Compare the2022 Genesis G80VS 2021 Mercedes C-Class Sedan

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

Safety

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Both the G80 and C-Class Sedan have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The G80 has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The C-Class Sedan’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the G80 with its optional rear seat reminder are reminded to check the back seat when a sensor determines the back seat is occupied. The C-Class Sedan doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The G80 has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The C-Class Sedan doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

The G80 has standard Anti-Whiplash Front Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Anti-Whiplash Front Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The C-Class Sedan doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The G80 offers optional Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist-Reverse that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The C-Class Sedan doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The G80’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the C-Class Sedan.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the G80 has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Rear cross-path warning costs extra on the C-Class Sedan.

Both the G80 and the C-Class Sedan have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Genesis G80 is safer than the Mercedes C-Class Sedan:

	G80	C-Class Sedan
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	137	246
Neck Injury Risk	34%	60%
Neck Compression	43 lbs.	219 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	28/23 lbs.	311/161 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 Genesis G80 is safer than the Mercedes C-Class Sedan:

	G80	C-Class Sedan
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	101	165
Chest Movement	.7 inches	1.1 inches
Hip Force	290 lbs.	304 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	94	212
Spine Acceleration	24 G’s	48 G’s
Hip Force	242 lbs.	838 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	198	395
Spine Acceleration	34 G’s	51 G’s

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

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the G80 its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2021, a rating granted to only 73 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The C-Class Sedan is only a standard “Top Pick” for 2021.

Warranty

The G80 comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes free 24-hour roadside assistance. The C-Class Sedan’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Genesis’ powertrain warranty covers the G80 6 years and 50,000 miles longer than Mercedes covers the C-Class Sedan. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the C-Class Sedan ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The G80’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the C-Class Sedan’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Genesis pays for scheduled maintenance on the G80 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Genesis will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Mercedes doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the C-Class Sedan.

Reliability

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the G80 has a standard 850-amp battery. The C-Class Sedan’s 800-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

The battery on the G80 is in the trunk, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the G80’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.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the G80 first among upper midsize premium cars in their 2021 Initial Quality Study. The C-Class Sedan isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Genesis vehicles are better in initial quality than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Genesis 7th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 45 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is ranked 25th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Genesis vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Genesis 8th in reliability, above the industry average. With 20 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is ranked 15th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Genesis vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Genesis 15 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

Engine

The G80’s standard 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 45 more horsepower (300 vs. 255) and 38 lbs.-ft. more torque (311 vs. 273) than the C-Class Sedan’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The G80’s optional 3.5 turbo V6 produces 120 more horsepower (375 vs. 255) and 118 lbs.-ft. more torque (391 vs. 273) than the C-Class Sedan’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Genesis G80 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.

The G80 3.5T’s standard fuel tank has 1.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the C-Class Sedan (19.3 vs. 17.4 gallons).

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the G80’s brake rotors are larger than those on the C-Class Sedan:

	G80 2.5T	G80 3.5T	C-Class Sedan
Front Rotors	13.6 inches	14.2 inches	13 inches
Rear Rotors	12.8 inches	13.6 inches	11.8 inches

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the G80 has larger standard tires than the C-Class Sedan (245/50R18 vs. 225/50R17). The G80’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the C-Class Sedan (F:245/45R19 & R:275/40R19 vs. F:225/40R19 & R:255/35R19).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the G80 has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the C-Class Sedan. The G80’s optional 20-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels optional on the C-Class Sedan.

The G80 has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the C-Class Sedan; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed. Some tire options on the C-Class Sedan don’t have a run-flat feature, either.

Suspension and Handling

The G80 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.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the G80’s wheelbase is 6.7 inches longer than on the C-Class Sedan (118.5 inches vs. 111.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the G80 is 2.6 inches wider in the front and 4.1 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the C-Class Sedan.

The G80 AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the C 300 Sedan 4MATIC (25.9 seconds @ .71 average G’s vs. 26.3 seconds @ .7 average G’s).

Chassis

The design of the Genesis G80 amounts to more than styling. The G80 has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .27 Cd. That is lower than the C-Class Sedan (.3) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the G80 get better fuel mileage.

Passenger Space

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the G80 a Mid-size car, while the C-Class Sedan is rated a Compact.

The G80 has 13.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the C-Class Sedan (103.8 vs. 90).

The G80 has 4 inches more front headroom, .8 inches more front legroom, 3 inches more front shoulder room, 1 inch more rear headroom, 3.5 inches more rear legroom and 2.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the C-Class Sedan.

Cargo Capacity

The G80 has a larger trunk than the C-Class Sedan (13.1 vs. 12.6 cubic feet).

Ergonomics

A power rear sunshade and manual rear side window sunshades are optional in the G80 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The C-Class Sedan doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

Both the G80 and the C-Class Sedan have standard heated front seats. The G80 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 Sedan.

The G80 offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the C-Class Sedan.

The G80’s optional Smart Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Smart Parking Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The C-Class Sedan’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.