2021 Audi A4 vs 2021 BMW 3-Series vs 2021 Mercedes-Benz C Class

2021 Audi A4

#3 in Wagons

2021 BMW 3-Series

#1 in Luxury Small Sedans

2021 Mercedes-Benz C Class

#3 in Coupes

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Premium 40 TFSI quattro

Style	MPG City	MPG Hwy	Invoice	MSRP
A4 Sedan Premium 40 TFSI quattro	24	31	$36,755	$39,100
A4 Sedan Premium Plus 40 TFSI quattro	24	31	$36,755	$39,100
A4 Sedan Prestige 40 TFSI quattro	24	31	$36,755	$39,100
A4 Sedan S line Premium 45 TFSI quattro	24	31	$38,447	$40,900
A4 Sedan S line Premium Plus 45 TFSI quattro	24	31	$38,447	$40,900
A4 Sedan S line Prestige 45 TFSI quattro	24	31	$38,447	$40,900
A4 allroad Premium 45 TFSI quattro	24	30	$41,924	$44,600
A4 allroad Premium Plus 45 TFSI quattro	24	30	$41,924	$44,600
A4 allroad Prestige 45 TFSI quattro	24	30	$41,924	$44,600
S4 Premium 3.0 TFSI quattro	20	28	$46,907	$49,900
S4 Premium Plus 3.0 TFSI quattro	20	28	$46,907	$49,900
S4 Prestige 3.0 TFSI quattro	20	28	$46,907	$49,900

Select style

330e Plug-In Hybrid

Style	MPG City	MPG Hwy	Invoice	MSRP
3 Series 330e Plug-In Hybrid	N/A	N/A	$41,930	$44,550
3 Series 330e Plug-In Hybrid North America	N/A	N/A	$41,930	$44,550
3 Series 330e xDrive Plug-In Hybrid	N/A	N/A	$43,790	$46,550
3 Series 330e xDrive Plug-In Hybrid North America	N/A	N/A	$43,790	$46,550
3 Series 330i Sedan	26	36	$38,865	$41,250
3 Series 330i Sedan North America	26	36	$38,865	$41,250
3 Series 330i xDrive Sedan	25	34	$40,725	$43,250
3 Series 330i xDrive Sedan North America	25	34	$40,725	$43,250
3 Series M340i Sedan	23	32	$51,370	$54,700
3 Series M340i Sedan North America	23	32	$51,370	$54,700
3 Series M340i xDrive Sedan	22	31	$53,230	$56,700
3 Series M340i xDrive Sedan North America	22	31	$53,230	$56,700
M3 Competition Sedan	16	23	$68,205	$72,800
M3 Sedan	16	23	$65,505	$69,900

Select style

AMG C 43 4MATIC Convertible

Style	MPG City	MPG Hwy	Invoice	MSRP
C-Class AMG C 43 4MATIC Convertible	19	27	$61,570	$65,500
C-Class AMG C 43 4MATIC Coupe	19	27	$55,460	$59,000
C-Class AMG C 43 4MATIC Sedan	18	27	$53,110	$56,500
C-Class AMG C 63 Convertible	17	25	$73,320	$78,000
C-Class AMG C 63 Coupe	17	26	$66,411	$70,650
C-Class AMG C 63 S Convertible	17	25	$80,464	$85,600
C-Class AMG C 63 S Coupe	17	26	$73,555	$78,250
C-Class AMG C 63 S Sedan	17	26	$71,628	$76,200
C-Class AMG C 63 Sedan	17	26	$64,484	$68,600
C-Class C 300 4MATIC Convertible	22	30	$53,298	$56,700
C-Class C 300 4MATIC Coupe	23	32	$46,248	$49,200
C-Class C 300 4MATIC Sedan	23	33	$40,984	$43,600
C-Class C 300 Convertible	23	31	$51,418	$54,700
C-Class C 300 Coupe	24	33	$44,368	$47,200
C-Class C 300 Sedan	23	35	$39,104	$41,600

Show Only Differences

Pricing

Invoice Price

$36,755

$41,930

$61,570

Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price

$39,100

$44,550

$65,500

Monthly Payment Estimate

$652 / month

$743 / month

$1092 / month

The Car Connection's Take

TCC Rating

6.8

Read Our Full Review

7.7

Read Our Full Review

7.2

Read Our Full Review

TCC’s Bottom Line

The 2021 Audi A4 blends a conservative luxury compact car with spicy performance and robust wagon flavors.

The flexible 2021 BMW 3-Series lineup offers something for everyone, so long as they’re not smitten with SUVs.

Svelte, sporty, and somewhat understated, the 2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class should be at the top of your compact luxury sedan shopping list.

