2026 Audi S e-tron vs 2026 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
The Audi S e-tron wins clearly, 100 to 49.9, on fuel & range, performance, safety.
2026 Audi S e-tron
The 2026 Audi S e-tron is sold in the U.S. as an electric compact sedan with 2 EPA-rated configurations. Its longest-range version, the S e-tron GT (20 inch whe…
2026 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
The 2026 Mercedes-Benz C-Class is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid compact sedan with 3 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the C300, is EPA-rated…
2026 Audi S e-tron
Clear winThe Audi S e-tron wins clearly, 100 to 49.9, on fuel & range, performance, safety.
| Category · weight | 2026 Audi S e-tronoverall 100 | 2026 Mercedes-Benz C-Classoverall 49.9 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricenot compared | Specs not available | Specs not available | |||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 100 | 30.6 | |||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | |||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 100 | 75.3 | |||||||||
NHTSA 5-Star rating, WhichTrim Safety Signal (open recalls by severity), owner complaints, standard driver-assist features (from the press kit, or from what the manufacturer filed with NHTSA where there is none). Open park-outside / do-not-drive advisories cost 25 points. | |||||||||||
| Space & cargonot compared | Specs not available | Specs not available | |||||||||
| Performancew 2 | 100 | 28 | |||||||||
Horsepower, torque and horsepower per ton. | |||||||||||
| Tech & comfortnot compared | Specs not available | Specs not available | |||||||||
| Warrantynot compared | Specs not available | Specs not available | |||||||||
| Overall | 100 | 49.9 | |||||||||
Safety-only comparison · 3 of 7 categories compared · specs not available for Audi S e-tron
Audi S e-tron: safety only (EPA and NHTSA record; specs not available) · Mercedes-Benz C-Class: base trim C 300 RWD. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2026 Audi S e-tron wins
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (1 against 4 filed with NHTSA).
- It costs $2,000 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($850 against $2,850).
- It is rated 90 combined against 29 (EPA mpg or MPGe).
Ranked by how far apart the two score on each measure, so a price gap and a horsepower gap are compared on the same scale. Every figure is on this page.
Specifications side by side
34 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Audi S e-tron | Mercedes-Benz C-ClassC 300 RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | — | $49,650 |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | — | twin turbo |
| Cylinder count | — | 4 |
| Engine displacement | — | 2,000 cc |
| Engine type (full description) | — | 2.0L inline-4 turbo with mild hybrid drive |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | — | 255 hp |
| Torque | — | 295 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | — | 25 mpg |
| MPG (highway) | — | 35 mpg |
| Transmission | ||
| Transmission speeds | — | 9 |
| Transmission type | — | automatic |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Overall height | — | 56.6 in |
| Overall length | — | 187 in |
| Overall width | — | 74.4 in |
| Wheelbase | — | 113 in |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | — | 11.6 cu-ft |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | — | 5 |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | — | 40 in |
| Second-row headroom | — | 37.5 in |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | — | 41.7 in |
| Second-row legroom | — | 36 in |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | — | 3,825 lbs |
| Curb weight (minimum) | — | 3,825 lbs |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | — | 4-link independent |
| Rear suspension type | — | 5-arm multilink independent |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | — | Rack-and-pinion with electromechanical power assist |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | — | 18.8 ft |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | — | 18 in |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | — | 225/45R18 front and 245/40R18 rear |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | — | 17.4 gal |
| Minimum recommended octane | — | 91 |
| Connected Services | ||
| Connected services brand | — | Mercedes-Benz Digital Extras |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | — | 56.3 in |
| Second-row shoulder room | — | 55.6 in |
Green marks the better value where the direction is unambiguous (more room, more power, lower price). Blank rows are specs the press kit does not publish.
Equipment, feature by feature
23 features · differences first, then sharedSafety13 differ · 13 listed
| Feature | Audi S e-tron | Mercedes-Benz C-ClassC 300 RWD |
|---|---|---|
| 7 air bags | — | std |
| Front center air bag | — | std |
| Attention Assist | — | std |
| Rear side-impact air bags | — | std |
| Active Brake Assist | — | std |
| Adaptive braking technology | — | std |
| Adaptive Highbeam Assist | — | std |
| Antilock Braking System (ABS) | — | std |
| Blind Spot Assist with Exit Warning Assist | — | std |
| Electronic Stability Program (ESP) | — | std |
| Pre-safe | — | std |
| PRE-SAFE Sound | — | std |
| Seat belt technology | — | std |
Infotainment3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | Audi S e-tron | Mercedes-Benz C-ClassC 300 RWD |
|---|---|---|
| MBUX profiles, routines and templates | — | std |
| Mercedes-Benz Emergency Call Service | — | std |
| Over-the-air software updates | — | std |
Seating1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | Audi S e-tron | Mercedes-Benz C-ClassC 300 RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Heated front seats | — | std |
Interior2 differ · 2 listed
| Feature | Audi S e-tron | Mercedes-Benz C-ClassC 300 RWD |
|---|---|---|
| 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster | — | std |
| 64-color LED ambient lighting | — | std |
Exterior3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | Audi S e-tron | Mercedes-Benz C-ClassC 300 RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Power-folding side mirrors | — | std |
| LED Daytime Running Lamps | — | std |
| Rain-sensing windshield wipers | — | std |
Powertrain1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | Audi S e-tron | Mercedes-Benz C-ClassC 300 RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid Integrated Starter-Generator (48V mild hybrid with ISG, up to 20 hp / 148 lb-ft electric assist) | — | std |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPAudi S e-tron
Top recalls
No recalls on file.
Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Top recalls
- high Electrical System 26V281000 · 144,049 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Audi S e-tron | Mercedes-Benz C-ClassC 300 RWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | — | $49,650 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | — | $49,650 – $88,000 4 trims |
| Powertrains | BEV | HEV |
| EPA configuration compared | S e-tron GT (20 inch wheels) | C300 |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 90 | 29 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $850 | $2,850 |
| EV range | 300 mi | — |
| Basic warranty | — | — |
| Powertrain warranty | — | — |
| Roadside assistance | — | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2026 Audi S e-tron or the 2026 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?
The Audi S e-tron wins clearly, 100 to 49.9, on fuel & range, performance, safety. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2026 Audi S e-tron scores 100 and the 2026 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 49.9. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which has the better safety record, the 2026 Audi S e-tron or the 2026 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?
2026 Audi S e-tron: no NHTSA rating yet, grade A, 0 recalls. 2026 Mercedes-Benz C-Class: no NHTSA rating yet, grade A, 1 recall. Crash ratings come from NHTSA's own tests; the grade is WhichTrim's read of the recall record, and the two can disagree.
What are the biggest differences between the 2026 Audi S e-tron and the 2026 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?
Where the 2026 Audi S e-tron wins: it has drawn fewer owner complaints (1 against 4 filed with NHTSA), costs $2,000 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($850 against $2,850), and is rated 90 combined against 29 (EPA mpg or MPGe).