1992 Showdown: Audi S4 vs. BMW M5 vs. Mercedes 500E Photos
View exterior and interior photos of the three most powerful sports sedans in America in 1992.
These three combatants are all four-door, five-passenger sedans that hail from Germany, but that's where the similarities end. The Audi is powered by a turbocharged five-cylinder engine hooked to a manual transmission and all-wheel drive, while the BMW uses a straight-six, manual, and rear-drive, and the Benz is a burly V-8 with a four-speed automatic. All feel special—the Mercedes is built by Porsche and gets unique flared fenders, while the BMW's strange wheels and their brake-cooling vanes distinguish it in any parking lot—but one is more special than the rest.
Here's 859 horsepower parked in a field.
With 227 horsepower out of a turbocharged 2.2-liter five-cylinder, the Audi S4 is the least powerful sedan of the trio.
The Audi's all-wheel drive would make it the champ in the snow. But this test didn't include any of that.
The Audi has the shortest wheelbase but the longest overall length. Which means: lots of overhang.
Don't forget to take that ball-point pen out of your pocket before you climb into the Audi's white leather seats.
With only 2.2 liters of displacement, the Audi could use more boost but still did 0-60 in 6.1 seconds.
The Mercedes-Benz 500E is built by Porsche and looks it, with its flared fenders.
The biggest problem with the 500E is that this one cost $88,685.
Everything in the 500E interior feels solid, from the firm seats to the thunk of the steering wheel stalks.
"Note to self: Invest $5000 in Apple when we get back from this comparison test. Don't forget!"
The 322-hp V-8 is borrowed from the SL.
The M5's strange wheels include cooling vanes for the brakes. They make the tires look like whitewalls.
Just a 156-mph four-door sedan.
A manual transmission hooked to a 7250-rpm, 310-hp inline six is a recipe for fun.
This 3.5-liter hunk of artwork makes excellent sounds, along with lots of power.
See? Not really whitewalls.
View Exterior Photos of the 2026 Mazda 3 Hatchback
View Interior Photos of the 2026 Mazda 3 Hatchback
View Photos of the 2024 Kia EV9 Land AWD
View Photos of the 1987 Sterling 825SL
