Mercedes C-Class Coupe vs Audi A5: 2012 twin test

If you thought premium-badged four-seater coupes cost the earth, then think again. The latest generation of stylish and upmarket models is designed to be cost-effective to run as well as impressive to look at.

Leading the charge is the Mercedes C-Class Coupe, featuring the 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine from the forthcoming new A-Class. With 152bhp and CO2 emissions of 149g/km when fitted with a manual gearbox, the direct-injection engine is more efficient yet just as powerful as its 1.8-litre predecessor.

Adding to the car’s appeal is new AMG Sport Plus trim, which brings extra style courtesy of a neat bodykit and upgraded interior. We test it with the slick seven-speed automatic gearbox, which pushes the price up by £1,500 to £32,590.

Yet the C-Class is not the only entry-level coupe out to prove you can combine style with low running costs. The recently revised Audi A5 has plenty of head-turning ability, while its 168bhp 1.8-litre turbo engine emits just 134g/km of CO2. In desirable £30,565 S line specification, the car undercuts the manual version of the C-Class by £525.

So, which of our sleek and efficient four-seaters offers more style for less spend?

Verdict

For many buyers, a coupe is a car you choose with your heart rather than your head. Yet these days, it’s no longer possible to ignore running costs when making any purchase – including coupes. So which one of our pair of classy two-doors will prove to be as easy on the wallet as it is on the eye?

Used - available now

2024 Vauxhall

Crossland

14,436 milesAutomaticPetrol1.2L

Cash £12,995

View Crossland

2021 Lexus

NX Hybrid

40,995 milesAutomaticPetrol2.5L

Cash £24,995

View NX Hybrid

2023 Mercedes

A-Class

11,493 milesAutomaticPetrol1.3L

Cash £22,495

View A-Class

2022 Renault

Megane E-Tech Electric

23,416 milesAutomaticElectric

Cash £17,100

View Megane E-Tech Electric

On paper, the Mercedes C-Class certainly has what it takes to succeed. It’s good to drive, looks great and boasts a refined, upmarket cabin. Yet it’s let down by its engine, which doesn’t deliver the expected performance and efficiency gains over the one it replaces. And although the racy bodykit and alloys of our Sport Plus model help it look the part, the C-Class is expensive.

Recent revisions have kept the Audi A5 looking fresh – especially in S line form. And while it can’t quite match the Mercedes for head-turning appeal, in almost every other respect, the A5 has the upper hand. Its 1.8-litre turbo engine is the star of the show, providing a winning blend of effortless performance and surprisingly low running costs. Plus, although the Audi isn’t quite as refined as its rival in this test, its cabin is more spacious and just as comfortable.

Factor in a grippy chassis, decent standard kit and rock-solid residuals, and you can see how the Audi A5 allows you to have your coupe cake and eat it.

First place: Audi A5 Coupe

As with a lot of models in Audi’s range, the entry-level A5 is the pick of the line-up. It looks every bit as good as the more expensive versions, but should cost you much less to run. Better still, the muscular 1.8-litre petrol engine punches above its weight for performance, yet has diesel-like running costs. An upmarket and spacious cabin seals the win.

Over the past four decades, Audi has developed a reputation for desirable and affordable four-seater coupes. The latest in this long line is the recently revised A5, which offers a compelling blend of sleek design, an upmarket cabin and practicality.

Better still, when fitted with the entry-level 1.8-litre TFSI petrol engine, it aims to deliver catwalk style at a reasonable price. Yet despite a recent facelift, the A5 can’t quite match the Mercedes for head-turning kerb appeal.

New LED headlamps and tail-lights help freshen up the looks, while our S line test car benefits from standard 18-inch alloys, but the rakish two-door car still looks too similar to more humble Audi models, such as the A4 and A6.

Things are better inside, where the sleek wraparound dashboard, stylish dials and class-leading quality give the A5 an edge over the C-Class. All the materials look and feel great, while the list of standard kit includes soft leather trim, Bluetooth and three-zone climate control.

There’s plenty of seat and steering wheel adjustment, so it’s easy to get comfortable, while the heavily bolstered front sports seats are very supportive. The Audi is a strict four-seater, like the Mercedes, but those in the back get slightly more headroom.

There are also deep door bins, a large centre console cubby and numerous cup-holders, while the boot will swallow a healthy 455 litres of luggage. And when you lower the standard split/fold rear seat, capacity rises to a useful 829 litres.

Buyers interested in pace rather than space won’t be disappointed by the A5, which put in a dominant display at the track. Thanks to a healthy 320Nm of torque (70Nm more than the C-Class), the Audi did the 0-60mph sprint in eight seconds flat – over a second quicker than its rival.

