2009 Mercedes-Benz C350 vs. 2009 Audi A4
Buying a new entry-level luxury sedan will often take you to the same places: Mercedes Benz, BMW, and Audi. Some would say that is boring, but no one will complain about the reason you go there: consistency. Time to consider the excellent current offerings: the 2009 Mercedes Benz C350 and the 2009 Audi A4.
The 2009 Mercedes Benz C 350 is a speedy, powerful beast, in as much as
you can call anything produced by Mercedes something that feral. After
all, it still maintains that Mercedes Benz C-Class refinement, which
camouflages the 268 wild horses under the hood. Its size is another
thing on which drivers have remarked, going as far as to say it could
be a little too small. A Benz? Too small? But why not, small and
powerful often work well together in the jungle.
The 2009 Audi A4, in its latest mold, is a little longer than its
C-Class rival, and also falls just short of its horsepower count.
Still, it boasts the biggest available engine developing 265 brake
horsepower. On the market for $7, 000 cheaper, it arguably makes up in
value what it lacks so little in power.
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| 2009 Audi A4 Model Line Overview | |
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| Model lineup: | A4 2.0T sedan ($31,000); A4 2.0T sedan Premium quattro ($31,850); A4 2.0T Avant Premium ($34,500); A4 2.0T sedan Premium Plus ($36,700); A4 2.0T Avant Premium Plus ($38,500); A4 2.0T sedan Prestige ($40,000); A4 3.2 sedan Premium Plus ($40,000); A4 2.0T Prestige ($42,300); A4 3.2 sedan Prestige ($43,300) |
| Engines: | 211-hp 2.0-liter I4 turbo; 265-hp 3.2-liter V6 |
| Transmissions: | 6-speed manual; 6-speed automatic; CVT |
| Safety equipment (standard): | two-stage driver and adaptive passenger frontal airbags, side-impact airbags, curtain airbags, Backguard headrests; electronic stability control, ABS, EBD, Brake Assist, tire pressure monitors |
| Safety equipment (optional): | rear side airbags, all-wheel drive, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, rear camera, park assist |
| Basic warranty: | 4 years/50,000 miles |
| Assembled in: | Ingolstadt, Germany |
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| Specifications As Tested | |
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| Model tested (MSRP): | Audi A4 Avant quattro ($34,500) |
| Standard equipment: | leather upholstery, climate control, power steering, power disc brakes, fog lamps, all-wheel drive, Open Sky moonroof, power windows, power locks, power heated mirrors, cruise control, split-fold rear seat, tilt/telescoping steering column, MMI driver interface, alloy wheels |
| Options as tested (MSRP): | Ash wood trim, ($400); Audi Symphony sound system ($380); HomeLink ($200); Bluetooth phone prep ($500) |
| Destination charge: | ($825) |
| Gas guzzler tax: | N/A |
| Price as tested (MSRP): | $36,805 |
| Layout: | all-wheel drive |
| Engine: | 2.0-liter dohc 16-valve I4 turbo |
| Horsepower (hp @ rpm): | 211 @ 4200-6000 |
| Torque (lb.-ft. @ rpm): | 258 @ 1500-4200 |
| Transmission: | 6-speed automatic |
| EPA fuel economy, city/hwy: | 21/27 mpg |
| Wheelbase: | 110.6 in. |
| Length/width/height: | 185.2/71.9/56.5 in. |
| Track, f/r: | 61.6/61.1 in. |
| Turning circle: | 37.4 ft. |
| Seating capacity: | 5 |
| Head/hip/leg room, f: | 40.4/na/41.7 in. |
| Head/hip/leg room, m: | N/A |
| Head/hip/leg room, r: | 38.2/na/35.2 in. |
| Cargo volume: | 34 cu. ft. |
| Payload: | N/A |
| Towing capacity: | not recommended Lbs. |
| Suspension, f: | independent, upper/lower A-arms, coil springs, anti-roll bar |
| Suspension, r: | independent, trapezoidal link, coil springs, anti-roll bar |
| Ground clearance: | 4.1 in. |
| Curb weight: | 3814 lbs. |
| Tires: | 225/50R17 |
| Brakes, f/r: | vented disc/disc with ABS, EBD, Brake Assist |
| Fuel capacity: | 16.9 gal. |
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| 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Model Line Overview | |
| Model lineup: | Mercedes-Benz C300; C350 |
| Engines: | 228-hp 2.8-liter V6; 268-hp 3.5-liter V6 |
| Transmissions: | 7-speed automatic; 6-speed manual |
| Safety equipment (standard): | frontal airbags, side-impact airbags, curtain airbags; electronic stability control, traction control, ABS, EBD, Pre-Safe |
| Safety equipment (optional): | none |
| Basic warranty: | 4 years/50,000 miles |
| Assembled in: | Sindelfingen, Germany |
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| Specifications As Tested | |
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| Model tested (MSRP): | Mercedes-Benz C350 Sport |
| Standard equipment: | N/A |
| Options as tested (MSRP): | N/A |
| Destination charge: | N/A |
| Gas guzzler tax: | N/A |
| Price as tested (MSRP): | N/A |
| Layout: | rear-wheel drive |
| Engine: | 3.5-liter dohc 24-valve V6 |
| Horsepower (hp @ rpm): | 268 @ 6000 |
| Torque (lb.-ft. @ rpm): | 258 @ 2400 |
| Transmission: | 7-speed automatic |
| EPA fuel economy, city/hwy: | N/A |
| Wheelbase: | 108.7 in. |
| Length/width/height: | 180.4/69.7/57.0 in. |
| Track, f/r: | 60.4/60.5 in. |
| Turning circle: | 35.4 ft. |
| Seating capacity: | 5 |
| Head/hip/leg room, f: | 37.1/52.3/41.7 in. |
| Head/hip/leg room, m: | N/A |
| Head/hip/leg room, r: | 36.9/54.9/33.4 in. |
| Cargo volume: | 17.6 cu. ft. |
| Payload: | N/A |
| Towing capacity: | N/A |
| Suspension, f: | independent, coil springs, gas struts, stabilizer bar |
| Suspension, r: | independent. five-link with coil springs, gas shocks, stabilizer bar |
| Ground clearance: | N/A |
| Curb weight: | 3498 lbs. |
| Tires: | P225/40ZR-17 front; P245/40ZR-17 rear |
| Brakes, f/r: | disc/disc with ABS, EBD, Brake Assist |
| Fuel capacity: | 17.4 gal. |
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