Compare the2022 Porsche PanameraVS 2021 Mercedes AMG C-Class Sedan

Both the Panamera and AMG C-Class Sedan have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Panamera 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 AMG 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.

The Panamera offers available whiplash protection, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the whiplash protection system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The AMG C-Class Sedan doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the Panamera helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard and even aims one of the vehicle’s headlights in the direction of the person or object. The AMG C-Class Sedan doesn’t offer a night vision system.

The Panamera’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 AMG C-Class Sedan.

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

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

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Porsche vehicles are better in initial quality than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Porsche 15th in initial quality. With 30 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is ranked 25th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Porsche vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Porsche second in reliability, above the industry average. With 36 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is ranked 15th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Porsche vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Porsche 11 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

The Panamera has more powerful engines than the AMG C-Class Sedan:

As tested in Motor Trend the Panamera 4S 2.9 turbo V6 is faster than the AMG C 63 S Sedan 4.0 turbo V8:

On the EPA test cycle the Panamera Sedan running on electricity gets better mileage than the AMG C-Class Sedan:

The Panamera 4 E-Hybrid can drive on battery power alone for up to 19 miles. The AMG C-Class Sedan must run its internal combustion engine to move.

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Panamera Turbo/GTS’ fuel efficiency. The AMG C-Class Sedan doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

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

The Panamera E-Hybrid’s standard fuel tank has 3.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the AMG C-Class Sedan (21.1 vs. 17.4 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Panamera’s standard fuel tank has 6.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the AMG C-Class Sedan (23.7 vs. 17.4 gallons).

For better stopping power the Panamera Turbo S’ brake rotors are larger than those on the AMG C-Class Sedan:

The Panamera stops much shorter than the AMG C-Class Sedan:

For better traction, the Panamera has larger standard tires than the AMG C-Class Sedan (F:265/45R19 & R:295/40R19 vs. F:225/45R18 & R:245/40R18). The Panamera Turbo S/Turbo S E-Hybrid’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the AMG C-Class Sedan (F:275/35R21 & R:325/30R21 vs. F:245/40R18 & R:265/40R18).

The Panamera’s optional 315/30R21 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 30 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the AMG C 63 Sedan’s optional 35 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Panamera has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the AMG C 63 Sedan. The Panamera’s optional 21-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels optional on the AMG C 63 Sedan.

The Panamera offers active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The AMG C-Class Sedan doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The Panamera offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Mercedes doesn’t offer an active suspension on the AMG C-Class Sedan.

The Panamera has a standard automatic load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The AMG C-Class Sedan doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Panamera’s wheelbase is 4.3 inches longer than on the AMG C-Class Sedan (116.1 inches vs. 111.8 inches). The Panamera Executive’s wheelbase is 10.2 inches longer than on the AMG C-Class Sedan (122 inches vs. 111.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Panamera is 2.1 inches wider in the front and 3.6 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the AMG C-Class Sedan.

The Panamera’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (52% to 48%) than the AMG C-Class Sedan’s (56.3% to 43.7%). This gives the Panamera more stable handling and braking.

The Panamera GTS handles at 1.02 G’s, while the AMG C 43 Sedan pulls only .93 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Panamera’s turning circle is tighter than the AMG C-Class Sedan’s:

The front grille of the Panamera uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The AMG C-Class Sedan doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Panamera offers available computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The AMG C-Class Sedan doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Panamera Sedan a Large car, while the AMG C-Class Sedan is rated a Compact.

The Panamera has 6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the AMG C-Class Sedan (96 vs. 90).

The Panamera has .9 inches more front headroom, .2 inches more front legroom, 2.8 inches more front shoulder room, .9 inches more rear headroom and .4 inches more rear legroom than the AMG C-Class Sedan.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Panamera’s available rear seats recline. The AMG C-Class Sedan’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Panamera has a much larger trunk with its rear seat up than the AMG C Sedan (17.6 vs. 12.6 cubic feet).

The Panamera Sport Turismo has a much larger trunk with its rear seat up than the AMG C-Class Sedan (18.3 vs. 12.6 cubic feet).

A control in the cargo area automatically lowers the Panamera’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The AMG C-Class Sedan doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Porsche service is better than Mercedes. J.D. Power ranks Porsche first in service department satisfaction. With a 32% lower rating, Mercedes is ranked 6th.

The Panamera’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The AMG C-Class Sedan does not have an oil pressure gauge.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Panamera offers an optional rear wiper. The AMG C-Class Sedan doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

A power rear sunshade is optional in the Panamera (except Sport Turismo) and power rear side window sunshades are optional in the Panamera to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The AMG C-Class Sedan doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

Both the Panamera and the AMG C-Class Sedan have standard heated front seats. The Panamera also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the AMG C-Class Sedan.

Optional air conditioned front and rear seats keep the Panamera’s passengers comfortable and take the sting out of hot leather in summer. The AMG C-Class Sedan doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats in the rear.

On extremely cold winter days, the Panamera’s optional heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The AMG C-Class Sedan doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

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

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Porsche Panamera has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the AMG C-Class Sedan.

The Panamera Sport Turismo offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet in the cargo area, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The AMG C-Class Sedan doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.