Compare the2022 Audi A5 SportbackVS 2021 Mercedes C-Class Sedan

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Ergonomics

Safety

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The A5 Sportback 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 Sedan 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 Sportback. But it costs extra on the C-Class Sedan.

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

The A5 Sportback’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 Sedan.

Both the A5 Sportback and the C-Class Sedan 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, height adjustable front shoulder belts, 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.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Audi A5 Sportback is safer than the Mercedes C-Class Sedan:

	A5 Sportback	C-Class Sedan
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	236	246
Neck Injury Risk	25%	60%
Neck Stress	119 lbs.	147 lbs.
Neck Compression	47 lbs.	219 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Audi A5 Sportback is safer than the Mercedes C-Class Sedan:

	A5 Sportback	C-Class Sedan
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	308 lbs.	452 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	277	459
Spine Acceleration	56 G’s	67 G’s
Hip Force	777 lbs.	949 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	12 inches
Hip Force	666 lbs.	769 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Warranty

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

Reliability

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

The battery on the A5 Sportback is in the trunk, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the A5 Sportback’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The C-Class Sedan’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

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.

Engine

The A5 Sportback 45 TFSI’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 6 more horsepower (261 vs. 255) than the C-Class Sedan’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the A5 Sportback gets better mileage than the C-Class Sedan:

			MPG
A5 Sportback
	AWD	40 TFSI 2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	26 city/34 hwy
C-Class Sedan
	RWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/35 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/33 hwy

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

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

Transmission

The A5 Sportback 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 Sedan doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The A5 Sportback’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 Sedan doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the A5 Sportback 45 TFSI’s brake rotors are larger than those on the C-Class Sedan:

	A5 Sportback 45 TFSI	C-Class Sedan
Front Rotors	13.3 inches	13 inches
Rear Rotors	13 inches	11.8 inches

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the A5 Sportback has larger standard tires than the C-Class Sedan (245/40R18 vs. 225/50R17). The A5 Sportback’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the C-Class Sedan (255/35R19 vs. 225/40R19).

The A5 Sportback’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 Sedan’s 50 series tires. The A5 Sportback’s optional tires have a lower 35 series profile than the C-Class Sedan’s optional 40 series front tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the A5 Sportback has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the C-Class Sedan.

Suspension and Handling

The A5 Sportback offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The C-Class Sedan’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

Passenger Space

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the A5 Sportback a Mid-size car, while the C-Class Sedan is rated a Compact.

The A5 Sportback has .6 inches more front headroom and .4 inches more front shoulder room than the C-Class Sedan.

Ergonomics

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the A5 Sportback to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The C-Class Sedan 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 Sportback Premium Plus/Prestige has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The C-Class Sedan doesn’t offer headlight washers.

Both the A5 Sportback and the C-Class Sedan have standard heated front seats. The A5 Sportback Prestige also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the C-Class Sedan.