BMW 3 Series v Mercedes-Benz C-Class 2019 Comparison

When 'A grade' and 'Numero Uno' are winners in life, surely the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and the BMW 3 Series are standing on the bronze step of the podium.

Except they're not. In sales terms the C-Class has been a real winner for Benz in the Australian market, and although the BMW 3 Series has only scored silver since 2007 it's still the most credible rival to the Benz in this country.

Now there's a new 3 Series – the G20 generation– that could narrow the gap to C-Class in the medium prestige passenger-car segment above $60,000. It's time we assessed the entry-level models to find out whether the new 3 Series can upset the natural order.

Why? Because such a comparison is long overdue. There have been plenty of 'M3 versus C 63' comparisons in recent years, but not since 2014 have we witnessed mainstream four-cylinder models going toe to toe.

The advent of a new generation BMW 3 Series is the perfect excuse. We have an additional interest in seeing whether the diesel-engined 320d is too rich or too niche to be a true entry-level model – especially as the end of the 320i in the previous generation means the price to join the 3 Series owner's club is now $4500 dearer than the petrol-engined Mercedes-Benz C 200.

And with Benz recently adopting downsized turbo engine power for the C 200, is that a viable alternative to diesel?

The cynical will tell you that both these models are located at the intersection of badge awareness and product knowledge. These are 'real' cars from Mercedes-Benz and BMW.

There are cheaper models wearing the three-pointed star or the colours of Bavaria for the badge snobs on a budget, but if you want to be certain of rear-wheel drive and three-box sedan packaging, these are the two that you must buy as a minimum.

Leaving aside the social-climbing factor, the 3 Series and the C-Class are vehicles designed for those who appreciate European style, refinement, safety, comfort and driving satisfaction in a booted passenger-car footprint.

They're typically owned by smaller families with school-aged kids and educated, professional parents living perhaps in a prosperous suburb that's not too far from the central business district of a capital city.

BMW's decision to drop the entry-level 320i from the on-going range has left the diesel-engined 320d underpinning the rest of the range until the new 320i arrives.

By being a diesel, the 320d comes at a higher purchase price – $67,900 before on-road costs – and that places the BMW at a disadvantage against the Mercedes-Benz C 220, which is priced at $63,400 before the on-roads. That gap widens too, after factoring in the options fitted to the test cars.

Adjusting for specification to determine which represents the better value is tough.

As tested, the 320d came with a sunroof ($2900), 19-inch alloy wheels ($1500), metallic paint ($2000), M suspension ($2200) and a handful of other options like the powered boot lid ($900) that you could safely do without. The C 200 has a hydraulically sprung boot lid that achieves much the same end and costs nothing extra.

Options fitted to the C 200 included the Vision Package ($4846), COMAND package ($1769) and dynamic body control suspension ($1077). The Vision Pack includes a sunroof, high-beam assistance and 'Multibeam' LED headlights. There's a difference of almost $6500 between the two cars, with the 320d the more expensive.

But forget about the optional 19-inch wheels and powered boot lid for the BMW and the price difference is reduced to $4092.

As standard, the 320d has the diesel engine, adaptive LED headlights, the inductive smartphone charging, a head-up display, wireless CarPlay, speed limit information, a couple of extra USB ports in the rear, a third zone for the climate control and a host of driver-assist features – Lane Departure Warning, Lane Change Warning, rear cross-traffic warning and rear collision prevention.

On balance, and given the identical warranty coverage and the lower running costs for the diesel, the BMW looks to be in front, depending on what sort of value you place on the extra features fitted.

Starting with the BMW, the 320d impresses with its combination of refinement and frugality. The diesel engine settles down into a quieter mode within a minute or so from a cold start and delivers fuel economy that's commendable even by the standards of other diesel passenger cars.

A near-perfect match for the diesel, the eight-speed automatic transmission didn't put a foot wrong, changing quickly but smoothly when used manually and gently shifting up or down the scale when left in Drive.

