Compare the2022 Audi A5VS 2021 Mercedes C-Class Cabriolet

The A5’s standard pretensioning seatbelts also sense rear collisions and remove slack from the seatbelts to help protect the occupants from whiplash and other injuries. The C-Class Cabriolet doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The A5 has a standard Secondary Collision Brake Assist, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The C-Class Cabriolet doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the A5. But it costs extra on the C-Class Cabriolet.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the A5’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The C-Class Cabriolet doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

The A5’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the C-Class Cabriolet.

Both the A5 and the C-Class Cabriolet have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

For its top level performance in all IIHS frontal, side, rear impact and roof-crush tests, and its standard front crash prevention system, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the A5 the rating of “Top Pick” for 2017, a rating granted to only 217 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The C-Class Cabriolet has not been tested, yet.

The A5’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the C-Class Cabriolet’s (12 vs. 5 years).

The Audi A5’s engine uses a cast iron block for durability, while the C-Class Cabriolet’s engine uses an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Audi vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Audi 6 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

The A5’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 6 more horsepower (261 vs. 255) than the C-Class Cabriolet’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the A5 Cabriolet gets better fuel mileage than the C 300 Cabriolet 4MATIC (23 city/31 hwy vs. 22 city/30 hwy).

Regenerative brakes improve the A5’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The C-Class Cabriolet doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Audi A5 uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The C-Class Cabriolet requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The A5 offers a standard sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The C-Class Cabriolet doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The A5’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The C-Class Cabriolet doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the A5’s brake rotors are larger than those on the C-Class Cabriolet:

For better traction, the A5 has larger standard tires than the C-Class Cabriolet (245/40R18 vs. 225/45R18). The A5 Premium Plus/Prestige’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the C-Class Cabriolet (255/35R19 vs. 225/45R18).

The A5’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the C-Class Cabriolet’s standard 45 series front tires. The A5 Premium Plus/Prestige’s optional tires have a lower 35 series profile than the AMG C 43 Cabriolet’s optional 40 series front tires.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the A5 is .7 inches wider in the front and 1.6 inches wider in the rear than on the C-Class Cabriolet.

The Audi A5 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 50 to 250 pounds less than the Mercedes C-Class Cabriolet.

The design of the Audi A5 amounts to more than styling. The A5 has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .28 Cd. That is lower than the C-Class Cabriolet (.3). A more efficient exterior helps the A5 go faster and keeps the interior quieter. It also helps the A5 get better fuel mileage.

The A5 Cabriolet has 1.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the C-Class Cabriolet (83 vs. 81.3).

The A5 Cabriolet has a larger trunk with its top up than the C-Class Cabriolet with its top up (9.3 vs. 8.8 cubic feet).

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the A5’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The C-Class Cabriolet doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the A5’s available trunk can be opened just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The C-Class Cabriolet doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its trunk, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the A5 to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The C-Class Cabriolet doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The A5 Premium Plus/Prestige has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The C-Class Cabriolet doesn’t offer headlight washers.

Both the A5 and the C-Class Cabriolet have standard heated front seats. The A5 Premium Plus/Prestige also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the C-Class Cabriolet.