Compare the2023 Mercedes AMG C-Class SedanVS 2023 Audi S3

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The AMG C-Class Sedan offers an optional Maneuvering Brake Function that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The S3 doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The AMG C-Class Sedan has a standard Surround View System to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The S3 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 Sedan has a standard blind spot warning system that 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 S3’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the AMG C-Class Sedan has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Alert and Active Brake Assist automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Audi charges extra for rear cross-path warning on the S3.

The AMG 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 S3 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the AMG C-Class Sedan and the S3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights and rearview cameras.

The Mercedes AMG C-Class Sedan weighs 565 pounds more than the Audi S3. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

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 Sedan’s warranty.

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.

The AMG C-Class Sedan’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 96 more horsepower (402 vs. 306) and 74 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 295) than the S3’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

Regenerative brakes improve the AMG C-Class Sedan’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The S3 doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The AMG C-Class Sedan has 2.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the S3 (17.4 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

A nine-speed automatic (SMG) is standard on the Mercedes AMG C-Class Sedan, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the S3.

For better stopping power the AMG C-Class Sedan’s brake rotors are larger than those on the S3:

For better traction, the AMG C-Class Sedan has larger tires than the S3 (245/45R18 vs. 225/40R18). The AMG C-Class Sedan’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the S3 (245/45R18 vs. 235/35R19).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the AMG C-Class Sedan offers optional 20-inch wheels. The S3’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the AMG C-Class Sedan 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 S3.

The AMG 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 S3 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the AMG C-Class Sedan’s wheelbase is 9.2 inches longer than on the S3 (112.8 inches vs. 103.6 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the AMG C-Class Sedan is 1.8 inches wider in the front and 3.3 inches wider in the rear than on the S3.

The AMG C-Class Sedan has 4.2 inches more front headroom, .5 inches more front legroom, 1.5 inches more front shoulder room, 1 inch more rear headroom, .8 inches more rear legroom and 2.6 inches more rear shoulder room than the S3.

The AMG C-Class Sedan has a much larger trunk than the S3 (12.6 vs. 8.3 cubic feet).

Pressing a switch automatically lowers the AMG C-Class Sedan’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The S3 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

With its sedan body style, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the AMG C-Class offers cargo security. The S3’s non-lockable folding seat and non-lockable remote release defeat cargo security.

The engine in the AMG C-Class Sedan is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the S3. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors optional at extra cost in the S3, the AMG 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 AMG C-Class Sedan’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The S3 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

Heated windshield washer fluid is standard on the AMG C-Class Sedan to defrost the washer nozzles and quickly clear ice and frost from the windshield without scraping. The S3 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer fluid. Its standard heated washer nozzles will defrost the washer fluid but not the windshield.

The S3’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The AMG 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.

The AMG C-Class Sedan’s sun-visors swivel front-to-side to block glare from the side windows. The S3’s visors are fixed into the windshield header.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the AMG C-Class Sedan keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The S3 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the AMG C-Class Sedan’s optional heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The S3 doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The AMG C-Class Sedan offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the S3.

The AMG C-Class Sedan’s Active Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The S3’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

The Mercedes AMG C-Class comes in coupe, convertible and sedan bodystyles; the Audi S3 isn’t available as a coupe or convertible.

The Mercedes C-Class outsold the Audi A3/S3/RS 3 by almost three to one during 2022.