When it comes to handling, the 3 Series has always had a modest advantage over the C-Class. Potential purchasers have high expectations for the driving experience because these vehicles see a lot of traffic. Both provide thrilling rides.
When pushed through its paces, the BMW feels taut and is more enjoyable to drive. It feels more lively than its competitor. The C-Class rides softer than the BMW and absorbs road imperfections better, which seems to be a recurring theme with these vehicles.
The C-Class has slightly heavier steering, which makes it appear more stable on the road. No matter which mode you put the two cars in, the BMW produces blazing answers and seems more agile than its competitor. In our perspective, BMW has once again succeeded.
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Fuel efficiency
With a few exceptions, the 3 Series outperforms its C-Class competitors in terms of fuel efficiency. The turbocharged 2.0-liter I-4 in the rear-drive 330i and C300 both produce 255 horsepower, but the 3 Series gets an eight-speed automatic transmission while the C-Class has a nine-speed one. However, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, the 330i scores 26/36 mpg city/highway compared to the C300 sedan’s 23/35 mpg.
Up the range, the 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder engines in the M340i and C43 AMG each achieve 23/32 mpg in the BMW and 18/27 mpg in the AMG. This is true even though the M340i only falls short of the C43’s 385 horsepower by 2 horsepower.
Unexpectedly, the twin-turbo 3.0 liter I-6-powered M3 and M3 Competition have worse fuel efficiency than the twin-turbo 4.0 liter V-8-powered C63 and C63 S. The M vehicles score 16/23 mpg while AMGs get 17/26 mpg, which is surprising given their comparable power output.
For those who care about their budget, the 330e plug-in gasoline-electric hybrid is the obvious choice. It has a combined fuel economy of 75 mpg-e and an all-electric range of about 22 miles. The C-Class lineup does not include a hybrid counterpart.
Verdict
The former victor is still deserving of first place in this. It continues to provide the greatest ride and handling dynamics in the market, has the most user-friendly technology inside, and has excellent build quality. But the 3 Series wins out because it offers far greater value than the most recent C-Class on a variety of leasing arrangements.
Without a doubt, the new C-Class is a fantastic vehicle that just falls short of the 3 Series. It is slightly more refined while maintaining a near match between cabin space and fuel consumption. Fantastic modern infotainment system and amazing kit levels. In contrast to the BMW, it is a touch too pricey and doesn’t provide any noticeable benefits. Even so, it closely outperforms its competition.
BMW 3 Series Facelift vs. Mercedes-Benz C-Class in Comparison
The Mercedes-Benz C-Class, a bitter adversary of BMW’s 3 Series LCI, recently underwent an all-new model upgrade and is now better than ever. So let’s examine both vehicles to determine which one has the nicest appearance.
To be clear, we won’t be talking about tech, performance, handling, or power. We can’t compare how they feel to use without driving the C-Class (Mercedes doesn’t seem keen on letting me test its cars). Right now, all we can do is compare their designs, so that’s what we’re going to do.
I absolutely like both automobiles out front, but for different reasons. The new 3 Series LCI is angular, athletic, and contemporary. While the C-Class has a slightly more conventional, modest, and elegant appearance. If I had to pick one, I’d go with the 3 Series because I believe it has a more compact, sportier appearance, while the C-Class, while elegant, appears a bit drooping and boring because everything seems to be pointing down.
The 3 Series is sportier and the C-Class is more graceful from the side, but both vehicles still look fantastic overall. However, I must admit that there is something about the C-silhouette Class’s on those wheels that truly appeals to me. I like the new 3 Series LCI, but if I had to choose one only by how it seems from the side, I’d probably go with the Benz.
I believe Mercedes-Benz did a nice job removing some of the rear droop that so many of its recent cars have suffered from. The new C-rump Class’s is still a little saggy, but it is better than before. Therefore, the BMW 3 Series, which features sharp taillights and a sportier back end, gets the greatest butt award.
It’s a little challenging inside because the BMW 3 Series has a well-designed, ergonomic, and very practical interior with excellent build quality. What I can’t utilize in this comparison, though, is exactly what makes the 3 Series cabin so great: how it feels to use. The interior of the C-Class is more attractive, featuring a stunning steering wheel, stylish vents, an infotainment system that appears to be easier to access, and a magnificent waterfall design for its center console. I really enjoy using the 3 Series’ cabin because it is so thoughtfully designed, but I can’t use it here because I haven’t used the C-Class’. I will therefore have to choose Benz for the interior.
With two category victories each, that puts the two vehicles in a tie. Despite how hesitant that is, I believe the result is suitable. Both vehicles have wonderful interiors and stunning exteriors. I wouldn’t regret buying either and would be content to have either.
What would the Mercedes 3 Series be compared to?
If you’re seeking to buy a used luxury sedan, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and the BMW 3 Series are both great options. Both have excellent interiors, sophisticated driving dynamics, and a wealth of readily available premium features.
Which is preferable, a BMW or a Mercedes?
