2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class vs 2021 BMW 3 Series

The 2021 BMW 3 Series had a design that reverted to BMW’s traditional approach of a familial resemblance across its lineup. Following this “same sausage, different lengths” philosophy, the G20 3 Series was intended to look like a smaller version of the 5 Series and 7 Series sedans, much like its iconic predecessor, the E30 3 Series. However, while the E30 captured hearts with its design, the G20 came across as somewhat stuffy. The larger, oddly-shaped grille that looked at home on the 5 Series seemed somewhat awkward on the 3 Series. Beyond this prominent grille and the headlights influenced by the classic “halo” lights, the car lacked distinctive features. Most buyers, though, likely focused more on the emblem on the hood rather than the design nuances.

The test car we assessed came with notable extras like M 19-inch wheels and blue-painted brake calipers, adding some flair thanks to the optional M Sport trim package. The standard Sport Line trim for both the 330e and 330i featured 18-inch wheels. The interior, while decently designed, suffered from underwhelming materials. Faux Ash wood trim and economy-car level plastics fell short of luxury expectations. Leather upholstery was an extra-cost option, with the basic synthetic Sensatec being standard. Our car’s optional M heated steering wheel felt out of place amidst the conservative interior styling.

Switching gears to the 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class, the styling was an amalgamation of successful design elements from other Mercedes models. It borrowed the drooping front end of the CLA-Class and the sleek, squared-off rear and thin taillights from the S-Class, creating a cohesive and stylish sedan easily recognizable as a Mercedes from any angle. The grille, sporting a massive Mercedes three-pointed star logo flanked by smaller stars, stood out prominently.

Mercedes endowed the C-Class with cab-rearward proportions, featuring a long hood and a short rear deck, emphasizing its rear-wheel drive platform. These proportions differentiated it distinctly from the front-wheel drive CLA-Class and A-Class. Standard LED headlights and taillights were present across all trims, with an upgrade option to Mercedes’ Digital Light system, which offered advanced functionalities like projecting warning icons and illuminating construction zones or pedestrians.

Inside, the C-Class aspired to mimic the luxury of the S-Class with elements like a freestanding touchscreen and instrument cluster, prominent air vents, intricate speaker grilles for the optional Burmester audio system, and nightclub-style ambient lighting with 64 colors. These touches elevated the interior, making it feel special and truly luxurious, albeit with standard MBTex synthetic leather, with Nappa leather available on higher trims.

The 2021 BMW 3 Series offered three powertrains. The base 330i ran on a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine generating 255 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. The 330e plug-in hybrid paired a less-powerful version of this engine with electric assist, for a combined output of 288 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque, including an XtraBoost function. The top-tier M340i packed a turbocharged inline-six, producing an impressive 382 hp and 369 lb-ft.

All powertrains were configurable with either rear-wheel drive or xDrive all-wheel drive, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The 330i sprinted from 0 to 60 mph in 5.6 seconds, while the M340i boasted a swift 4.2 seconds. Remarkably, despite its extra hybrid components, the RWD 330e matched the 330i’s acceleration at 5.6 seconds, with the AWD version clocking in at 5.7 seconds. Yet, the driving experience in the 330e felt clunky during transitions between electric and gasoline power, making the overall driving experience less satisfying than older 3 Series models.

Though the chassis retained the solid feel, blending a smooth highway ride with excellent handling, the 330e lacked the engaging driving dynamics of its predecessors. While technically impressive, it failed to provide a truly engaging driving experience, leaving us slightly underwhelmed.

In comparison, the 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class’s C300 model used a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, similarly producing 255 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, enhanced by a 48-volt mild-hybrid system offering short bursts of additional power. This engine, mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters, propelled the C300 from 0 to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds with an electronically limited top speed of 130 mph.

A sportier AMG C43 variant, with a 402 hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, achieved 0 to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds, with top speeds of 155 mph or 165 mph with larger wheels. Our C300 4Matic test car delivered adequate power, but experienced noticeable turbo lag, and the transmission, though fast-shifting, occasionally produced rough shifts and held gears too long in automatic mode.

Despite these powertrain quirks, the C300’s ride quality met luxury standards, absorbing road imperfections with ease. It offered decent entertainment in twisty roads around New York’s Catskill Mountains, thanks to good body control and precise steering that instilled confidence, even if it required a slightly more deliberate driving style.

