Compare the2024 Mercedes AMG C-Class SedanVS 2023 Porsche Panamera

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 Panamera doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

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 Panamera doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the AMG C-Class Sedan. But it costs extra on the Panamera.

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 Panamera doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from infrastructure or other vehicles.

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 Panamera’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the AMG C-Class Sedan’s standard Rear Cross-Traffic Alert uses sensors in the rear to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side and Active Brake Assist automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. The Panamera doesn’t offer a rear cross-path warning system.

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 Panamera doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the AMG C-Class Sedan and the Panamera 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, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights and rearview cameras.

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 vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, with its optional vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the AMG C-Class Sedan its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 131 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Panamera has not been tested, yet.

There are almost 2 times as many Mercedes dealers as there are Porsche dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the AMG C-Class Sedan’s warranty.

The AMG C-Class Sedan has more powerful engines than the Panamera:

As tested in Car and Driver the AMG C 63 S E is faster than the Panamera GTS 4.0 turbo V8:

On the EPA test cycle the AMG C-Class Sedan running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the Panamera Sedan running its gasoline engine:

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 an eight-speed automatic is available for the Panamera.

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

In an emergency stopping situation, many drivers don’t press the brakes with enough force to stop the vehicle in the shortest distance. The AMG C-Class Sedan has standard Brake Assist to detect emergency braking situations (by how hard and how quickly the brake pedal is pressed) and then automatically apply maximum braking immediately in order to help prevent a collision. The Panamera doesn’t offer a brake assist feature.

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

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 Panamera 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 Panamera doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The AMG C 63 S E handles at .99 G’s, while the Panamera 4 pulls only .94 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The AMG C-Class Sedan is 10.2 inches shorter than the Panamera, making the AMG C-Class Sedan easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The AMG C-Class Sedan is 5.8 inches narrower on average than the Panamera, making the AMG C-Class Sedan easier to handle and maneuver in traffic.

The AMG C-Class Sedan has 3 inches more front headroom, .4 inches more rear legroom and 1.3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Panamera.

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

The AMG 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 Panamera doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

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 Panamera.

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 Panamera can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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 Panamera doesn’t offer heated windshield washer fluid.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the AMG C-Class Sedan has standard extendable sun visors. The Panamera doesn’t offer extendable visors.

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 Panamera doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

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 Panamera isn’t in the top three in its category.

The Mercedes C-Class outsold the Porsche Panamera by almost 8 to one during 2023.