Compare the2025 Mercedes AMG C-Class SedanVS 2024 Audi S4

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the AMG C-Class Sedan are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The S4 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The AMG C-Class Sedan has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The S4 doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

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 S4 doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

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 S4’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 S4.

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 S4 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the AMG C-Class Sedan and the S4 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee 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, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, rearview cameras and available lane departure warning systems.

The Mercedes AMG C-Class Sedan achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2024 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The S4 has not yet been fully evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

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.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 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 36 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mercedes higher than Audi.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 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 57 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Mercedes higher than Audi.

The AMG C 43’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 67 more horsepower (416 vs. 349) than the S4’s 3.0 turbo V6. The AMG C 63 S E’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 322 more horsepower (671 vs. 349) and 383 lbs.-ft. more torque (752 vs. 369) than the S4’s 3.0 turbo V6.

As tested in Car and Driver the Mercedes AMG C-Class Sedan is faster than the Audi S4:

On the EPA test cycle the AMG C 63 S E running on electricity gets better mileage than the S4 (36 city/38 hwy MPGe vs. 21 city/29 hwy).

The AMG C 63 S E can travel with zero emissions for 7 miles. The S4 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 S4 doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The AMG C-Class Sedan’s standard fuel tank has 2.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the S4 (17.4 vs. 15.3 gallons).

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 S4.

The AMG C-Class Sedan offers a standard sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The S4 doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

For better stopping power the AMG C-Class Sedan’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the S4:

The AMG C-Class Sedan offers optional heat-treated ceramic brake rotors, which last ten to twenty times as long as conventional cast iron rotors, don’t rust, don’t fade during repeated high speed braking, and their lighter weight contribute to better braking, handling and acceleration. The S4 doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

The AMG C-Class Sedan stops much shorter than the S4:

For better traction, the AMG C 63 S E’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the S4 (F:265/35R20 & R:275/35R20 vs. 255/35R19).

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 S4’s 35 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the AMG C-Class Sedan offers optional 20-inch wheels. The S4’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 S4 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 S4 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the AMG C-Class Sedan’s wheelbase is 1.8 inches longer than on the S4 (112.8 inches vs. 111 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the AMG C-Class Sedan is 1.9 inches wider in the front and 1.3 inches wider in the rear than the track on the S4.

The AMG C 63 S E handles at .99 G’s, while the S4 Prestige 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 S4 uses conventional solid rubber engine mounts.

The AMG C-Class Sedan has 3.7 inches more front headroom, .4 inches more front legroom, .4 inches more front shoulder room, .2 inches more rear headroom, .3 inches more rear legroom and 1.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the S4.

Pressing a switch automatically lowers the AMG C-Class Sedan’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The S4 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the AMG C-Class Sedan has a standard power trunk, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button or just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, completely leaving your hands free. The S4 doesn’t offer a power trunk, so its trunk has to be closed manually.

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors optional at extra cost in the S4, 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 and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The S4 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 S4 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 S4 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer fluid. Its standard heated washer nozzles will defrost the washer fluid but not the windshield.

A power rear sunshade and manual rear side window sunshades are standard in the AMG C-Class Sedan to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The S4 doesn’t offer a rear sunshade.

The Mercedes AMG C-Class Sedan has power folding mirrors that offer unparalleled convenience while maneuvering in tight places or parked. With the mirrors folded it’s easier to walk past and help prevent parking damage. The mirrors can be quickly unfolded when the driver is ready to leave. Power folding mirrors are only offered on the S4 Premium Plus/Prestige.

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. Only the S4 Premium Plus/Prestige offers wireless charging.

The AMG 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 S4 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

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 S4 Prestige’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

The Mercedes C-Class outsold the Audi A4/S4 by over two to one during 2023.