Compare the2022 Audi A5VS 2021 Mercedes C-Class Coupe

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 Coupe 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 Coupe 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 Coupe.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the A5’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The C-Class Coupe 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 Coupe.

Both the A5 and the C-Class Coupe 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, plastic fuel tanks, 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 Coupe has not been tested, yet.

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

The Audi A5’s engine uses a cast iron block for durability, while the C-Class Coupe’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 Coupe’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

Regenerative brakes improve the A5’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The C-Class Coupe 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 Coupe 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 Coupe 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 Coupe doesn’t offer launch control.

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

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

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 Coupe’s standard 45 series front tires. The A5 Premium Plus/Prestige’s optional tires have a lower 35 series profile than the C-Class Coupe’s optional 40 series front tires.

The design of the Audi A5 amounts to more than styling. The A5 has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .28 Cd. That is significantly lower than the C-Class Coupe (.32). 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 Coupe has 4.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the C-Class Coupe (84 vs. 79.3).

The A5 Coupe has .5 inches more front shoulder room, .5 inches more rear headroom and .7 inches more rear legroom than the C-Class Coupe.

The A5 Coupe has a larger trunk than the C-Class Coupe (10.9 vs. 10.5 cubic feet).

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

The A5’s standard power windows have a locking feature to keep children in the rear seat from operating them, but the driver can still raise and lower all of them with the lock engaged. Mercedes does not offer a locking feature on the C-Class Coupe’s standard power windows.

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 Coupe 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 Coupe doesn’t offer headlight washers.

Both the A5 and the C-Class Coupe 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 Coupe.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the A5 is less expensive to operate than the C-Class Coupe because it costs $318 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the A5 than the C-Class Coupe, including $149 less for a muffler, $344 less for a fuel pump and $409 less for a power steering pump.