Compare the2022 Mercedes C-Class CoupeVS 2023 Nissan Z

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
Drivetrain
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Recommendations

Safety

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

The Mercedes C-Class Coupe has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Z doesn’t offer knee airbags.

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

The C-Class Coupe offers an optional Surround View System to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Z only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

The C-Class Coupe’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 Z doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the C-Class Coupe and the Z have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, available lane departure warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

Warranty

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

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Mercedes vehicles are more reliable than Nissan With 10 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Mercedes higher than Nissan.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the C-Class Coupe gets better mileage than the Z:

			MPG
C-Class Coupe
RWD	Auto	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/31 hwy
AWD	Auto	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/31 hwy
Z
RWD	Manual	3.0 turbo V6	18 city/24 hwy
	Auto	3.0 turbo V6	19 city/28 hwy

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the C-Class Coupe’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Z doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

Drivetrain

All wheel drive, available in the C-Class Coupe, provides the best traction for acceleration in wet, dry, and icy conditions. In corners, all wheel drive allows both outside wheels to provide power, balancing the car. This allows for better handling. The Nissan Z is not available with all wheel drive.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	C-Class Coupe	Z
Front Rotors	13 inches	12.6 inches

Tires and Wheels

The C-Class Coupe’s standard 245/40R18 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Z Sport Coupe’s standard 45 series tires.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the C-Class Coupe can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Z doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The C-Class Coupe 300 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 Z; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

The C-Class Coupe has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Z’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The C-Class Coupe’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 Z doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the C-Class Coupe’s wheelbase is 11.4 inches longer than on the Z (111.8 inches vs. 100.4 inches).

The C-Class Coupe’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (53.8% to 46.2%) than the Z’s (56.4% to 43.6%). This gives the C-Class Coupe more stable handling and braking.

Passenger Space

The C-Class Coupe has standard seating for 4 passengers; the Z can only carry 2.

The C-Class Coupe has .6 inches more front headroom and .6 inches more front shoulder room than the Z.

Cargo Capacity

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

Towing

Standard Trailer Stabilization Program on the C-Class Coupe uses the Electronic Stability Program sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Z doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Ergonomics

The C-Class Coupe 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 Z doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

When three different drivers share the C-Class Coupe, the memory system makes it convenient for all three. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat (memory seat optional for the front passenger), steering wheel position and outside mirror angle. The Z doesn’t offer a memory system.

The C-Class Coupe’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Z doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The C-Class Coupe offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Z doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The C-Class Coupe’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Z has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

The C-Class Coupe’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 Z’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the C-Class Coupe offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Z doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The C-Class Coupe’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Nissan only offers heated mirrors on the Z Performance.

The C-Class Coupe’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Z has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the C-Class Coupe keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Z doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

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

The C-Class Coupe’s standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The Z doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Mercedes C-Class offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Z doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

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

Model Availability

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

Recommendations

The Mercedes C-Class outsold the Nissan Z by over 203 to one during the 2021 model year.