Cars/ Comparison/ BMW 3 Series Gran Limousine Vs Mercedes-Benz C-Class | Battle Of The Diesel Drivers Cars | Comparison Test

BMW 3 Series Gran Limousine Vs Mercedes-Benz C-Class | Battle Of The Diesel Drivers Cars | Comparison Test

Their bitter rivalry needs little to no introduction and has been ongoing for nearly 50 years!

For

Mercedes-Benz C-Class - Aggressive Looks , Interior, Driving
BMW 3 Series Gran Limousine - Ride and Handling , More Practical

Against

Mercedes-Benz C-Class-Low Ground Clearance , Practicality
BMW 3 Series Gran Limousine- Features

Driving

BMW 3 Series Gran Limousine

 

The BMW 3 Series feels incredibly sedate and easy to drive. It does everything you ask of it without a fuss and even gives you great mileage while you do so. I saw fuel efficiency figures go as high as 18 km/l, which is pretty cool for a vehicle of this size. The BMW is down on power compared to the Mercedes, but it holds its own just fine. Given that this will spend most of its time inside the city, the power figures seem more than adequate, especially considering the great mileage that comes with it. 

 

The NVH levels, too, remain quite well contained until you get to a bump, but more on that later. The 8-speed gearbox does a fantastic job shifting and even gives you a gentle kick each time you slide the gearbox in sport mode, which is quite fun. The brakes, too, feel a lot more responsive and far better on the BMW, giving you feedback each time you step on them. In its diesel guise, the BMW 3 Series is more on the tamer end of the spectrum and holds its own quite well despite being down on power and torque. 

 

Mercedes-Benz C-Class

 

The C 300d feels much more exciting to drive from the moment you let go of the brake. It lunges forward with a lot more vigour and has a terrific soundtrack to go with it. I can't remember the last time I drove a diesel car that sounded this good! It lives up to its higher power figures without a doubt and accelerates in a manner that will surely catch you by surprise. The higher performance comes at the cost of fuel efficiency, and I saw figures go up as high as 14 km/l. I rarely drove the C 300d sedately, though, as the motor really enjoys letting loose and quite rightly justifies its AMG bodywork to a certain degree. 

 

The brake feedback could be slightly better as it leaves you wanting more, but I wonder if your chauffeur would ever notice. The 9-speed gearbox works great in tandem with the engine and always knows what gear it needs to be in. The Mercedes-Benz C 300d outperforms the BMW 3 Series in a remarkable fashion and makes the driving experience seem so special.

 

Ride & Handling

 

BMW 3 Series Gran Limousine

 

The 3 Series rides quite well for the most part and even handles rather well despite its gain in length. However, the ride quality needs to be improved compared to the Mercedes-Benz. Go over some bumps and undulations, and some sharper ones tend to spill into the cabin, leaving you with large thuds to ruin your peaceful ambience. The overall handling is good, and the steering has good feedback, making this car quite a fun package around your favourite twisty road. It's the practicality of the BMW that really excels. The higher ground clearance makes driving this long car a breeze in the city, and even with all seats filled, I never once had to crawl over a speed breaker, which is commendable. 

 

Mercedes-Benz C-Class

 

What bothers me the most is the lower ground clearance on the C 300d. Aesthetically, it may appear more menacing, but it does so at the cost of practicality. Even when alone, I had to drive sideways over most speed breakers, and that only gets exaggerated once you start bringing in passengers. I wonder if this would be a problem if your drive is mainly limited to highways, but inside the city, this can be a huge pain and ruin the driving experience to a certain degree. The overall ride and handling are well done. The suspension seems quite plush, and rarely do thuds creep into the cabin. The handling too on the Mercedes-Benz is surprisingly good for a luxury sedan. It eagerly darts in and out of corners and will happily indulge in drifting and sliding if you let it. All in all, the Mercedes-Benz nails the ride and handling balance too the same way it did the design and the interior.  



TopGear Magazine February 2024