Compare the2024 Mercedes AMG C-Class SedanVS 2024 Audi S3

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

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Mercedes AMG C-Class Sedan have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision. The Audi S3 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

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 automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

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-Traffic Assist 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, 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 554 to 1211 pounds more than the Audi S3. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

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 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 AMG C 43’s standard 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. The AMG C 63 S E’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 365 more horsepower (671 vs. 306) and 457 lbs.-ft. more torque (752 vs. 295) than the S3’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

The AMG C 63 S E can travel with zero emissions for 7 miles. The S3 can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

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.

Transmission

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.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	AMG C 43	AMG C 63 S E	S3
Front Rotors	14.6 inches	15.4 inches	14.1 inches
Rear Rotors	12.6 inches	14.6 inches	12.2 inches

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the AMG C-Class Sedan has larger standard tires than the S3 (245/45R18 vs. 225/40R18). The AMG C 63 S E’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the S3 (F:265/35R20 & R:275/35R20 vs. 235/35R19).

The AMG C-Class Sedan’s optional 265/30R20 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 30 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the S3’s optional 35 series tires.

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.

Suspension and Handling

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.

Passenger Space

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.

Cargo Capacity

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.

Servicing Ease

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.

Ergonomics

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 and exit feature raises the steering wheel, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The S3 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The AMG C-Class Sedan’s standard Keyless-Go allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the trunk, and start the car, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Keyless Engine Start/Stop standard on the S3 only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the car.

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.

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

Recommendations

J.D. Power and Associates rated the AMG C-Class Sedan third among compact premium cars in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The S3 isn’t in the top three.

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