Compare 2021 BMW 3-Series vs 2021 Lexus IS vs 2020 Mercedes-Benz C Class

2021 BMW 3-Series
#1 in Luxury Small Sedans
X
2021 Lexus IS
#9 in Luxury Small Sedans
X
2020 Mercedes-Benz C Class
X
Get Your Price Get Your Price
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
IS 300 AWD
Style MPG City MPG Hwy Invoice MSRP
IS IS 300 AWD 19 26 $38,178 $41,050
IS IS 300 RWD 21 31 $36,318 $39,050
IS IS 350 F SPORT AWD 19 26 $41,805 $44,950
IS IS 350 F SPORT RWD 20 28 $39,945 $42,950
Select style
AMG C 43 4MATIC Convertible
Style MPG City MPG Hwy Invoice MSRP
C-Class AMG C 43 4MATIC Convertible 18 25 $60,865 $64,750
C-Class AMG C 43 4MATIC Coupe 19 27 $54,990 $58,500
C-Class AMG C 43 4MATIC Sedan 19 27 $52,593 $55,950
C-Class AMG C 63 Convertible 17 24 $72,662 $77,300
C-Class AMG C 63 Coupe 17 26 $65,706 $69,900
C-Class AMG C 63 S Convertible 17 24 $79,806 $84,900
C-Class AMG C 63 S Coupe 17 26 $72,850 $77,500
C-Class AMG C 63 S Sedan 18 27 $71,158 $75,700
C-Class AMG C 63 Sedan 18 27 $64,014 $68,100
C-Class C 300 4MATIC Convertible 21 29 $52,593 $55,950
C-Class C 300 4MATIC Coupe 21 30 $45,073 $47,950
C-Class C 300 4MATIC Sedan 23 33 $40,796 $43,400
C-Class C 300 Convertible 21 29 $50,713 $53,950
C-Class C 300 Coupe 22 31 $43,193 $45,950
C-Class C 300 Sedan 24 35 $38,916 $41,400
Pricing
Invoice Price
$41,930
$38,178
$60,865
Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price
$44,550
$41,050
$64,750
Monthly Payment Estimate
$743 / month
$684 / month
$1079 / month
The Car Connection's Take
TCC Rating
7.7
6.2
7.3
TCC’s Bottom Line
The flexible 2021 BMW 3-Series lineup offers something for everyone, so long as they’re not smitten with SUVs. The 2021 Lexus IS doesn’t gain any ground on the more performance-oriented compact sedans, but it’s priced right. The 2020 Mercedes-Benz C-Class is as gorgeous inside as it is outside, and it has moves to match.
TCC Likes
TCC Dislikes
Fuel Economy
City
0 mpg 19 mpg 18 mpg
Highway
0 mpg 26 mpg 25 mpg
Vehicle
EPA Classification
Compact Cars Compact Cars Subcompact Cars
Interior Dimensions
Second Head Room (in)
37.6 36.9 35.6
Second Shoulder Room (in)
54.6 53.4 51.7
Front Head Room (in)
38.7 38.2 38.8
Front Shoulder Room (in)
56 55.9 54.8
Passenger Capacity
5 5 4
Second Leg Room (in)
35.2 32.2 32
Front Leg Room (in)
42 44.8 42
Passenger Volume (ft³)
- 90.2 -
Front Hip Room (in)
- 54.3 -
Second Hip Room (in)
- 54 -
Exterior Dimensions
Track Width, Front (in)
62.2 62.2 63.1
Length, Overall (in)
185.7 185.4 184.8
Height, Overall (in)
56.9 56.7 55.4
Track Width, Rear (in)
61.8 62 61.3
Wheelbase (in)
112.2 110.2 111.8
Width, Max w/o mirrors (in)
71.9 72.4 71.3
Min Ground Clearance (in)
- 5.5 3.6
Cargo Area Dimensions
Trunk Volume (ft³)
13.2 10.8 8.8
Brakes
Drum - Rear (Yes or )
NA NA NA
Brake ABS System
4-Wheel 4-Wheel 4-Wheel
Disc - Rear (Yes or )
Yes Yes Yes
Brake Type
4-Wheel Disc 4-Wheel Disc 4-Wheel Disc
Disc - Front (Yes or )
Yes Yes Yes
Rear Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)
- 11.7 12.6
Rear Drum Diam x Width (in)
- NA NA
Front Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)
