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Mercedes-Benz C-Class vs BMW M5

What's the difference?

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

$69,750 - $238,800

2023 price

BMW M5
BMW M5

$110,900 - $110,900

2018 price

Summary

2023 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
2018 BMW M5
Safety Rating

Engine Type
Turbo 4, 1.5L

Turbo V8, 4.4L
Fuel Type
Premium Unleaded/Electric

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

10.6L/100km (combined)
Seating
5

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

  • Hefty price hike
  • Design, inside and out, could be more adventurous
  • Still no phone mirroring
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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2018 BMW M5 Summary

Remember back when people were saying the BMW M5 would lose a little something by shifting from its traditional rear-wheel drive set-up to all-wheel drive?

It would drain a little sparkle, maybe. Or some excitement. It would become more predictable, more placid - hell, even boring.

But hindsight is always 20/20, and we know now that switching to AWD has done nothing but allow BMW to funnel even more power into the tarmac, with the German brand upping power outputs and dropping lap times in one fell swoop. 

Consider the M5 Competition, then, BMW’s way of delivering the ultimate 'I told you so'. Because it’s not just the most fun, most potent AWD M5 ever - it’s the best M5 period.

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Deep dive comparison

2023 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 2018 BMW M5

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