 240 @ 3600

Engine Type
Gas V8 Turbocharged Gas I6 Turbocharged Diesel V6

Fuel System
Direct Injection Direct Injection Electronic Fuel Injection

Mileage

EPA Fuel Economy Est - Hwy (MPG)
28 25 31

EPA Fuel Economy Est - City (MPG)
18 17 21

Fuel Economy Est-Combined (MPG)
21 20 25

Transmission

Clutch Size (in)
NA NA NA

Third Gear Ratio (:1)
2.11 1.52 1.92

Trans Type
8 6 7

Drivetrain
All Wheel Drive Rear Wheel Drive All Wheel Drive

Fifth Gear Ratio (:1)
1.29 0.87 1.00

Trans Description Cont. Again
NA NA NA

Reverse Ratio (:1)
3.32 3.40 3.42

Eighth Gear Ratio (:1)
0.67 NA -

Second Gear Ratio (:1)
3.14 2.34 2.86

Trans Order Code
NA NA NA

Final Drive Axle Ratio (:1)
3.20 3.46 3.07

Fourth Gear Ratio (:1)
1.67 1.14 1.37

Trans Description Cont.
Automatic w/Manual Shift Automatic Automatic

Sixth Gear Ratio (:1)
1.00 0.69 0.82

Seventh Gear Ratio (:1)
0.84 NA -

First Gear Ratio (:1)
4.71 4.17 4.38

Summary

Vehicle Name
Audi A8 BMW 7 Series Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Body Style
Sedan 4-Door Sedan 4 Door Sedan

Suspension

Shock Absorber Diameter - Front (mm)
NA NA - TBD -

Stabilizer Bar Diameter - Front (in)
- TBD - NA - TBD -

Suspension Type - Rear
Trapezoidal-Link Integral-V Independent

Suspension Type - Rear (Cont.)
NA NA NA

Shock Absorber Diameter - Rear (mm)
NA NA - TBD -

Suspension Type - Front
5-Link Double-Wishbone Independent

Stabilizer Bar Diameter - Rear (in)
- TBD - NA NA

Suspension Type - Front (Cont.)
NA NA NA

Emissions

EPA Greenhouse Gas Score
4 4 5

Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year
8.9 9.3 8.5

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