Compare the2023 Mercedes C-Class CabrioletVS 2023 Chevrolet Camaro

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission and Drivetrain
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Mercedes C-Class Cabriolet 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 Chevrolet Camaro doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

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

The C-Class Cabriolet has a standard Active Brake Assist, which uses forward mounted sensors to warn the driver of a possible collision ahead. If the driver doesn’t react and the system determines a collision is imminent, it automatically applies the brakes at full-force in order to reduce the force of the crash or avoid it altogether. The Camaro offers an available collision warning system without the automated brake feature that would prevent or reduce the collision if the driver fails to react.

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

The C-Class Cabriolet’s optional 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. The Camaro doesn’t offer a lane departure warning system.

The C-Class Cabriolet offers an optional Surround View System to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Camaro 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.

The C-Class Cabriolet has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the Camaro’s blind spot costs extra.

The C-Class Cabriolet’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 Camaro doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the C-Class Cabriolet and the Camaro have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras and available rear cross-path warning.

Warranty

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

The C-Class Cabriolet’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Camaro’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

Reliability

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the C-Class Cabriolet has an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of some of the engines in the Camaro.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the C-Class Cabriolet gets better mileage than the Camaro:

			MPG
C-Class Cabriolet
RWD	Auto	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/29 hwy
AWD	Auto	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/30 hwy
Camaro
RWD	Manual	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	19 city/28 hwy
		3.6 DOHC V6	16 city/26 hwy
		6.2 OHV V8	16 city/24 hwy
		6.2 supercharged V8	14 city/20 hwy
	Auto	3.6 DOHC V6	18 city/29 hwy
		6.2 OHV V8	16 city/26 hwy
		6.2 supercharged V8	13 city/21 hwy

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the C-Class Cabriolet’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 Camaro doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Mercedes C-Class Cabriolet higher (6 out of 10) than the Chevrolet Camaro (1 to 6). This means the C-Class Cabriolet produces up to 45.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Camaro every 15,000 miles.

Transmission and Drivetrain

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

All wheel drive, available in the C-Class Cabriolet, 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 Chevrolet Camaro is not available with all wheel drive.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	C-Class Cabriolet	Camaro
Front Rotors	13 inches	12.6 inches

The C-Class Cabriolet’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs standard on the Camaro LS/LT are solid, not vented.

The C-Class Cabriolet stops much shorter than the Camaro:

	C-Class Cabriolet	Camaro
70 to 0 MPH	158 feet	170 feet	Car and Driver

Tires and Wheels

The C-Class Cabriolet’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 Camaro’s standard 50 series tires.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the C-Class Cabriolet can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. Run-flat tires aren’t available on some tire packages on the Camaro.

The C-Class Cabriolet offers an optional 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 Camaro; 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 Camaro don’t have a run-flat feature, either.

Suspension and Handling

The C-Class Cabriolet’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 Camaro doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the C-Class Cabriolet’s wheelbase is 1.1 inches longer than on the Camaro (111.8 inches vs. 110.7 inches).

Chassis

The C-Class Cabriolet is 3.8 inches shorter than the Camaro, making the C-Class Cabriolet easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

For excellent aerodynamics, the C-Class Cabriolet has standard flush composite headlights. The Camaro has recessed headlights that spoil its aerodynamic shape and create extra drag.

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

Cargo Capacity

The C-Class Cabriolet’s standard rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The Camaro Convertible/ZL1 1LE doesn’t offer folding rear seats.

The C-Class Cabriolet’s standard folding rear seats are split to accommodate bulky cargo. The Camaro Coupe’s standard single piece folding rear seat is not as flexible; long cargo and a passenger can’t share the rear seat.

With its convertible body style, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the C-Class offers cargo security. The Camaro’s non-lockable folding seat defeats cargo security.

Towing

Standard Trailer Stabilization on the C-Class Cabriolet 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 Camaro doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors optional at extra cost in the Camaro (except LS/LT1), the C-Class Cabriolet 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 Cabriolet’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. An easy entry system costs extra on the Camaro, and is not available on all models.

The C-Class Cabriolet’s standard power windows have a locking feature to keep children in the rear seat from operating them, but the driver can still raise and lower all of them with the lock engaged. Chevrolet does not offer a locking feature on the Camaro’s standard power windows.

The C-Class Cabriolet’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Camaro’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the C-Class Cabriolet 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 Camaro can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

Both the C-Class Cabriolet and Camaro have a standard remote lowering convertible top; however, in case of a sudden change of weather, the C-Class Cabriolet has a standard remote convertible roof that can be raised from a distance to protect the interior of the vehicle from damage. The Camaro doesn’t offer a remote closing roof, so the driver will have to run to the car, get in, turn the ignition on and raise the top to prevent the interior from being damaged.

The C-Class Cabriolet 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 Camaro doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

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

The C-Class Cabriolet’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Camaro’s standard projector halogen headlights and light instantly. LED lights also last over twenty times longer than halogen. The C-Class Cabriolet’s LED headlights produce a white, bright light using less electricity than the Camaro’s optional xenon high intensity discharge (HID) headlights. HID headlights can be slow to reach full brightness or power cycle, causing issues when flashing them to signal other vehicles; LED headlights light instantly. LED lights also last about three to four times as long.

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors standard on the C-Class Cabriolet detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The Camaro doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

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

The C-Class Cabriolet’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Heated mirrors cost extra on the Camaro and aren’t offered on the Camaro LS/LT1.

The C-Class Cabriolet 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 Camaro.

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

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the C-Class Cabriolet offers an optional Active Distance Assist Distronic, which alters the speed of the vehicle without driver intervention. This allows the driver to use cruise control more safely without constantly having to disengage it when approaching slower traffic. The Camaro doesn’t offer an adaptive cruise control.

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

Model Availability

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

Recommendations

The Mercedes C-Class outsold the Chevrolet Camaro by 6% during 2022.