Compare the2023 Mercedes AMG C-Class CabrioletVS 2023 Audi R8

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The AMG 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 R8 doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The AMG 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 R8 doesn't offer collision warning or crash mitigation brakes.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the AMG C-Class Cabriolet. But it costs extra on the R8.

The AMG 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 R8 doesn’t offer a lane departure warning system.

The AMG C-Class Cabriolet offers an optional Surround View System to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The R8 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 AMG C-Class Cabriolet’s blind spot warning system uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. The R8 doesn’t offer a system to reveal objects in the driver’s blind spots.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the AMG C-Class Cabriolet’s optional rear cross-path warning system uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The R8 doesn’t offer a cross-path warning system.

The AMG 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 R8 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the AMG C-Class Cabriolet and the R8 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights and rearview cameras.

Warranty

There are over 25 percent more Mercedes dealers than there are Audi dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the AMG C-Class Cabriolet’s warranty.

Reliability

The R8’s redline is at 8700 RPM, which causes more engine wear, and a greater chance of a catastrophic engine failure. The AMG C-Class Cabriolet has a 6550 RPM redline.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Mercedes vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. With 50 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mercedes higher than Audi.

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 Audi With 37 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Mercedes higher than Audi.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the AMG C-Class Cabriolet gets better mileage than the R8:

			MPG
AMG C-Class Cabriolet
	AWD	3.0 turbo V6	18 city/28 hwy
R8
	RWD	5.2 DOHC V10	14 city/23 hwy
	AWD	5.2 DOHC V10	13 city/18 hwy

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Mercedes AMG C-Class Cabriolet higher (5 out of 10) than the Audi R8 (1). This means the AMG C-Class Cabriolet produces up to 39 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the R8 every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Mercedes AMG C-Class Cabriolet, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the R8.

Tires and Wheels

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the AMG 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. The R8 doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

Suspension and Handling

The AMG C-Class Cabriolet has a standard driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The R8’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The AMG 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 R8 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the AMG C-Class Cabriolet’s wheelbase is 7.5 inches longer than on the R8 (111.8 inches vs. 104.3 inches).

Chassis

The AMG C-Class Cabriolet is 5.1 inches narrower than the R8, making the AMG C-Class Cabriolet easier to handle and maneuver in traffic.

The design of the Mercedes AMG C-Class Cabriolet amounts to more than styling. The AMG C-Class Cabriolet has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .32 Cd. That is significantly lower than the R8 (.36) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the AMG C-Class Cabriolet get better fuel mileage.

Passenger Space

The AMG C-Class Cabriolet has standard seating for 4 passengers; the R8 can only carry 2.

The AMG C-Class Cabriolet has 31.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the R8 (81.3 vs. 50).

The AMG C-Class Cabriolet has .3 inches more front headroom and 1.1 inches more front legroom than the R8.

Cargo Capacity

The AMG C-Class Cabriolet has a much larger trunk with its top down than the R8 Spyder (7 vs. 4 cubic feet).

With its convertible body style, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the AMG C-Class offers cargo security. The R8’s non-lockable remote release defeats cargo security.

Ergonomics

The AMG C-Class Cabriolet 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 R8 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the R8, the AMG C-Class Cabriolet 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 AMG C-Class Cabriolet’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The R8 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The AMG C-Class Cabriolet offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer, warning 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 R8 doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The AMG 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. Audi does not offer a locking feature on the R8’s standard power windows.

Both the AMG C-Class Cabriolet and R8 have a standard remote lowering convertible top; however, in case of a sudden change of weather, the AMG 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 R8 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 R8’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The AMG C-Class Cabriolet’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.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the AMG C-Class Cabriolet has standard extendable sun visors. The R8 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The AMG C-Class Cabriolet’s sun-visors swivel front-to-side to block glare from the side windows. The R8’s visors are fixed into the windshield header.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the AMG C-Class Cabriolet keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The R8 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The AMG C-Class Cabriolet’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 R8 doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the AMG 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 R8 doesn’t offer an adaptive cruise control.

The AMG C-Class Cabriolet’s optional Active Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The R8 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Model Availability

The Mercedes AMG C-Class comes in coupe, convertible and sedan bodystyles; the Audi R8 isn’t available as a sedan.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the AMG C-Class Cabriolet owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the AMG C-Class Cabriolet will cost $1380 to $8500 less than the R8 over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Mercedes AMG C-Class Cabriolet will be $57684 to $88955 less than for the Audi R8.

Recommendations

The Mercedes C-Class outsold the Audi R8 by over 83 to one during 2022.