BMW 3 Series vs Mercedes-Benz C-Class

BMW 3 Series — Photo: Alexander Migl, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Mercedes-Benz C-Class — Photo: Alexander-93, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The key differences

The BMW 3 Series is the more powerful of the two: its strongest version makes 543 hp, 282 hp more than the Mercedes-Benz C-Class's best.

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class is 38 mm (1 in) longer than the BMW 3 Series.

Typical kerb weights are 1,625 kg for the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and 1,515 kg for the BMW 3 Series.

In the US, the BMW 3 Series has the better EPA rating at up to 31 mpg combined, against 29 mpg for the Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

Specifications side by side

BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class side by side. Typical values; figures vary by trim and year.
Spec	BMW 3 Series	Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Body style	Sedan	Sedan
On sale since	—	—
Power	148–543 hp (110–405 kW)	161–261 hp (120–195 kW)
Torque	250–400 Nm	250–700 Nm
0–100 km/h	6.3–8.8 s	5.4–8.8 s
Top speed	218–250 km/h	226–250 km/h
Engines in Europe	12	8
Best economy (Europe)	5.2 l/100 km	4.7 l/100 km
US combined economy	29–31 mpg	27–29 mpg
Electric range (US)	—	—
Length	4,713 mm (186 in)	4,751 mm (187 in)
Width	1,827 mm (72 in)	1,820 mm (72 in)
Height	1,450 mm (57 in)	1,438 mm (57 in)
Wheelbase	2,851 mm (112 in)	2,865 mm (113 in)
Kerb weight	1,515 kg (3,340 lb)	1,625 kg (3,583 lb)
Sold in	South Africa	South Africa