Compare the2023 Mercedes C-Class CoupeVS 2023 Ford Mustang

Safety
Warranty
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission and Drivetrain
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Economic Advantages

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Mercedes C-Class Coupe have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Ford Mustang doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

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 Mustang doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The C-Class Coupe has standard 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 Mustang doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The C-Class Coupe offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Mustang 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 Mustang only offers a rear monitor and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the front or sides.

Both the C-Class Coupe and the Mustang have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, 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 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 Mustang’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			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
Mustang Fastback
RWD	Manual	2.3 turbo 4-cyl. (310 HP)	21 city/29 hwy
		2.3 turbo 4-cyl. (330 HP)	20 city/27 hwy
		GT 5.0 V8	15 city/24 hwy
		Mach 1 5.0 V8	14 city/22 hwy
	Auto	2.3 turbo 4-cyl. (330 HP)	20 city/27 hwy
		GT 5.0 V8	15 city/24 hwy
		Mach 1 5.0 V8	15 city/23 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 Mustang doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The C-Class Coupe has 1.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the Mustang EcoBoost’s standard fuel tank (17.4 vs. 15.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The C-Class Coupe has 1.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Mustang GT/Mach 1’s standard fuel tank (17.4 vs. 16 gallons).

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Mercedes C-Class Coupe higher (6 out of 10) than the Ford Mustang (3 to 5). This means the C-Class Coupe produces up to 23.4 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Mustang every 15,000 miles.

Transmission and Drivetrain

The Mercedes C-Class Coupe comes standard with an automatic transmission, for driver comfort, especially in the city. Automatic costs extra on the Mustang.

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 Ford Mustang 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 Mustang:

	C-Class Coupe	Mustang
Front Rotors	13 inches	12.6 inches

The C-Class Coupe stops shorter than the Mustang:

	C-Class Coupe	Mustang
60 to 0 MPH	109 feet	111 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction and acceleration, the C-Class Coupe has larger standard rear tires than the Mustang (245/40R18 vs. 235/55R17).

The C-Class Coupe’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 Mustang’s standard 55 series tires.

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

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 Mustang doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

Suspension and Handling

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 Mustang doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the C-Class Coupe’s wheelbase is 4.7 inches longer than on the Mustang (111.8 inches vs. 107.1 inches).

Chassis

The C-Class Coupe is 4 inches shorter than the Mustang, making the C-Class Coupe easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The C-Class Coupe has 1.2 inches more front headroom, .8 inches more rear headroom and 3 inches more rear legroom than the Mustang Fastback.

Cargo Capacity

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

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the C-Class Coupe’s trunk can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Mustang doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its trunk, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

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 Mustang doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Servicing Ease

The C-Class Coupe uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Mustang uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors optional at extra cost in the Mustang Premium/Mach 1, the C-Class Coupe offers an optional 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 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. An easy entry system costs extra on the Mustang, and is not available on all models.

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 Mustang 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 Mustang 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.

If the windows are left open on the C-Class Coupe the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Mustang can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The C-Class Coupe has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The Mustang doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

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 Mustang doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The C-Class Coupe’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Ford only offers heated mirrors on the Mustang Premium/Mach 1.

When the C-Class Coupe is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The Mustang’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

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 Mustang has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The C-Class Coupe has a 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. Dual zone air conditioning costs extra on the Mustang.

For greater rear passenger comfort, the C-Class Coupe has standard rear a/c vents to keep rear occupants more comfortable. The Mustang doesn’t offer rear vents.

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 Mustang 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 Mustang doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Model Availability

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

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the C-Class Coupe is less expensive to operate than the Mustang because typical repairs cost much less on the C-Class Coupe than the Mustang, including $19 less for front brake pads, $432 less for a timing belt/chain and $392 less for a power steering pump.