Compare the2025 Mercedes AMG C-Class SedanVS 2024 Audi S5 Sportback

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

Safety

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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 S5 Sportback 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 S5 Sportback 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 S5 Sportback 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 S5 Sportback’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 S5 Sportback.

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 S5 Sportback doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the AMG C-Class Sedan and the S5 Sportback 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 S5 Sportback is not a “Top Safety Pick” for 2024.

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’ 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.

Engine

The AMG C 43’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 67 more horsepower (416 vs. 349) than the S5 Sportback’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 S5 Sportback’s 3.0 turbo V6.

As tested in Car and Driver the Mercedes AMG C-Class Sedan is faster than the Audi S5 Sportback:

	AMG C 43	AMG C 63 S E	S5 Sportback
Zero to 60 MPH	3.9 sec	2.9 sec	4.3 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	9.8 sec	7.1 sec	10.9 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	5 sec	3.6 sec	5.8 sec
Quarter Mile	12.5 sec	11.2 sec	12.9 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	111 MPH	121 MPH	108 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the AMG C 63 S E running on electricity gets better mileage than the S5 Sportback (36 city/38 hwy MPGe vs. 20 city/29 hwy).

The AMG C 63 S E can travel with zero emissions for 7 miles. The S5 Sportback can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

The AMG C-Class Sedan’s standard fuel tank has 2.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the S5 Sportback (17.4 vs. 15.3 gallons).

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 an eight-speed automatic is available for the S5 Sportback.

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 S5 Sportback doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The AMG C-Class Sedan’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s at 4000 in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The S5 Sportback doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the AMG C-Class Sedan’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the S5 Sportback:

	AMG C 43	AMG C 63 S E CCB	S5 Sportback
Front Rotors	14.6 inches	15.8 inches	13.8 inches
Rear Rotors	12.6 inches	14.5 inches	13 inches

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 S5 Sportback doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

The AMG C-Class Sedan stops much shorter than the S5 Sportback:

	AMG C-Class Sedan	S5 Sportback
70 to 0 MPH	139 feet	158 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	103 feet	105 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

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 S5 Sportback doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

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 S5 Sportback doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the AMG C-Class Sedan’s wheelbase is 1.6 inches longer than on the S5 Sportback (112.8 inches vs. 111.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the AMG C-Class Sedan is 1.3 inches wider in the front and .8 inches wider in the rear than the track on the S5 Sportback.

The AMG C 63 S E handles at .99 G’s, while the S5 Sportback Prestige pulls only .95 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

Chassis

As tested by Car and Driver while under full throttle, the interior of the AMG C 63 S E is quieter than the S5 Sportback Prestige (78 vs. 79 dB).

Passenger Space

The AMG C-Class Sedan has 3.2 inches more front headroom, .4 inches more front legroom, .6 inches more front shoulder room, .6 inches more rear headroom, .9 inches more rear legroom and 1.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the S5 Sportback.

Cargo Capacity

Pressing a switch automatically lowers the AMG C-Class Sedan’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The S5 Sportback 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 S5 Sportback’s hatchback body style defeats cargo security.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory system optional at extra cost in the S5 Sportback, 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 S5 Sportback 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 S5 Sportback only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the car.

The AMG C-Class Sedan’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The S5 Sportback’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

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 S5 Sportback doesn’t offer heated windshield washer fluid. Its standard heated washer nozzles will defrost the washer fluid but not the windshield.

The S5 Sportback’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.

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 S5 Sportback doesn’t offer a rear or rear side window sunshades.

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 S5 Sportback 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 S5 Sportback 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 S5 Sportback 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 S5 Sportback Prestige’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

Recommendations

The Mercedes C-Class outsold the Audi A5/S5/RS 5 by 38% during 2023.