Compare the2024 Mercedes C-Class SedanVS 2024 Audi A3

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Recommendations

Safety

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Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The 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 A3 doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

The C-Class Sedan offers an optional Surround View System to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The A3 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 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 A3’s blind spot costs extra.

The 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 A3 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the C-Class Sedan and the A3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive and rear cross-path warning.

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 C-Class Sedan’s warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 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 20 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.

Engine

The C-Class Sedan’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 54 more horsepower (255 vs. 201) and 74 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 221) than the A3’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Mercedes C-Class Sedan is faster than the Audi A3:

	C-Class Sedan	A3
Zero to 60 MPH	6.7 sec	6.8 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	96 MPH	95 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

The C-Class Sedan has 2.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the A3 (17.4 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Mercedes C-Class Sedan higher (8 out of 10) than the Audi A3 (7). This means the C-Class Sedan produces up to 5.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the A3 every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Mercedes C-Class Sedan, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the A3.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the C-Class Sedan’s brake rotors are larger than those on the A3:

	C-Class Sedan	A3
Front Rotors	13 inches	12 inches
Rear Rotors	11.8 inches	10.7 inches

The C-Class Sedan’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the A3 are solid, not vented.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction and acceleration, the C-Class Sedan has larger standard rear tires than the A3 (245/40R18 vs. 225/45R17). The C-Class Sedan’s optional rear tires are larger than the largest rear tires available on the A3 (255/35R19 vs. 225/45R17).

The C-Class Sedan’s standard 245/40R18 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the A3’s standard 45 series tires. The C-Class Sedan’s optional 255/35R19 rear tires have a lower 35 series profile than the A3’s optional 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the C-Class Sedan has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the A3. The C-Class Sedan’s optional 19-inch wheels are larger than the 18-inch wheels optional on the A3.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the 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. The A3 doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

Suspension and Handling

The 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 A3 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the C-Class Sedan’s wheelbase is 9.3 inches longer than on the A3 (112.8 inches vs. 103.5 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the C-Class Sedan is 1.6 inches wider in the front and 3.2 inches wider in the rear than on the A3.

Chassis

The design of the Mercedes C-Class Sedan amounts to more than styling. The C-Class Sedan has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .24 Cd. That is significantly lower than the A3 (.29) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the C-Class Sedan get better fuel mileage.

Passenger Space

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the C-Class Sedan a Compact car, while the A3 is rated a Subcompact.

The C-Class Sedan has 6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the A3 (93 vs. 87).

The C-Class Sedan has 3.2 inches more front headroom, .5 inches more front legroom, 1.5 inches more front shoulder room, .9 inches more rear headroom, .8 inches more rear legroom and 2.6 inches more rear shoulder room than the A3.

Cargo Capacity

The C-Class Sedan has a much larger trunk than the A3 (12.6 vs. 10.9 cubic feet).

Pressing a switch automatically lowers the C-Class Sedan’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The A3 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

With its sedan body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the C-Class offers cargo security. The A3’s non-lockable folding seat and non-lockable remote release defeat cargo security.

Servicing Ease

The engine in the C-Class Sedan is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the A3. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

The C-Class Sedan 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 A3 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors optional at extra cost in the A3, the 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 C-Class Sedan’s standard easy entry and exit feature raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The A3 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The C-Class Sedan 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 A3 doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

Consumer Reports rated the C-Class Sedan’s headlight performance “Excellent,” a higher rating than the A3’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the C-Class Sedan offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The A3 doesn’t offer cornering lights. The C-Class Sedan also offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

The C-Class Sedan’s sun-visors swivel front-to-side to block glare from the side windows. The A3’s visors are fixed into the windshield header.

A power rear sunshade and manual rear side window sunshades are standard in the C-Class Sedan to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The A3 doesn’t offer a rear or rear side window sunshades.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the C-Class Sedan keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The A3 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the 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 A3 doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Mercedes C-Class has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the A3.

The C-Class Sedan has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The A3 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The C-Class Sedan’s optional Active Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, stopping and changing direction automatically. The A3’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

Model Availability

The Mercedes C-Class comes in coupe, convertible and sedan bodystyles; the Audi A3 isn’t available as a coupe or convertible.

Recommendations

The Mercedes C-Class outsold the Audi A3/S3/RS 3 by over two to one during 2023.