Compare the2025 Genesis G80VS 2025 Mercedes C-Class Sedan

Both the G80 and C-Class Sedan have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The G80 has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The C-Class Sedan’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

The G80 has standard Anti-Whiplash Front Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Anti-Whiplash Front Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The C-Class Sedan doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Genesis G80 achieved a “Acceptable” rating - the second highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Mercedes C-Class Sedan has not been tested.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the G80. But it costs extra on the C-Class Sedan.

The G80’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the C-Class Sedan.

Both the G80 and the C-Class Sedan have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, front seat center airbag, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Genesis G80 is safer than the C-Class Sedan:

The G80 comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes free 24-hour roadside assistance. The C-Class Sedan’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Genesis’ powertrain warranty covers the G80 6 years and 50,000 miles longer than Mercedes covers the C-Class Sedan. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the C-Class Sedan ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The G80’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the C-Class Sedan’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Genesis pays for scheduled maintenance on the G80 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Genesis will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Mercedes doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the C-Class Sedan.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the G80 first among upper midsize premium cars in their 2024 Initial Quality Study. The C-Class Sedan isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Genesis vehicles are better in initial quality than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Genesis above average in initial quality. With 22 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Genesis vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes With 18 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Genesis higher than Mercedes.

The G80 2.5T’s standard 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 45 more horsepower (300 vs. 255) and 16 lbs.-ft. more torque (311 vs. 295) than the C-Class Sedan’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The G80 3.5T’s standard 3.5 turbo V6 produces 120 more horsepower (375 vs. 255) and 96 lbs.-ft. more torque (391 vs. 295) than the C-Class Sedan’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Car and Driver the G80 3.5T 3.5 turbo V6 is faster than the Mercedes C-Class Sedan:

The G80 3.5T’s standard fuel tank has 1.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the C-Class Sedan (19.3 vs. 17.4 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The G80 2.5T’s standard fuel tank has 4.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the C-Class Sedan (21.9 vs. 17.4 gallons).

The G80’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The C-Class Sedan doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the G80’s brake rotors are larger than those on the C-Class Sedan:

The G80 stops much shorter than the C-Class Sedan:

For better traction, the G80 has larger standard tires than the C-Class Sedan (245/50R18 vs. 225/45R18). The G80 Advanced/Sport/2.5T Sport Prestige’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the C-Class Sedan (F:245/45R19 & R:275/40R19 vs. F:225/40R19 & R:255/35R19).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the G80 Sport Prestige has standard 20-inch wheels. The C-Class Sedan’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

The G80 has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the C-Class Sedan; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed. Some tire options on the C-Class Sedan don’t have a run-flat feature, either.

The G80 offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The C-Class Sedan’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the G80’s wheelbase is 5.7 inches longer than on the C-Class Sedan (118.5 inches vs. 112.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the G80 is 1.9 inches wider in the front and 2.1 inches wider in the rear than the track on the C-Class Sedan.

The front grille of the G80 uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The C-Class Sedan doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the G80 a Mid-size car, while the C-Class Sedan is rated a Compact.

The G80 has 6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the C-Class Sedan (99 vs. 93).

The G80 has 1.1 inches more front headroom, .5 inches more front legroom, 2 inches more front shoulder room, .7 inches more rear headroom, 2.7 inches more rear legroom and 1.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the C-Class Sedan.

The G80 has a much larger trunk than the C-Class Sedan (13.1 vs. 11.6 cubic feet).

Both the G80 and the C-Class Sedan have standard heated front seats. The G80 also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the C-Class Sedan.

The G80 has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the car heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the C-Class Sedan.

The G80 Sport Prestige/3.5T has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the C-Class Sedan.

The G80 Sport Prestige’s Smart Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Smart Parking Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The C-Class Sedan’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Genesis G80, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Mercedes C-Class Sedan isn't recommended.