TCC Likes

Clean interior
Comfortable ride
A4 Allroad is capable off road…

Spectacular engines
Thrill-ride M3
Ride/handling balance

Ferocious AMGs
Coupe, convertible, or sedan
And not an ugly one in the bunch

TCC Dislikes

Conservative looks
Cramped trunk
Touchscreen looks like an afterthought

No wagon version
No manual, except in M3
M3’s style an acquired taste, at best

So, so much money
Small back seat and trunk
We’d like a wagon

Fuel Economy

City

24 mpg

Coming Soon

19 mpg

Highway

31 mpg

Coming Soon

27 mpg

Vehicle

EPA Classification

Compact Cars

Subcompact Cars

Interior Dimensions

Second Leg Room (in)

35.7

35.2

Front Leg Room (in)

41.3

Passenger Capacity

Second Head Room (in)

37.4

37.6

35.6

Second Shoulder Room (in)

54.5

54.6

47.8

Front Head Room (in)

37.3

38.7

38.8

Front Shoulder Room (in)

55.9

54.8

Exterior Dimensions

Height, Overall (in)

56.2

56.9

55.3

Track Width, Rear (in)

61.2

61.8

61.3

Wheelbase (in)

111

112.2

111.8

Width, Max w/o mirrors (in)

72.7

71.9

71.3

Track Width, Front (in)

61.9

62.2

63.1

Min Ground Clearance (in)

5.2

3.6

Length, Overall (in)

187.5

185.7

184.8

Cargo Area Dimensions

Trunk Volume (ft³)

13.2

8.8

Brakes

Drum - Rear (Yes or )

Brake ABS System

4-Wheel

Disc - Rear (Yes or )

Yes

Rear Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)

11.8

12.6

Brake Type

4-Wheel Disc

Rear Drum Diam x Width (in)

Disc - Front (Yes or )

Yes

Front Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)

12.4

14.2

Fuel Tank

Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx (gal)

15.3

10.6

17.4

Steering

Steering Type

Rack-Pinion

Turning Diameter - Curb to Curb (ft)

38.1

37.2

38.4

Tires

Spare Tire Size

Compact

Front Tire Order Code

R02

Spare Tire Order Code

Rear Tire Size

P225/50HR17

P225/45HR18

P245/40HR18

Rear Tire Order Code

R02

Front Tire Size

P225/50HR17

P225/45HR18

Weight Information

Base Curb Weight (lbs)

3682

4039

4204

Wheels

Rear Wheel Material

Aluminum

Rear Wheel Size (in)

17 X 7.5

18 X 7.5

18 X 8.5

Front Wheel Material

Aluminum

Spare Wheel Material

Steel

Front Wheel Size (in)

17 X 7.5

18 X 7.5

Spare Wheel Size (in)

Compact

Engine

Engine Type

Intercooled Turbo Gas/Electric I-4

Twin Turbo Premium Unleaded V-6

Fuel System

Gasoline Direct Injection

SAE Net Torque @ RPM

236 @ 1450

310

384 @ 2500

Engine Order Code

Displacement

2.0 L/121

2.0 L/122

3.0 L/183

SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM

201 @ 4200

288 @ 3800

385 @ 6100

Mileage

EPA Fuel Economy Est - City (MPG)

Fuel Economy Est-Combined (MPG)

EPA Fuel Economy Est - Hwy (MPG)

EPA MPG Equivalent - Combined

Estimated Battery Range (mi)

Transmission

Second Gear Ratio (:1)

2.19

3.14

3.24

Trans Order Code

2TB

421

Seventh Gear Ratio (:1)

0.39

0.84

0.86

Fourth Gear Ratio (:1)

1.06

1.67

1.64

Trans Description Cont.

Auto-Shift Manual w/OD

Automatic w/OD

Drivetrain

All Wheel Drive

Rear Wheel Drive

All Wheel Drive

Sixth Gear Ratio (:1)

0.51

1.00

First Gear Ratio (:1)

3.19

4.71

5.35

Final Drive Axle Ratio (:1)

4.23

3.23

3.07

Third Gear Ratio (:1)

1.52

2.11

2.25

Trans Type

Fifth Gear Ratio (:1)

0.74

1.28

1.21

Trans Description Cont. Again

Reverse Ratio (:1)

2.75

3.32

4.80

Eighth Gear Ratio (:1)

0.67

0.72

Summary

Vehicle Name

Audi A4 Sedan

BMW 3 Series

Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Body Style

quattro Sedan

Sedan

4MATIC Cabriolet

Suspension

Suspension Type - Rear

Multi-Link

Suspension Type - Rear (Cont.)

Multi-Link

Suspension Type - Front

Multi-Link

Strut

Suspension Type - Front (Cont.)

Multi-Link

Strut

Emissions

Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year

6.6

8.0

Electrical

Maximum Alternator Capacity (amps)

180

Crash Test Ratings

Overall Rating

Overall Frontal Barrier Crash Rating

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating Driver

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating Passenger

Overall Side Crash Rating

Side Barrier Rating

Side Barrier Rating Driver

Side Barrier Rating Passenger Rear Seat

Side Pole Rating Driver Front Seat

Combined Side Rating Front Seat

Combined Side Rating Rear Seat

Rollover Rating

2021 Audi A4

2022 Audi A4 is here; 2021s still available
Lease: No special offers, which is unusual
Rebates: Up to $2,000 off
Finance: From 0.49% APR for 60 months

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2021 BMW 3-Series

2021 BMW 3-Series available; 2022s arriving
Lease: From $429 for 36 months
Rebate: $1,000 college graduate
Financing: From 0.9% APR for 60 months

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2021 Mercedes-Benz C Class

2022 C-Class order books are open
Lease: From $449/mo. (2021)
Discounts: Up to $3,000 off (2021 Sedan)
Finance: 2.99% APR for 72 mo. (2021)

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