Traditionally, small luxury sedans like the 3 Series weren’t spacious, but the 2021 model fared better in this aspect. It boasted the best rear headroom in the segment, and above-average front headroom, although it fell short of the Infiniti Q50. Legroom was average in both rows, likely causing some rear-seat discomfort with taller front occupants. While the Acura TLX provided better shoulder room, the 3 Series still managed to cater well to its segment.

BMW listed 17 cubic feet of cargo space for gasoline models, surpassing competitors. However, the 330e plug-in hybrid’s battery pack reduced trunk space to 13.2 cubic feet. The trunk’s shape necessitated an awkward reach to use its full capacity, although a standard 40/20/40 split-folding rear seat provided additional flexibility. Despite minor driving experience drawbacks, the 3 Series still had a well-organized cockpit geared for ease of driving. The touchscreen, low hood line, and generous side glass contributed to good visibility and accessibility.

Meanwhile, the 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class, which was available only as a sedan, offered increased dimensions compared to its predecessor. This translated to marginally more interior space, with enhancements of 0.1 inch in front headroom and 0.4 inch in the rear. Rear-seat legroom saw a notable increase of 0.8 inch, positioning the C-Class as the leader in its set for front-seat headroom and rear-seat legroom. Yet, it ranked lower for front legroom.

The C-Class’s luxury seats balanced comfort with sufficient bolstering for spirited driving, while forward visibility remained excellent. Unfortunately, thick rear pillars created blind spots, making the various driver aids essential. Minor issues included dashboard trim glare and an annoyingly placed wireless charging pad when using cupholders, although this unintentionally promoted safer driving habits.

Cargo-wise, the C-Class edged out its rivals with a 17.9 cubic feet trunk, conveniently shaped with a wide opening for ease of loading and unloading. The 40/20/40 split-folding rear bench accommodated longer items well, although specific cargo-space figures with seats folded weren't provided by Mercedes.

The 2021 BMW 3 Series came equipped with the standard iDrive infotainment system featuring an 8.8-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, and two USB ports. While gasoline models supported both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, the 330e only supported CarPlay. An optional Live Cockpit Professional system added a digital instrument cluster and navigation, with an available HUD.

In our 330e test car with Live Cockpit Professional, the infotainment system stood out with high-quality graphics and responsiveness. It offered multiple control options, including the iDrive controller, steering wheel controls, voice assistant activated by "Hey BMW," and even gesture controls for functions like adjusting the audio volume. Although some features felt gimmicky, the system provided versatile and user-friendly options.

Conversely, the 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class replicated the S-Class’s advanced infotainment setup with a prominent digital instrument cluster and portrait-oriented touchscreen. Even the entry-level C300 Premium model boasted a 12.3-inch instrument cluster and an 11.9-inch touchscreen angled towards the driver.

Standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were complemented by mid-tier sound upgrades and HUD for the top-tier C300 Pinnacle. The MBUX infotainment system's “Zero Layer” interface, borrowed from the EQS electric car, conveniently displayed functions without menu scrolling. The voice recognition system excelled, enhancing user interaction, while organized steering wheel controls minimized confusion.

The optional augmented-reality navigation system impressed with its front-camera feed and overlaid directional arrows, making navigation more intuitive and precise than conventional systems.

The 2021 BMW 3 Series earned a “Top Safety Pick” award from the IIHS, securing top “Good” scores in crash tests, though it had mixed headlight scores. The optional Active Driving Assistant Professional driver-assist system underperformed compared to the base system in vehicle-to-pedestrian front-crash prevention. No NHTSA safety ratings were available at publication time.

BMW, like many luxury brands, charged extra for safety features standard on more affordable vehicles. The adaptive cruise control required the Driving Assistant Professional Package, which also included lane-keep assist, automated lane centering, stop-and-go functionality, and extended traffic jam assistance. Standard features encompassed forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning. A lesser Driving Assistant Package added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and parking assist features.

For the 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class, neither IIHS nor NHTSA crash-test ratings were available at the time of publication. However, the 2021 model had held a “Top Safety Pick+” award from the IIHS. The 2022 iteration continued with comprehensive ADAS, embedding many features as standard. These included automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring with safe exit assist, a driver-attention monitor, the Pre-Safe collision preparation system, and Pre-Safe Sound for ear protection.

Optional safety upgrades included lane-keep assist, evasive steering assist, a 360-degree camera system, park assist, dashcam, and dual levels of adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality. Advanced Car-to-X communication technology allowed real-time data sharing between Mercedes vehicles, offering proactive safety alerts.