Mercedes-Benz C-Class vs BMW 5 Series
Figures updated
The Mercedes-Benz C-Class and BMW 5 Series are two of the UK's most popular executive cars. We compare the W206 (2021–) C-Class and the G60 (2023–) 5 Series on price, size, boot space, performance, safety and running costs, plus how reliable each has been across 560,726 real MOT tests.
The short answer
Pick the Mercedes-Benz C-Class for the lower price, or the BMW 5 Series for the bigger boot, the better MOT record, lower fuel costs and more performance.
- The Mercedes-Benz C-Class is the cheapest to buy new: from £46,995, £6,115 less than the BMW 5 Series.
- The BMW 5 Series has the biggest boot: 520 litres, 65 more than the Mercedes-Benz C-Class.
- The BMW 5 Series has the better MOT record. Like for like on age and mileage, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class fails its MOT about 31% more often.
- The BMW 5 Series is the cheapest to fuel: comparing petrol versions, about £246 a year less than the Mercedes-Benz C-Class at 7,500 miles a year.
- Watch the wheels on a BMW 5 Series: it fails on them 2.2 times as often as the average car.
| Figure | Mercedes-Benz C-ClassW206 (2021–), 4-door saloon | BMW 5 SeriesG60 (2023–), 4-door saloon |
|---|---|---|
| Price and practicality | ||
| Price newUK list prices, across the range | £46,995 to £62,515September 2026 price list (best) | £53,110 to £79,830July 2026 price list |
| Body | 4-door saloon | 4-door saloon |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| BootSeats up / folded | 455 litres | 520 litres (best) |
| Length | 4,773mm | 5,060mm |
| WidthWithout mirrors | 1,820mm | 1,900mm |
| Height | 1,443mm | 1,515mm |
| Performance | ||
| Power | 218–258 PS | 208–489 PS (best) |
| 0–62mph | 5.9–7.3 sec | 4.3–7.5 sec (best) |
| Safety | ||
| Euro NCAP ratingTests get tougher each year | ★★★★★ (2022) | ★★★★★ (2023) |
| Economy and emissions | ||
| Fuel types | Diesel, Petrol, Plug-in hybrid | Petrol, Plug-in hybrid |
| Official economyVersions of this generation | 25.5–62.8 mpg | 42.8–45.5 mpg |
| CO2 | 10–253 g/km | 14–139 g/km |
| Running costs at 7,500 miles a year | ||
| Petrol or hybrid171.7p a litre, today's UK average | £1,533 (38.2 mpg) | £1,287 (45.5 mpg) (best) |
| Diesel198.4p a litre | £1,221 (55.4 mpg) | – |
| Cheapest version to fuelWhichever fuel costs least | £1,221 (diesel) | £1,287 (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 | 157Well above average (best) |
| Failed MOT first time (ages 3–20) | 25.5% | 20.3% (best) |
| Failed at 3 years old | 13.1% | 11.9% (best) |
| Failed at 5 years old | 13.8% | 12.5% (best) |
| Failed at 10 years old | 27.1% | 19.9% (best) |
| Most common MOT fault | Ball joint (4.5% of tests) | Tread depth (2.4% of tests) |
| Fails more than average on | Nothing stands out | Wheels (2.2×) |
| MOT tests analysed | 362,136 | 198,590 |
| About the cars | ||
| Type | Executive car | Executive car |
| Owners' average miles a year | 8,900 | 10,900 |
| On sale | 2021 on | 2023 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 5 Series more reliable?
The BMW 5 Series. Like for like on age and mileage, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class fails its MOT about 31% more often (reliability scores 157 and 120, where 100 is average). 20.3% of BMW 5 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 5 Series?
The BMW 5 Series is 287mm longer (5,060mm against 4,773mm). The BMW 5 Series has the bigger boot: 520 litres against 455.
›Which is cheaper to buy, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class or the BMW 5 Series?
The Mercedes-Benz C-Class: new prices start at £46,995, £6,115 less than the BMW 5 Series (from £53,110). 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 5 Series?
Comparing petrol versions, the BMW 5 Series costs about £246 a year less to fuel at 7,500 miles (£1,287 against £1,533), using typical official economy and current UK average fuel prices.
›Which is safer, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class or the BMW 5 Series?
Euro NCAP gave the Mercedes-Benz C-Class 5 stars (2022) and the BMW 5 Series 5 stars (2023). 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 5 Series?
Pick the Mercedes-Benz C-Class for the lower price, or the BMW 5 Series for the bigger boot, the better MOT record, lower fuel costs and more performance. 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.