Compare the2022 Mercedes C-Class SedanVS 2022 Toyota Avalon Hybrid

The C-Class Sedan’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Avalon Hybrid doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The C-Class Sedan offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Avalon Hybrid doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The C-Class Sedan’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Avalon Hybrid doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the C-Class Sedan and the Avalon Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, available around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The C-Class Sedan comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Avalon Hybrid’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The C 300 Sedan’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 40 more horsepower (255 vs. 215) than the Avalon Hybrid’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

The C-Class Sedan has 4.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Avalon Hybrid (17.4 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

For better traction, the C-Class Sedan has larger standard tires than the Avalon Hybrid (F:225/45R18 & R:245/40R18 vs. 215/55R17).

The C-Class Sedan’s standard 225/45R18 front and 245/40R18 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series front and 40 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Avalon Hybrid XLE’s standard 55 series tires. The C-Class Sedan’s optional 255/35R19 rear tires have a lower 35 series profile than the Avalon Hybrid XSE Nightshade’s 40 series tires.

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

The C-Class Sedan’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Avalon Hybrid doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For better maneuverability, the C-Class Sedan’s turning circle is 1.4 feet tighter than the Avalon Hybrid XLE’s (36.3 feet vs. 37.7 feet). The C-Class Sedan 4MATIC’s turning circle is 1.1 feet tighter than the Avalon Hybrid Limited’s (37.6 feet vs. 38.7 feet).

The C-Class Sedan is 8.9 inches shorter than the Avalon Hybrid, making the C-Class Sedan easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The design of the Mercedes C-Class Sedan amounts to more than styling. The C-Class Sedan has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .24 Cd. That is lower than the Avalon Hybrid (.27) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the C-Class Sedan get better fuel mileage.

The C-Class Sedan has 2.3 inches more front hip room, .4 inches more rear headroom and 3.4 inches more rear hip room than the Avalon Hybrid.

With its sedan body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the C-Class offers cargo security. The Avalon Hybrid’s non-lockable remote release defeats cargo security.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the C-Class Sedan. The Avalon Hybrid doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the C-Class Sedan’s power trunk can be opened or closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Avalon Hybrid doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening trunk.

The engine in the C-Class Sedan is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Avalon Hybrid. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

The C-Class Sedan has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Avalon Hybrid doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the Avalon Hybrid Limited, the C-Class Sedan has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The C-Class Sedan’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Avalon Hybrid’s intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

The Avalon Hybrid Limited’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The C-Class Sedan’s optional adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

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

The C-Class Sedan has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Avalon Hybrid doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The C-Class Sedan’s optional Active Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Avalon Hybrid doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The Mercedes C-Class comes in coupe, convertible and sedan bodystyles; the Toyota Avalon Hybrid isn’t available as a coupe or convertible.

The Mercedes C-Class outsold the Toyota Avalon by 62% during the 2021 model year.