The 320d is a bit roomier in the back and the layout of the digital dash and placement for the switchgear place the BMW ahead of the Mercedes. That includes having the starter button and drive mode buttons in plain view on the console between the gear shifter and the driver's left knee.

An amalgam of infotainment and instrumentation – including head-up display – means you'll rarely find yourself drilling down or backing out of infotainment menus to retrieve the information you require.

Once you have fuel economy data displayed in the infotainment screen, digital speedo reading (or g force data) in the trip computer and the prevailing speed limit and satnav route in the head-up display you're set for life.

Front-seat comfort and access to controls is hard to beat as well. There's more equipment in the BMW too, and the 320d offers an enjoyable driving experience.

The adaptive headlights with auto high-beam assist cast a very broad spread of light and project well ahead in the darkness, even on low beam, which is excellent for picking out kangaroos by the side of the road – before the kangaroos fail to see the BMW.

The C 200 is enjoyable to drive also, and in fact the ride quality is superior; we think BMW miscued specifying 19-inch alloys and M Sport suspension for the test vehicle, rather than the standard 18-inch wheels and suspension.

Steering is weighted better in the Benz; there's more feel, and roadholding is on par with the BMW's. For most prospective buyers, the C 200's handling will feel more secure at the limit – it won't move into oversteer in extreme situations.

Being a petrol engine, the turbocharged powerplant in the C 200 sounds sportier than the diesel and revs harder too, of course. It's quite an athletic engine for its displacement and power delivery is in the same vein as a naturally-aspirated 2.0-litre engine.

Both cars were susceptible to the odd squeak, rattle and buzzing noise in different scenarios.

The powertrain for the C 200 is no match for the 320d's fuel economy. While the petrol engine is quite strong, it was using up to about 1.5L/100km more in any given circumstance than the BMW. And where calibration of the automatic transmission is concerned, the ZF complemented the BMW powerplant better than the Benz nine-speed unit managed with the turbocharged petrol engine. Occasionally the C 200 would thump into gear, highlighting just how smooth and responsive the ZF auto is in the 320d.

BMW's brake pedal feel in the 320d is soft and the pedal travels a long way before anything much happens. There's a more reassuring pedal underfoot in the C 200.

The BMW lacks full autonomous braking; the system will slow the car to 5km/h, but won't bring it to a full stop. In a related way, the C 200 comes without adaptive cruise control.

We approached this comparison fully expecting the BMW to win "at a canter" – to quote a certain prime minister out of context.

Contrary to that however, the C 200 remains a very competitive vehicle, and the migration to the 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine has been an unqualified success. While the 320d remains the more economical of the two cars, we're certain the gap between the two would be narrowed considerably if both spent more time on the open road.

The 320d gave away points for ride comfort. It would have been interesting to test a vehicle with the standard wheel and tyre combination, because there wasn't much to separate the two test vehicles in any case. With a slightly higher profile of tyre, such as the 45-series Continentals fitted to the C 200, the 320d might have matched or even bettered the Benz for ride quality.

All that aside, however, the 320d won on the day. We love the dash design for starters. The powertrain holds a lead over the C 200 – provided you don't mind diesels. It's a little roomier in the rear and there are a lot of high-tech gadgets fitted as standard in this 'poverty pack' model.

How much does the 2019 BMW 320d Luxury Line cost?
Price: $67,900 (plus on-road costs), $79,200 (as tested, plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 140kW/400Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 4.5L/100km (ADR Combined); 6.3L/100km (as tested)
CO2: 119g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: TBA

How much does the 2019 Mercedes-Benz C 200 cost?
Price: $63,400 (plus on-road costs), $72,708 (as tested, plus on-road costs)
Engine: 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 135kW/280Nm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Fuel: 6.4L/100km (ADR Combined); 9.3L/100km (as tested)
CO2: 145g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star ANCAP (2014)

Since this review was published, BMW Australia has launched the 320i locally.