Mercedes-Benz C-Class vs BMW i4

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class starts from $76,900 before on-road costs, while the BMW i4 opens at $88,900. That makes the Mercedes-Benz C-Class the more affordable entry point by $12,000.

Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $84,590 and $97,790 respectively.

The BMW i4 qualifies for FBT exemption as an electric vehicle, which can dramatically reduce the effective cost for novated lease buyers. The Mercedes-Benz C-Class, as a petrol model, does not qualify.

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class holds a 5-star ANCAP rating vs 4 stars for the BMW i4. Adult occupant protection scored 91% for the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and 87% for the BMW i4.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. We can confirm 6 of 10 key ADAS systems on both.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 9 in the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and 6 in the BMW i4.

How long each takes to charge, from a household power point to ultra-rapid DC, estimated from battery size and max charge rates.

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class features a 11.9-inch touchscreen paired with a 12.3-inch digital dash, while the BMW i4 gets a 14.9-inch display and 12.3-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class stands out with ambient lighting that you will not find on the BMW i4. The BMW i4 counters with heated front seats, ventilated seats, power tailgate and Harman Kardon audio. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

Interior trim differs: the Mercedes-Benz C-Class gets synthetic leather upholstery while the BMW i4 offers sensatec synthetic leather.

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class uses a Petrol producing 150kW and 300Nm of torque, sent through a automatic to a RWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 7.3 seconds.

The BMW i4 responds with a Electric making 210kW and 400Nm, paired to a auto driving the rear wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 6 seconds.

The BMW i4 has the clear power advantage at 210kW vs 150kW. In the real-world sprint, the BMW i4 is 1.3s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class measures 4,751mm long on a 2,865mm wheelbase, 32mm shorter than the BMW i4 at 4,783mm (2,856mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Mercedes-Benz C-Class generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 455L in the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and 470L in the BMW i4, giving the BMW i4 a 15L advantage.

For towing, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class leads with a 1,800kg braked capacity vs 1,600kg. That 200kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Running cost data is not yet available for both models. We will update when figures are confirmed.

Warranty: 5 years / 999,999km (Mercedes-Benz C-Class) vs 5 years / 999,999km (BMW i4). Both match on warranty length.