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Mercedes-Benz C-Class vs BMW Alpina B5

What's the difference?

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Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Mercedes-Benz C-Class

$69,750 - $238,800

2023 price

BMW Alpina B5
BMW Alpina B5

2020 price

Summary

2023 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
2020 BMW Alpina B5
Safety Rating

Engine Type
Turbo 4, 1.5L

Twin Turbo V8, 4.4L
Fuel Type
Premium Unleaded/Electric

Premium Unleaded Petrol
Fuel Efficiency
6.9L/100km (combined)

10.9L/100km (combined)
Seating
5

5
Dislikes
  • On the compact side for size
  • Low-ground clearance may grind the teeth
  • Dynamic guidelines are trippy

  • Cleaning the wheels
  • Room and storage space could be better
  • Not the most engaging car to drive
2023 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Summary

When it comes to choosing a family car, sedans are often overlooked for their long-legged wagon or beefy SUV cousins.

They're a bit of a forgotten hero but they'll always hold a piece of my heart for their practicality and (often) sexier kerb-side appeal.

If you can get used to your body cracking like a glow stick when you get in and out of them, the sedan may make a comeback!

The new Mercedes-Benz C-Class, in entry-level C200 form, has definitely tempted my family to consider a sedan in the future – it looks stately and refined but the driving experience also makes it fun.

Let's see what else it did right and if there was anything that could be improved.

Did I mention, I'm fond of sedans... ?

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2020 BMW Alpina B5 Summary

The BMW Alpina B5 Bi-Turbo is not actually a BMW. Not according to the German Federal Motor Transport Authority, at least.

Nope, the modifications applied by tuning house Alpina to the 5 Series are deemed so significant that if you open the bonnet and look inside the engine bay, you'll see that the BMW VIN has been struck through twice and an Alpina vehicle number stamped underneath it. 

The B5 is not the first model to be recognised in this way, either; the German government has recognised Alpina as a seperate car manufacturer since 1983.

The B5 has other ‘B' siblings, too. There's the B3 S Bi-Turbo, which is based on the BMW 3 Series, the B4 S Bi-Turbo (the BMW 4 Series) and the B7 Bi-Turbo (I don't need to tell you what this is based on, right?) which I've reviewed, too.

So just what has Alpina done to this unsuspecting BMW 5 Series? Is it really worth the extra money? How does the B5 compare to an M5? Could it actually be superior? And did they really take the speed limiter off to let it warp-speed to beyond 300km/h?

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Deep dive comparison

2023 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 2020 BMW Alpina B5

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