2026 BMW 3 Series vs 2026 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Too close to call: Mercedes-Benz C-Class 89.8 vs BMW 3 Series 89.7 with these weights. The BMW 3 Series is ahead on performance and space & cargo. Raise the space & cargo weight from 2 to 2.1 and it flips.
2026 BMW 3 Series
The 2026 BMW 3 Series is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid midsize sedan with 4 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the 330i Sedan, is EPA-rated at…
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 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Toss-upToo close to call: Mercedes-Benz C-Class 89.8 vs BMW 3 Series 89.7 with these weights. The BMW 3 Series is ahead on performance and space & cargo. Raise the space & cargo weight from 2 to 2.1 and it flips.
| Category · weight | 2026 BMW 3 Seriesoverall 89.7 | 2026 Mercedes-Benz C-Classoverall 89.8 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricew 4 | 66 | 100 | ||||||||||||
Base MSRP of the trim (or the model's lowest trim). Lower is better. | ||||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 100 | 100 | ||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | ||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 87.7 | 80.2 | ||||||||||||
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 & cargow 2 | 100 | 79.1 | ||||||||||||
Seats, cargo volume behind the 1st and 2nd rows, rear legroom. | ||||||||||||||
| Performancew 2 | 100 | 68.9 | ||||||||||||
Horsepower, torque and horsepower per ton. | ||||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 100 | 100 | ||||||||||||
Standard (1) and optional (0.5) infotainment, convenience, climate and interior features from the manufacturer's press kit. | ||||||||||||||
| Warrantynot compared | No data | No data | ||||||||||||
| Overall | 89.7 | 89.8 | ||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 6 of 7 categories compared
BMW 3 Series: base trim M340i xDrive 50 Jahre Edition AWD · Mercedes-Benz C-Class: base trim C 300 RWD. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Raise the space & cargo weight from 2 to 2.1 and the answer flips.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2026 Mercedes-Benz C-Class wins
- It lists 13 standard driver-assist features against 5.
- It starts $25,550 lower ($49,650 against $75,200 base MSRP).
Where the 2026 BMW 3 Series answers
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (1 against 4 filed with NHTSA).
- It makes 386 hp against 255.
What they share
- The same EPA fuel cost ($2,850 a year).
- 29 combined.
- The same equipment count.
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
38 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | BMW 3 SeriesM340i xDrive 50 Jahre Edition AWD | Mercedes-Benz C-ClassC 300 RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $75,200 | $49,650 |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | twin turbo | twin turbo |
| Cylinder count | 6 | 4 |
| Engine displacement | 2,998 cc | 2,000 cc |
| Engine type (full description) | Inline 6-cylinder TwinPower Turbo with 48-volt mild hybrid | 2.0L inline-4 turbo with mild hybrid drive |
| Valve configuration | DOHC 24-Valve | — |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 386 hp | 255 hp |
| Torque | 398 lb-ft | 295 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | — | 25 mpg |
| MPG (highway) | — | 35 mpg |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | 2.81 | — |
| Transmission speeds | 8 | 9 |
| Transmission type | 8-speed STEPTRONIC | automatic |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | 5.1 in | — |
| Overall height | 56.7 in | 56.6 in |
| Overall length | 186 in | 187 in |
| Overall width | 71.9 in | 74.4 in |
| Wheelbase | 112 in | 113 in |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | 16.9 cu-ft | 11.6 cu-ft |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | 5 | 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) | 4,008 lbs | 3,825 lbs |
| Curb weight (minimum) | 4,008 lbs | 3,825 lbs |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | — | 4-link independent |
| Rear suspension type | — | 5-arm multilink independent |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | Electric Power Steering (EPS) with Servotronic function | Rack-and-pinion with electromechanical power assist |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | 39.4 ft | 18.8 ft |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 19 in | 18 in |
| Wheel width | 8 in | — |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | 225/40 R19 | 225/45R18 front and 245/40R18 rear |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | 15.6 gal | 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
48 features · differences first, then sharedSafety18 differ · 18 listed
| Feature | BMW 3 SeriesM340i xDrive 50 Jahre Edition AWD | Mercedes-Benz C-ClassC 300 RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Surround View System | std | — |
| 7 air bags | — | std |
| Front center air bag | — | std |
| Rear View Camera | std | — |