- 13.2 14.2
Fuel Tank
Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx (gal)
10.6 17.4 17.4
Steering
Turning Diameter - Curb to Curb (ft)
37.2 35.4 39.7
Steering Type
Rack-Pinion Rack-Pinion Rack-Pinion
Tires
Front Tire Size
P225/45HR18 P235/45VR18 P225/45HR18
Spare Tire Size
NA Compact NA
Front Tire Order Code
NA NA R02
Spare Tire Order Code
NA NA NA
Rear Tire Size
P225/45HR18 P235/45VR18 P245/40HR18
Rear Tire Order Code
NA NA R02
Weight Information
Base Curb Weight (lbs)
4039 3847 -
Wheels
Spare Wheel Size (in)
NA Compact NA
Rear Wheel Material
Aluminum Aluminum Aluminum
Rear Wheel Size (in)
18 X 7.5 18 X 8.5 18 X 8.5
Front Wheel Material
Aluminum Aluminum Aluminum
Spare Wheel Material
NA Steel NA
Front Wheel Size (in)
18 X 7.5 18 X 8.5 18 X 7.5
Engine
Fuel System
Gasoline Direct Injection Port/Direct Injection Gasoline Direct Injection
SAE Net Torque @ RPM
310 236 @ 2000 384 @ 2500
Engine Order Code
NA NA NA
Displacement
2.0 L/122 3.5 L/211 3.0 L/183
SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM
288 @ 3800 260 @ 6600 385 @ 6100
Engine Type
Intercooled Turbo Gas/Electric I-4 Premium Unleaded V-6 Twin Turbo Premium Unleaded V-6
Mileage
EPA MPG Equivalent - Combined
75 - -
Fuel Economy Est-Combined (MPG)
28 22 21
Battery Range (mi)
23 - -
EPA Fuel Economy Est - Hwy (MPG)
- 26 25
EPA Fuel Economy Est - City (MPG)
- 19 18
Transmission
Fourth Gear Ratio (:1)
1.67 1.00 1.64
Trans Description Cont.
Automatic w/OD Automatic w/OD Automatic w/OD
Sixth Gear Ratio (:1)
1.00 0.58 1.00
First Gear Ratio (:1)
4.71 3.52 5.35
Drivetrain
Rear Wheel Drive All Wheel All Wheel
Final Drive Axle Ratio (:1)
3.23 3.77 3.07
Third Gear Ratio (:1)
2.11 1.40 2.25
Trans Type
8 6 9
Eighth Gear Ratio (:1)
0.67 - 0.72
Fifth Gear Ratio (:1)
1.28 0.71 1.21
Trans Description Cont. Again
NA NA NA
Reverse Ratio (:1)
3.32 3.17 4.80
Second Gear Ratio (:1)
3.14 2.04 3.24
Trans Order Code
2TB NA NA
Seventh Gear Ratio (:1)
0.84 - 0.86
Summary
Vehicle Name
BMW 3 Series Lexus IS Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Body Style
Sedan Sedan 4MATIC Cabriolet
Suspension
Suspension Type - Front (Cont.)
Strut Double Wishbone Strut
Suspension Type - Rear
Multi-Link Multi-Link Multi-Link
Suspension Type - Rear (Cont.)
Multi-Link Multi-Link Multi-Link
Suspension Type - Front
Strut Double Wishbone Strut
Emissions
Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year
- 8.0 8.5
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
-
Next Steps: Get Free Price Quotes!
2021 BMW 3-Series
  • 2021 BMW 3-Series available
  • Lease: From $419 for 36 months
  • Rebate: $1,000 college graduate
  • Financing: From 0.9% APR for 60 months
Get Your Price
2021 Lexus IS
  • 2021 Lexus IS available now
  • Lease: From $339 for 36 months
  • Rebate: Up to $2,000 cash
  • Finance: From 0.9% APR for 60 months
Get Your Price
2020 Mercedes-Benz C Class
  • 2021 C-Class is available
  • Discounts: Up to $4,500 off (2020 sedan)
  • Lease: $439/mo. (2020 sedan)
  • Finance: 1.99% APR for 36 mo. (2020)

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