Mercedes-Benz C-Class vs BMW 4 Series
Figures updated
The Mercedes-Benz C-Class and BMW 4 Series are two of the UK's most popular executive cars. We compare the W206 (2021–) C-Class and the G22 (2020–) 4 Series on price, size, boot space, performance, safety and running costs, plus how reliable each has been across 466,081 real MOT tests.
The short answer
The BMW 4 Series comes out ahead, with the lower price, the better MOT record, lower fuel costs and more performance; the Mercedes-Benz C-Class is close on everything else.
- The BMW 4 Series is the cheapest to buy new: from £46,180, £815 less than the Mercedes-Benz C-Class.
- Their boots are much the same size: Mercedes-Benz C-Class 455 litres, BMW 4 Series 440 litres.
- The BMW 4 Series has the better MOT record. Like for like on age and mileage, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class fails its MOT about 15% more often.
- The BMW 4 Series is the cheapest to fuel: comparing petrol versions, about £79 a year less than the Mercedes-Benz C-Class at 7,500 miles a year.
- Watch the tyres on a BMW 4 Series: it fails on them 1.3 times as often as the average car.
| Figure | Mercedes-Benz C-ClassW206 (2021–), 4-door saloon | BMW 4 SeriesG22 (2020–), 2-door coupé |
|---|---|---|
| Price and practicality | ||
| Price newUK list prices, across the range | £46,995 to £62,515September 2026 price list | £46,180 to £63,385July 2026 price list |
| Body | 4-door saloon | 2-door coupé |
| Seats | 5 (best) | 4 |
| BootSeats up / folded | 455 litres (best) | 440 litres |
| Length | 4,773mm | 4,768mm |
| WidthWithout mirrors | 1,820mm | 1,852mm |
| Height | 1,443mm | 1,383mm |
| Performance | ||
| Power | 218–258 PS | 184–374 PS (best) |
| 0–62mph | 5.9–7.3 sec | 4.5–7.5 sec (best) |
| Safety | ||
| Euro NCAP ratingTests get tougher each year | ★★★★★ (2022) | ★★★★★ (2019) |
| Economy and emissions | ||
| Fuel types | Diesel, Petrol, Plug-in hybrid | Petrol |
| Official economyVersions of this generation | 25.5–62.8 mpg | 32.8–42.8 mpg |
| CO2 | 10–253 g/km | 144–186 g/km |
| Running costs at 7,500 miles a year | ||
| Petrol or hybrid171.8p a litre, today's UK average | £1,533 (38.2 mpg) | £1,454 (40.3 mpg) (best) |
| Diesel198.4p a litre | £1,221 (55.4 mpg) | – |
| Cheapest version to fuelWhichever fuel costs least | £1,221 (diesel) | £1,454 (petrol) |
| Car tax a yearCars registered from April 2017 | £200£640 in years 2–6 for versions listed over £40,000 | £200£640 in years 2–6 for versions listed over £40,000 |
| Reliability from real MOT tests | ||
| Reliability score | 120Well above average | 138Well above average (best) |
| Failed MOT first time (ages 3–20) | 25.5% | 16.4% (best) |
| Failed at 3 years old | 13.1% | 13.1% |
| Failed at 5 years old | 13.8% | 14.0% |
| Failed at 10 years old | 27.1% | 21.6% (best) |
| Most common MOT fault | Ball joint (4.5% of tests) | Condition (2.4% of tests) |
| Fails more than average on | Nothing stands out | Tyres (1.3×) |
| MOT tests analysed | 362,136 | 103,945 |
| About the cars | ||
| Type | Executive car | Executive car |
| Owners' average miles a year | 8,900 | 9,200 |
| On sale | 2021 on | 2020 on |
Green marks the better figure where the difference is more than 3%. Reliability figures cover every version of each model tested in the year. Running costs use the typical official economy of recent versions (WLTP where available); real-world economy is usually a little worse for every car.
More comparisons
Frequently asked questions
›Is the Mercedes-Benz C-Class or the BMW 4 Series more reliable?
The BMW 4 Series. Like for like on age and mileage, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class fails its MOT about 15% more often (reliability scores 138 and 120, where 100 is average). 16.4% of BMW 4 Serieses and 25.5% of Mercedes-Benz C-Classes failed first time in 2024.
›Which is bigger, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class or the BMW 4 Series?
They're almost the same length (4,773mm and 4,768mm). Their boots are much the same: 455 and 440 litres.
›Which is cheaper to buy, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class or the BMW 4 Series?
The BMW 4 Series: new prices start at £46,180, £815 less than the Mercedes-Benz C-Class (from £46,995). These are manufacturer list prices; dealers and brokers often sell for less.
›Which is cheaper to run, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class or the BMW 4 Series?
Comparing petrol versions, the BMW 4 Series costs about £79 a year less to fuel at 7,500 miles (£1,454 against £1,533), using typical official economy and current UK average fuel prices.
›Which is safer, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class or the BMW 4 Series?
Euro NCAP gave the Mercedes-Benz C-Class 5 stars (2022) and the BMW 4 Series 5 stars (2019). Euro NCAP makes its tests tougher every few years, so ratings from different years aren't directly comparable.
›Should I buy the Mercedes-Benz C-Class or the BMW 4 Series?
The BMW 4 Series comes out ahead, with the lower price, the better MOT record, lower fuel costs and more performance; the Mercedes-Benz C-Class is close on everything else. The comparison above sets out price, space, performance, safety, running costs and reliability side by side.
Sources: manufacturers' UK specifications and price lists and Euro NCAP (listed on each model's page); DVSA anonymised MOT tests 2024 (Open Government Licence v3.0); Vehicle Certification Agency car fuel data, © Crown copyright, VCA cannot accept liability for its accuracy; fuel prices from the GOV.UK Fuel Finder scheme. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited under each picture.