| Attention Assist | — | std |
| Rear side-impact air bags | — | std |
| Active Brake Assist | — | std |
| Active Park Distance Control | 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 |
| Parking Assistance Package | std | — |
| Parking Assistant Plus | std | — |
| Pre-safe | — | std |
| PRE-SAFE Sound | — | std |
| Seat belt technology | — | std |
Infotainment7 differ · 7 listed
| Feature | BMW 3 SeriesM340i xDrive 50 Jahre Edition AWD | Mercedes-Benz C-ClassC 300 RWD |
|---|---|---|
| BMW Curved Display with Head-Up Display | std | — |
| BMW Curved Display with Head-Up Display | std | — |
| Harman Kardon Surround Sound System | std | — |
| MBUX profiles, routines and templates | — | std |
| Mercedes-Benz Emergency Call Service | — | std |
| Over-the-air software updates | — | std |
| Premium Package | std | — |
Seating2 differ · 2 listed
| Feature | BMW 3 SeriesM340i xDrive 50 Jahre Edition AWD | Mercedes-Benz C-ClassC 300 RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Heated front seats | — | std |
| Extended Merino Leather Upholstery | std | — |
Interior3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | BMW 3 SeriesM340i xDrive 50 Jahre Edition AWD | Mercedes-Benz C-ClassC 300 RWD |
|---|---|---|
| 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster | — | std |
| 64-color LED ambient lighting | — | std |
| Carbon Fiber Interior Trim | std | — |
Exterior13 differ · 13 listed
| Feature | BMW 3 SeriesM340i xDrive 50 Jahre Edition AWD | Mercedes-Benz C-ClassC 300 RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Power-folding side mirrors | — | std |
| 19-inch M Dual-spoke Bicolor Black 792M wheels | std | — |
| Adaptive Full LED Lights | std | — |
| All-Season Runflat Tires | std | — |
| BMW Individual Paint | std | — |
| Extended Shadowline Trim | std | — |
| LED Daytime Running Lamps | — | std |
| M Performance Exhaust | std | — |
| M Performance Rear Spoiler in Carbon Fiber | std | — |
| M Shadowline Lights | std | — |
| M Sport Package Professional | std | — |
| Rain-sensing windshield wipers | — | std |
| Shadowline Package | std | — |
Powertrain4 differ · 4 listed
| Feature | BMW 3 SeriesM340i xDrive 50 Jahre Edition AWD | Mercedes-Benz C-ClassC 300 RWD |
|---|---|---|
| 4MATIC all-wheel drive | std | — |
| 8-speed Steptronic transmission | std | — |
| Hybrid Integrated Starter-Generator (48V mild hybrid with ISG, up to 20 hp / 148 lb-ft electric assist) | — | std |
| TwinPower Turbo and 48-volt mild hybrid technology | std | — |
Chassis1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | BMW 3 SeriesM340i xDrive 50 Jahre Edition AWD | Mercedes-Benz C-ClassC 300 RWD |
|---|---|---|
| M Sport Brakes | std | — |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPBMW 3 Series
Top recalls
No recalls on file.
Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Top recalls
- high Electrical System 26V281000 · 144,049 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| BMW 3 SeriesM340i xDrive 50 Jahre Edition AWD | Mercedes-Benz C-ClassC 300 RWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $75,200 (base trim) | $49,650 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | $75,200 1 trims | $49,650 – $88,000 4 trims |
| Powertrains | HEV | HEV |
| EPA configuration compared | 330i xDrive Sedan | C300 |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 29 | 29 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $2,850 | $2,850 |
| EV range | — | — |
| Basic warranty | — | — |
| Powertrain warranty | — | — |
| Roadside assistance | — | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2026 BMW 3 Series or the 2026 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?
Too close to call: Mercedes-Benz C-Class 89.8 vs BMW 3 Series 89.7 with these weights. The BMW 3 Series is ahead on performance and space & cargo. Raise the space & cargo weight from 2 to 2.1 and it flips. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2026 Mercedes-Benz C-Class scores 89.8 and the 2026 BMW 3 Series 89.7. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which is cheaper, the 2026 BMW 3 Series or the 2026 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?
The 2026 Mercedes-Benz C-Class starts lower — $49,650 against $75,200, a gap of $25,550 at the trims compared here. Both are manufacturer MSRPs before destination, options and dealer charges.
Which has the better safety record, the 2026 BMW 3 Series or the 2026 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?
2026 BMW 3 Series: 5 NHTSA stars, 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 BMW 3 Series and the 2026 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?
Where the 2026 Mercedes-Benz C-Class wins: it lists 13 standard driver-assist features against 5 and starts $25,550 lower ($49,650 against $75,200 base MSRP). Where the 2026 BMW 3 Series answers: it has drawn fewer owner complaints (1 against 4 filed with NHTSA) and makes 386 hp against 255. What they share: the same EPA fuel cost ($2,850 a year), 29 combined, and the same equipment count.