Compare the2024 Mercedes AMG C-Class SedanVS 2024 Volkswagen Golf R

The AMG C-Class Sedan’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Golf R doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The Mercedes AMG C-Class Sedan has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Golf R doesn’t offer knee airbags.

Earlier warning of stopped traffic, traffic signals, dangerous road conditions, weather, or accidents, can keep driver's safer and prevent crashes. The AMG C-Class Sedan offers optional Car-to-X Communication, a system that seemlesly communicates important warnings to the driver about impending danger, if they're available. The Golf R doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from infrastructure or other vehicles.

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 Golf R 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.

Both the AMG C-Class Sedan and the Golf R have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

The Mercedes AMG C-Class Sedan weighs 620 to 1352 pounds more than the Volkswagen Golf R. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, with its optional front crash prevention system, and its headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the AMG C-Class Sedan its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2019, a rating granted to only 126 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Golf R is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2019.

The AMG C-Class Sedan’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Golf R’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

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 Volkswagen vehicles. With 48 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mercedes higher than Volkswagen.

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 Volkswagen With 22 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Mercedes higher than Volkswagen.

The AMG C 43’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 87 more horsepower (402 vs. 315) and 89 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 280) than the Golf R Manual’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The AMG C 43’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 87 more horsepower (402 vs. 315) and 74 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 295) than the Golf R DSG’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The AMG C 63 S E’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 356 more horsepower (671 vs. 315) and 457 lbs.-ft. more torque (752 vs. 295) than the Golf R DSG’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the AMG C 63 S E is faster than the Golf R DSG (automatics tested):

The AMG C 63 S E can travel with zero emissions for 7 miles. The Golf R 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 Golf R doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

Regardless of its engine, the AMG C-Class Sedan’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. Volkswagen only offers an automatic engine start/stop system on the Golf R Automatic.

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

The Mercedes AMG C-Class Sedan comes standard with an automatic transmission, for driver comfort, especially in the city. Automatic costs extra on the Golf R.

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 Golf R.

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

The AMG C-Class Sedan stops much shorter than the Golf R:

For better traction, the AMG C-Class Sedan has larger standard tires than the Golf R (245/45R18 vs. 235/35R19). The AMG C 63 S E’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Golf R (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 Golf R’s 35 series tires.

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

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

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 Golf R 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 Golf R (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 2 inches wider in the front and 3.5 inches wider in the rear than on the Golf R.

The AMG C 63 S E handles at .99 G’s, while the Golf R pulls only .95 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

To almost totally eliminate engine vibration in the passenger area, the AMG C-Class Sedan Dynamic Plus has an electronically controlled liquid-filled front engine mount. A computer-controlled electric current in the liquid changes its viscosity, allowing the mount to dampen the engine completely at all RPMs. The Golf R uses conventional solid rubber engine mounts.

The AMG C-Class Sedan has 2.5 inches more front headroom, .5 inches more front legroom, .4 inches more front shoulder room, 1 inch more rear legroom and 1.7 inches more rear shoulder room than the Golf R.

Pressing a switch automatically lowers the AMG C-Class Sedan’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Golf R 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 Golf R’s hatchback body style, non-lockable folding seat and non-lockable remote release defeat cargo security.

A standard locking glovebox keeps your small valuables safer in the AMG C-Class Sedan. The Golf R doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the AMG C-Class Sedan’s power trunk can be opened or closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Golf R doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening liftgate.

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

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors in the Golf R, 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. An easy entry system costs extra on the Golf R.

If the windows are left open on the AMG C-Class Sedan the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Golf R can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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 Access standard on the Golf R doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

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 Golf R doesn’t offer heated windshield washer fluid. Its standard heated washer nozzles will defrost the washer fluid but not the windshield.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The AMG C-Class Sedan’s headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the Golf R’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

The AMG C-Class Sedan’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Golf R has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

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 Golf R.

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 Golf R’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

The Mercedes C-Class outsold the Volkswagen Golf/GTI by over three to one during 2023.