In the real world, the advantage is even greater, as the A5’s punchier engine feels more eager in-gear, allowing you to overtake traffic with confidence and power up hills that the Mercedes struggles with.

Yet the Audi is less refined than the C180, letting in more wind, road and engine noise. And while the ride isn’t as rock-hard as in previous S line models, the A5 can’t iron out bumps as effectively as the Mercedes.

The trade-off for stiffer suspension is good body control on a twisting back road, which combines with lots of grip and precise steering to give surprisingly agile handling. The A5 doesn’t flow through corners as effortlessly as the C-Class and its controls feel a bit numb, but its composed handling inspires confidence.

Beyond its glamorous image, the £30,565 Audi is a solid financial choice. It undercuts the Mercedes, and even if you add the twin-clutch DSG gearbox, you’ll still spend £545 less. On top of that, 134g/km emissions mean it’s cheaper to tax, while solid residuals leave you with more cash when you sell. On this evidence, the A5 will be tough to beat.

Second place: Mercedes C180 Coupe

While the Mercedes looks great and boasts an excellent ride and handling balance, it’s hobbled by an engine that lags behind the best – for both performance and efficiency. The C-Class isn’t as roomy inside as the Audi, either, while weaker residual values and higher CO2 emissions make it costlier for private buyers and company users alike.

You don’t have to sacrifice style to go green – just take a look at the latest addition to the Mercedes C-Class Coupe line-up for proof. The new C180 AMG Sport slots in at the bottom of the range, with an efficient petrol engine that promises the same performance as its predecessor, but with better economy and lower emissions.

On top of that, there’s a racy new Sport Plus trim level that adds even more appeal to the already desirable Coupe. There’s certainly no doubt that the Mercedes looks the part, and it easily trumps the / in the style stakes.

The two-door coupe roof and rear blend with the C-Class front end, while the Sport Plus model takes its cues from the muscular C63 AMG. Highlights include eye-catching two-tone 18-inch alloy wheels and a neat bodykit with a subtle tailgate spoiler.

It’s a similar story inside, where the usual classy C-Class cabin has been given a low-key makeover. The upright dashboard, logical layout and top-notch quality are carried over from the standard coupe, while the Sport Plus gets a visual boost from a pair of chunky AMG seats and some distinctive red stitching for the steering wheel, door panels and centre console. And while the cabin isn’t quite as stylish as the A5’s, the Mercedes matches its rival for standard kit, with climate control, Bluetooth and a DAB radio all included.

However, the C-Class falls a little short of the Audi when it comes to practicality and space. Occupants in the back get a similar amount of legroom, but the lower roofline means that taller passengers will have their head wedged against the roof. The problem is worse on models with the £1,350 optional panoramic roof, which lets in extra light, but at the expense of headroom.

The driver fares better thanks to plenty of seat and wheel adjustment, yet a high-set driving position means those over six feet tall will face the same problem as their back seat passengers.

Still, there’s plenty of useful cubby space scattered around the cabin, plus the square-shaped 450-litre boot is only five litres smaller than the Audi’s. And it’s not just the Mercedes’ boot that’s at a size disadvantage, because the C180’s new 1.6-litre engine is smaller and less powerful than the 1.8-litre TFSI in the A5.

As a result, the C-Class failed to keep up at the test track, where it needed 9.1 seconds to get from 0-60mph – over a second slower than the Audi. Our C-Class featured the £1,500 optional seven-speed automatic gearbox, but an example equipped with the clunky standard six-speed manual transmission wouldn’t be any faster.

At least the new engine is smooth, revving cleanly and crisply all the way to the red line. And while it doesn’t feel as potent as the A5’s engine, the turbocharged 1.6-litre’s relaxed and refined delivery is more suited to the C-Class’ grown-up character. Combined with the slick auto gearbox and supple ride, it makes the Mercedes an effortless motorway cruiser. Yet this relaxed nature doesn’t come at the expense of handling.

Standard-fit adaptive dampers, precise steering and a traditional rear-wheel-drive layout all help the C-Class to feel agile and engaging on a twisting back road. Although it doesn’t have as much grip as the Audi, the Mercedes’ major controls are better weighted and boast more feel.

At £32,590, the C180 AMG definitely isn’t cheap – although opting for the manual gearbox reduces the list price to £31,090, which is only £525 more than the slightly less well equipped Audi. The C-Class also suffers from weaker residual values and higher CO2 emissions than its rival, plus its 35.9mpg fuel economy figure was less than we managed with the faster A5.

The question is whether the C-Class Coupe’s superior style and relaxing driving experience are worth the extra money.

Facts and figures