Mercedes-Benz C-Class vs. BMW 3-Series: a match made in heaven

The rivalry between the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and the BMW 3-Series is like the one between Montreal and Toronto in field hockey, between the Red Sox and the Yankees in baseball, and between Roger Federer and Raphael Nadal in tennis.

The two models have always competed and elbowed each other out of the way to gain favor with buyers. Data, numbers and statistics aside, which model is really the best to own? Which model is going to give you complete satisfaction?

With two quality vehicles in the mix, the answer is not necessarily obvious, but the following will give you an idea of which one to choose.

Identity

There was a time when the buyer of a BMW was unlikely to turn to a Mercedes-Benz and vice versa. Each company had its own identity, its own image. Comfort at Mercedes-Benz, sporty driving at BMW.

In an effort to please everyone and attract more buyers, both companies addressed their "weaknesses". BMW added more comfort to its models, Mercedes-Benz added a little more dog to the driving of its models.

The problem is that the first company is looking for itself. BMW offers more comfortable models, but their soul is not what it used to be. One wonders what the company's identity is. Mercedes-Benz did not have this problem. It has managed to make its cars more incisive, but without ever losing sight of the fact that its buyers still like to enjoy the class and comfort that made the brand famous.

The result? You feel like you're in the presence of a model that exudes confidence with a Mercedes-Benz product. You don't feel that way with BMW.

The interior layout

This identity is also reflected inside. At BMW, the styling has evolved, but nothing has been revolutionized. Mercedes-Benz, on the other hand, did not hesitate to make a clean sweep to bring its model into the 21st century.

Everything is clearly defined, from the air vents to the screens or the way information is conveyed to the driver, on beautiful screens. In fact, the screens are bigger in the C-Class, which gets a 12.3-inch digital gauge in front of the driver as standard, and a 10.3-inch one for the multimedia system. At BMW, you have to move up in the lineup to get units of this size. Otherwise, you get 8.8-inch screens. And that's not counting the fact that the graphics are far clearer and more precise in Mercedes-Benz, as well as offering greater customization options.

Finally, behind the wheel, the balance offered by all versions of the C-Class makes for a more interesting time at the controls of a Mercedes-Benz C-Class. The character of the versions is well defined, from the C300 to the AMG C 63 S. At BMW, it seems that each version wants to do everything, i.e. offer power and comfort; you come out of it... confused. Something is missing from the experience.