BMW remains the overall champion when it comes to luxury performance, even if the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class is one of the best-performing large luxury sedans on the road right now. Customers should choose a BMW automobile if they want performance and style in one convenient package.
Which Mercedes C-Class model year is the best?
The C36 sedan is the particular AMG-tuned model. Even though manufacturing of this automobile ceased in 1998, it deserves respect just as much as AMG’s other works, despite the fact that many aficionados of their work are unaware of it. With the exception of new side skirts and a new rear apron, it was very similar to its predecessors in terms of appearance. Lower lift enhanced the handling, and some new trim was also applied, but it was difficult to see it with the naked eye. It was a straightforward luxury car, not at all overdone, so the interior was satisfying but basic. It had an inline six, and the engine’s internals were slightly modified to give it 276 horsepower instead of the more modern figures we see, as well as 284 lb.-ft. of torque. Although it was eventually discontinued, this was essentially a C-Class that had been heavily dosed with caffeine.
Which is more popular, Mercedes or BMW?
While the two manufacturers have historically shared many technological and innovative traits, this tendency is beginning to shift. For instance, because to a 9% rise over 2020 volumes, BMW surpassed Mercedes to become the world’s preferred luxury automobile brand last year. In comparison, Mercedes-Benz saw a 5% decline (excluding Smart and vans).
The Stuttgart brand has suffered from the deteriorating C-Class and E-Class, while BMW has profited from a rising demand for its most well-liked models. While Mercedes saw reductions in these four areas, BMW saw volume sales rise in China, Europe, the US, and Japan-Korea. Sales in China and North America differed significantly from one other, increasing by 8 and 21 percent vs decreasing by 3 and 1 percent.
Mercedes versus BMW, which car is more affordable?
In reality, you might be considering whether Mercedes-Benz is superior to BMW. Most new Mercedes-Benz cars cost less, especially at the entry model.
which is stronger? Mercedes or a BMW?
Security and dependability With 12 quality and reliability awards from J.D. Power between 2019 and 2021, BMW stands itself as the most reliable automaker overall. Mercedes-Benz, in contrast, only received two dependability awards and one quality award throughout the same period.
Are Mercedes C-Class vehicles dependable?
The reliability requirements are the same whether the vehicle is an estate, sedan, or coupe.
The C-Class received a score of 71, which is less than half of what the A-Class series received, placing it at position 86 on the list of the 100 most trustworthy cars for 2019.
The cost of repairs is still considerable when compared to other cars, despite the fact that it appears to be a more dependable car. An average C-Class car repair bill is just about PS430.
However, if something does go wrong, you’ll be off the road for a shorter period of time than you would if your A-Class or B-Class had a problem.
The electrical system was the thing that customers reported having the most issues with.
These were the comments made. 33.07 percent of homeowners reported having electrical issues.
Only 0.39 percent of respondents indicated that they needed to fix their transmission.
The 2019 Which? dependability survey found that C-Class cars that were less than three years old performed extremely well.
They received a score of 4 out of 5. Many participants claimed that gasoline cars performed better than diesel models.
Only 16% of petrol owners experienced issues, compared to 37% of diesel owners.
Which vehicle has more issues? Mercedes or a BMW?
BMW averages 123 issues per vehicle sold, which is more problems per vehicle than Mercedes-Benz. Mercedes-Benz vehicles experience problems more frequently, with 152 issues per 1,000 sold. BMW is more reliable than the typical car. 134 issues are reported for every sold vehicle in the industry.
Which is more durable, a BMW or a Mercedes?
AM-Online has conducted research and created a number of infographics to show which German brands are the most dependable and affordable to repair. The study compares maintenance requirements for BMW, Audi, and Mercedes-Benz under six years of ownership, after six years, and after twelve years. As a result, this generally illustrates how each automaker’s models are over their whole lives.
Under six years, the cost and dependability of every car is relatively the same. This is due to the fact that the vehicles are relatively new, often have less than 100,000 miles on them, and come with a factory-backed guarantee, meaning that there won’t be many significant problems.
Audi still has the most issues and requires the most money to fix, though. Mercedes is the most dependable and, therefore, the most affordable vehicle, placing BMW in the center. Things start to alter after six years. The cars do have a tendency to break down as they accumulate more kilometers and perhaps more owners.
The least dependable and priciest of the three manufacturers is still Audi, while Mercedes continues to be the market leader and BMW remains in the center. Twelve years later, though, things usually settle down again because the automobiles are so old and most customers choose to ignore minor issues.
But when you get down to the smaller particulars, things get a little messier. It wasn’t as simple to compare different car classes, such as the 1 Series/2 Series class, 3 Series class, and 5 Series class. The brands’ positioning didn’t change, but the expenses to repair various models did. For instance, the less priced models of both BMW and Audi were less expensive to fix, which seems relatively normal. However, Mercedes-more Benz’s expensive models were the cheapest to repair, probably due to their greater build quality and dependability.