Compare the2026 Mercedes AMG C-Class SedanVS 2025 Audi S5

The AMG C-Class Sedan has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The S5 doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

Both the AMG C-Class Sedan and the S5 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available lane departure warning systems.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Mercedes AMG C-Class Sedan is safer than the S5:

There are over 25 percent more Mercedes dealers than there are Audi dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the AMG C-Class Sedan’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Mercedes vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. With 59 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mercedes higher than Audi.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Mercedes vehicles are more reliable than Audi With 30 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Mercedes higher than Audi.

The AMG C 43’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 54 more horsepower (416 vs. 362) than the S5’s 3.0 turbo V6. The AMG C 63 S E’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 309 more horsepower (671 vs. 362) and 346 lbs.-ft. more torque (752 vs. 406) than the S5’s 3.0 turbo V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the AMG C 63 S E is faster than the Audi S5:

On the EPA test cycle the AMG C 63 S E running on electricity gets better mileage than the S5 (36 city/38 hwy MPGe vs. 19 city/28 hwy).

The AMG C 63 S E can travel with zero emissions for 1 miles. The S5 can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the AMG C-Class Sedan’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The S5 doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The AMG C-Class Sedan has 2.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the S5 (17.4 vs. 14.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

A nine-speed automatic (SMG) is standard on the Mercedes AMG C-Class Sedan, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the S5.

For better stopping power the AMG C-Class Sedan’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the S5:

The AMG C-Class Sedan offers optional heat-treated ceramic brake rotors, which last ten to twenty times as long as conventional cast iron rotors, don’t rust, don’t fade during repeated high speed braking, and their lighter weight contribute to better braking, handling and acceleration. The S5 doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

The AMG C-Class Sedan stops shorter than the S5:

For better traction, the AMG C 63 S E’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the S5 (F:265/35R20 & R:275/35R20 vs. 245/40R19).

The AMG C-Class Sedan’s optional 265/30R20 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 30 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the S5’s optional 35 series tires.

The AMG C-Class Sedan’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The S5 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The AMG C-Class Sedan’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (49% to 51%) than the S5’s (56% to 44%). This gives the AMG C-Class Sedan more stable handling and braking.

The AMG C 63 S E handles at 1.00 G’s, while the S5 pulls only .95 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The AMG C 63 S E executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the S5 (24 seconds @ .88 average G’s vs. 24.7 seconds @ .8 average G’s).

The AMG C-Class Sedan has 1 inch more front headroom, .7 inches more front legroom, .4 inches more rear headroom and .5 inches more rear shoulder room than the S5.

Pressing a switch automatically lowers the AMG C-Class Sedan’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The S5 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

With its sedan body style, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the AMG C-Class offers cargo security. The S5’s hatchback body style and non-lockable folding seat defeat cargo security.

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors in the S5, the AMG C-Class Sedan has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

Heated windshield washer fluid is standard on the AMG C-Class Sedan to defrost the washer nozzles and quickly clear ice and frost from the windshield without scraping. The S5 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer fluid.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the AMG C-Class Sedan offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The S5 doesn’t offer cornering lights. The AMG C-Class Sedan also offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

A power rear sunshade and manual rear side window sunshades are standard in the AMG C-Class Sedan to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The S5 doesn’t offer a rear sunshade.

The AMG C-Class Sedan has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The S5 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Mercedes C-Class outsold the Audi A5/S5/RS 5 by 56% during 2024.