The Audi A3 vs. the Mercedes-Benz C-Class in Columbia SC

Audi A3 vs Mercedes-Benz C-Class: Practical Advantage in a Luxury Sedan

People shop around for a luxury sedan because they tend to appreciate the finer things in life, like premium leather interior seating, convenient technological amenities and an overall stylish design. What if we told you there was a way to have all of these in a sedan without sacrificing important features, like price, value, or safety? Audi and Mercedes-Benz are both go-to brands for prestige-level luxury sedans, but which brand has more to offer when it comes to all the important things in life? Which is the sedan that truly lets you "have it all?" We here at Audi Columbia want to be fair and help you with your research as best as we can, so let's take a look at these brands by comparing two of their well-known sedans head-to-head and see what the answer to these questions is: the new Audi A3 Sedan and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

A Lower Starting Price with More Popularity

Both sedans start out at a retail price suggested by the manufacturer, known as an MSRP. The Audi A3 Sedan starts out at a much lower MSRP, beginning at $31,950 whereas the Mercedes-Benz C-Class starts out at $37,433. When it comes to their overall value and popularity, the Audi A3 sedan has a lot more to be had given its much higher rating by consumers on Kelley Blue Book, though both of sedans scored equal ratings by experts of KBB.

More Efficiency for a Responsible Driver

The Audi A3 Sedan has a bit more fuel efficiency to offer as it is capable of an EPA-estimated 26 miles per gallon in the city and 35 miles per gallon on the highway. The Mercedes-Benz C-Class gains an EPA-estimated 24 miles per gallon in the city and 33 miles per gallon on the highway.

When it comes to reducing your carbon footprint, the Audi A3 is at a greater advantage as well. While neither sedan is advertised as a "low-emissions" vehicle, the Audi A3 produces less carbon dioxide emissions with about six tons of CO2 emissions per year, which is considerably less than the average SUV. The Mercedes-Benz C-Class produces closer to seven tons of CO2 per year.

A Better Handling & Maneuverable Sedan

The Audi A3 Sedan has a big advantage over the Mercedes-Benz C-Class in its drivetrain as it is a front-wheel derive sedan, whereas the Mercedes-Benz C-Class is rear-wheel drive. Front-wheel drive is the more advantageous choice for a number of reasons, the first being that this drive line is much easier to manufacture with fewer parts, so a FWD car tends to be cheaper and have better fuel economy. Secondly, FWD offers a lot more traction in rain and snow than does RWD.