The 2025 BMW 3 Series and 2025 Mercedes-Benz C-Class are both pillars of the compact luxury sedan class. Each one has been a mainstay of their respective company’s portfolios over decades. Naturally, a sense of rivalry has cropped up between the two, raising standards and features. The real winner of this competition is the buyer, because we can choose between two excellent cars.
Let’s go deeper into the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class and see which one might emerge victorious.
2025 BMW 3 Series
The BMW 3 Series is a benchmark of its class, with plenty of appeal for driving enthusiasts. It also offers a combination of luxury materials and top technology — such as the Curved Display, which is standard in every new 3 Series.
A few changes have taken place for the 2025 model year. An update to the infotainment system means fewer actions to achieve the desired function. The 330i and M340i variants each have new steering wheels. There’s a greater choice of exterior colors, BMW has enhanced the suspension’s ride comfort, and the top M3 with all-wheel drive (AWD) gains 20 horsepower.
The entry-level BMW 330i employs a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine making 255 hp. It can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in a brisk 5.6 seconds, yet it’s also fuel-efficient — averaging 31 mpg.
This is a BMW, so of course there’s more power available. The next-up M340i has a 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder engine generating 382 hp. High-performance M3 models go from 473 to 523 hp. BMW’s all-wheel-drive system — known as xDrive — is available across the lineup.
BMW 3 Series Highlights
Safety: Not only is the 3 Series a driver’s machine, but it’s also a safe one — especially with advanced safety tech in the Driving Assistance package that includes lane departure warning, parking sensors, and more. The pricier Driving Assistance Professional package adds adaptive cruise control and a partial self-driving function in traffic. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded the 3 Series its maximum overall score of five stars. For reference, this latest generation of C-Class has been named a Top Safety Pick+ by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
Infotainment: The 2025 3 Series comes with an upgrade to BMW’s well-regarded iDrive system. The standard navigation system includes BMW Maps, while augmented reality brings superimposed direction arrows for help at things like confusing intersections. Also, the voice command feature can obey spoken requests to open (or close) the sunroof, for example.
Surround sound: This optional Harman Kardon system makes the whole 3 Series experience even more luxurious. We think this is a good upgrade over the standard setup.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the 3 Series models near you.
2025 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
2024 model shown
Just as the 3 Series represents much of what BMW is all about, so does the C-Class for Mercedes-Benz. The cabin is a technological marvel, housing massive infotainment and driver information displays. Every new C-Class sedan comes with a fingerprint reader that allows users to upload their specific profiles.
Model-year changes for 2025 see the MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) infotainment system updated to include 5G connectivity. A center airbag also becomes standard. New Nappa leather upholstery color choices are Black and Sienna Brown. The Manufaktur personalization program brings Alpine Grey onto its list of exterior paint choices. And buyers may choose MB-Tex simulated leather to wrap their steering wheel instead of real leather. We like the non-animal angle here and have found MB-Tex to be both convincing and hard-wearing.
In common with its BMW counterpart, the C 300 also has a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine developing 255 hp. Buyers can add 4Matic all-wheel drive or explore gutsier AMG variants that go from 416 to a colossal 671 horses.
Mercedes-Benz C-Class Highlights
Burmester 3D Surround Sound: This audio system, available in the mid-level Exclusive trim, is yet another of the great pleasures of driving a Mercedes-Benz and among the best car surround-sound systems we’ve heard.
Driver Assistance package: We’d prefer some items in this optional bundle to be standard equipment. But we definitely recommend spending the extra $1,950 to gain features like adaptive cruise control, Active Blind Spot Assist, and evasive steering assistance.
Augmented video: Sometimes navigation instructions aren’t always as clear as we would like when there’s only a split-second in which to make a move. This optional feature superimposes arrows on the screen (or head-up display) to make life easier. It looks cool too.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the C-Class models near you.
Similarities
It’s the same power in the base engines, while both companies offer hotter versions. Differences in fuel economy are hardly worth quibbling over. Tech and safety levels are well matched. So is occupant space. All-wheel drive is available, and warranties are identical. Both the 3 Series and the C-Class are perfect ambassadors for their respective makers.
Pricing
New 2025 BMW 3 Series Prices
|
Retail Price
|
Fair Purchase Price (92620)
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
$47,125 |
$43,849 |
|||
$49,125 |
$46,084 |
|||
$61,375 |
$57,876 |
|||
$63,375 |
$60,142 |
New 2025 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Prices
|
Retail Price
|
Fair Purchase Price (92620)
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
$49,600 |
$45,999 |
|||
$51,600 |
$47,853 |
The Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price for any individual used vehicle can vary greatly according to mileage, condition, location, and other factors. The prices here reflect what buyers are currently paying for New 2025 BMW 3 Series vehicles and New 2025 Mercedes-Benz C-Class vehicles in typical condition when purchasing from a dealership. These prices are updated weekly. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) quoted includes the destination fee, but does not include tax, license, document fees, and options.
Specifications
| 2025 BMW 3 Series | 2025 Mercedes-Benz C-Class | |
| Popular Powertrains | ||
| Engine | 2.0-liter turbo 4-cylinder | 2.0-liter turbo 4-cylinder with mild hybrid drive |
| Horsepower | 255 hp @ 5,000 rpm | 255 hp @ 5,800 rpm |
| Torque | 295 lb-ft @ 1,500 rpm | 295 lb-ft @ 2,000 rpm |
| Transmission | 8-speed automatic | 9-speed automatic |
| Fuel Economy | 28 city mpg/35 highway mpg/31 combined mpg | 25 city mpg/35 highway mpg/29 combined mpg |
| Also Available | 3.0-liter turbo 6-cylinder, AWD | 2.0-liter turbo 4-cyl. w/hybrid assist and electric exhaust-gas turbocharger, AWD |
| Basic Warranty | 4 years/50,000 miles | 4 years/50,000 miles |
| Powertrain Warranty | 4 years/50,000 miles | 4 years/50,000 miles |
| NHTSA Overall Safety | 5-Star | Not rated |
| Max Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Wheelbase | 112.2 inches | 112.8 inches |
| Overall Length | 185.9 inches | 187.0 inches |
| Width | 71.9 inches | 74.4 inches |
| Height | 56.8 inches | 56.6 inches |
| Turning Diameter | 39.4 feet | 37.6 feet |
| Headroom, Front | 38.7 inches | 40.0 inches |
| Headroom, Rear | 37.6 inches | 37.5 inches |
| Legroom, Front | 42.0 inches | 41.7 inches |
| Legroom, Rear | 35.2 inches | 36.0 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Front | 56.0 inches | 56.3 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Rear | 54.6 inches | 55.6 inches |
| Cargo Volume | 16.9 cubic feet | 11.6 cubic feet |
Conclusion
Poise and poshness — both the BMW 3 Series and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class have these qualities in abundance. There’s a slight difference in philosophy, however. BMW tends to lean toward the former, while Mercedes-Benz skews toward the latter, which makes test-driving both cars almost obligatory. It might just come down to styling preferences or trunk size — it’s that close. Whichever one we chose, we could rest easy knowing we had one of the finest compact luxury sedans ever made.
