Compare the2024 Honda Civic Type RVS 2023 Mercedes AMG C-Class Sedan

The Honda Civic Type R 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 AMG C-Class Sedan doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the Civic Type R deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The Civic Type R’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The AMG C-Class Sedan’s side airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

The Civic Type R’s 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 AMG C-Class Sedan doesn’t offer a lane departure warning system.

Both the Civic Type R and the AMG C-Class Sedan have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

Honda’s powertrain warranty covers the Civic Type R 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Mercedes covers the AMG C-Class Sedan. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the AMG C-Class Sedan ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

Honda pays for scheduled maintenance on the Civic Type R for 2 years or 24,000 miles. Honda will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Mercedes doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the AMG C-Class Sedan.

There are almost 3 times as many Honda dealers as there are Mercedes dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Civic Type R’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Honda vehicles are better in initial quality than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Honda above average in initial quality. With 11 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Honda 24 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

On the EPA test cycle the Civic Type R gets better fuel mileage than the AMG C 43 Sedan (22 city/28 hwy vs. 19 city/26 hwy).

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Honda Civic Type R uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The AMG C-Class Sedan requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

For better traction, the Civic Type R has larger tires than the AMG C-Class Sedan (265/30R19 vs. 245/45R18).

The Civic Type R’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 30 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the AMG C-Class Sedan’s standard 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Civic Type R has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the AMG C-Class Sedan.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Civic Type R is 1.4 inches wider in the front and .4 inches wider in the rear than on the AMG C-Class Sedan.

The Civic Type R Touring handles at 1.03 G’s, while the AMG C 43 Sedan pulls only .95 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Civic Type R Touring executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the AMG C 43 Sedan (24.5 seconds @ .76 average G’s vs. 24.9 seconds @ .76 average G’s).

The Honda Civic Type R may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 900 pounds less than the Mercedes AMG C-Class Sedan.

The Civic Type R is 7.7 inches shorter than the AMG C-Class Sedan, making the Civic Type R easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Civic Type R has .6 inches more front legroom, .7 inches more front shoulder room, 1.4 inches more rear legroom and .4 inches more rear shoulder room than the AMG C-Class Sedan.

The Civic Type R’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The AMG C-Class Sedan does not have an oil pressure gauge.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Civic Type R has a standard rear wiper. The AMG C-Class Sedan doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Honda Civic Type R has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the AMG C-Class Sedan.

The Civic was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2024 and 9 more times in the last 40 years. The AMG C-Class Sedan has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

The Honda Civic outsold the Mercedes C-Class by over six to one during 2023.