2020 Mercedes-Benz C-Class vs. 2020 BMW 3 Series

With decades of standard-setting vehicles in their back-catalogues, both Mercedes-Benz and BMW enjoy a special status among luxury brands. If you’re trying to decide between BMW 3-Series vs. Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedans, how can you tell which brand will match your driving style and comfort preferences? The team at Mercedes-Benz of San Diego put together the guide below to help you compare the C-Class vs. 3-Series head-to-head — so that when you do make the call, you know you’re driving home in the perfect car for you.

BMW 3-Series vs. Mercedes-Benz C-Class: Performance Specs

If you look at the C-Class vs. 3-Series base trims, you’ll find two very impressive — and similar — engines. Both engines garner 255 horsepower and similar torque. But if you want much bigger performance power for a tur sport driving experience on the winding roads outside Rancho Santa Fe, you can only find it with a C-Class AMG® performance model. By contrast, the BMW 3-Series is available with a single engine. Compare C-Class vs. 3-Series engines below:

2020 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Sedan: Engines

255-hp 2.0L Turbo 4-Cylinder — C 300 Sedan

• 9G-TRONIC® 9-speed Automatic Transmission
• 273 lb-ft of Torque
• Standard RWD

385-hp Twin-Turbo V6 — AMG® C 43 Sedan

469-hp Twin-Turbo V8 — AMG® C 63 Sedan

Hand-built 503-hp V8 — AMG® C 63 S Sedan

2020 BMW 3-Series Sedan: Engine

255-hp 2.0L Turbo 4-Cylinder — 3-Series Sedan

• Standard 8-speed Automatic Transmission
• 295 lb-ft of torque
• Standard RWD

BMW 3-Series vs. Mercedes-Benz C-Class: Premium Interior Features

Many of the same luxury features can be found on either of these high-end vehicles. However, when you take careful stock of all the standard and available luxury features C-Class vs. 3-Series, you find a few key differences. First off, there are a handful of desirable premium features that are available on the model with the three-pointed star logo, but aren’t available on the 3-Series:

• Standard ATTENTION ASSIST® — This system uses over 70 parameters to gradually learn your driving behaviors. Based on that info, it will sound an alert if you seem to lose focus.
• Available 64-Color LED Ambient Lighting — This interior lighting system gives you full customization power over your C-Class interior.
• Available Car-to-X-Communication — This Mercedes-Benz proprietary technology exchanges communications (about road hazards, accidents, and more) between your car and other C-Class cars on the road.
• Cooled Driver Seat — Ventilated seats use reversible fans to draw heat away from the seat, giving you immediate control over your comfort level on the hottest days in San Diego.

We’re only scratching the surface with the list above. A Blind Spot Monitor, a Wi-Fi™ hotspot, and front-seat lumbar support all come standard on the C-Class, but cost extra on the BMW 3 Series. That makes the C-Class the clear choice for San Diego’s value-conscious drivers.

Compare the C-Class with Luxury Competitors with Mercedes-Benz of San Diego

Still narrowing down your luxury sedan options? If you’re on the fence between the Audi A4 vs. BMW 3 Series vs. Mercedes-Benz C-Class, contact us for details about the C-Class trims, body styles, features, and more. All three are excellent brands, and the difference will come down to your lifestyle in Del Mar, as well as personal taste. Apply for financing online to get started today!

Interested in another Mercedes-Benz vs. BMW match-up? Compare the X5 vs. GLE SUV today.