Mercedes-Benz C-Class vs Toyota Camry

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class starts from $76,900 before on-road costs, while the Toyota Camry opens at $39,990. That makes the Toyota Camry the more affordable entry point by $36,910.

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 $43,989 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs favour the Toyota Camry by roughly $3,850 in fuel alone.

Both the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Toyota Camry hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 91% for the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and 95% for the Toyota Camry.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. The Toyota Camry packs more ADAS features with 7 out of 10 key systems fitted, compared to 6 in the Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

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 8 in the Toyota Camry.

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class features a 11.9-inch touchscreen, while the Toyota Camry gets a 8-inch display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class stands out with head-up display, wireless charging, panoramic roof and ambient lighting that you will not find on the Toyota Camry. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

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 7.8 seconds.

The Toyota Camry responds with a 2.5L 4-cyl Dual VVT-i Hybrid making 170kW and 221Nm, paired to a cvt driving the front wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 8.1 seconds.

The Toyota Camry has the clear power advantage at 170kW vs 150kW. In the real-world sprint, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class is 0.3s 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, 169mm shorter than the Toyota Camry at 4,920mm (2,825mm 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 524L in the Toyota Camry, giving the Toyota Camry a 69L advantage.

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

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $1,910/year for the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and $1,140/year for the Toyota Camry. That is a $770 annual difference in favour of the Toyota Camry.

Estimated annual total: $1,910 (Mercedes-Benz C-Class) vs $1,140 (Toyota Camry). The Toyota Camry saves you roughly $770 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

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