Compare the2025 Audi RS 3VS 2025 Mercedes AMG C-Class Sedan

Both the RS 3 and AMG C-Class Sedan have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The RS 3 has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The AMG C-Class Sedan’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

The Audi RS 3 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The AMG C-Class Sedan doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The RS 3’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the AMG C-Class Sedan.

Both the RS 3 and the AMG C-Class Sedan have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

The RS 3’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the AMG C-Class Sedan’s (12 vs. 5 years).

As tested in Car and Driver the Audi RS 3 is faster than the AMG C 43:

On the EPA test cycle the RS 3 gets better mileage than the AMG C-Class Sedan running its gasoline engine:

For better stopping power the RS 3’s standard front brake rotors are larger than those on the AMG C-Class Sedan:

For better traction, the RS 3 has larger front tires than the AMG C-Class Sedan (F:265/30R19 & R:245/35R19 vs. 245/45R18).

The RS 3’s 265/30R19 front and 245/35R19 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 30 series front and 35 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the AMG C-Class Sedan’s standard 45 series tires. The RS 3’s tires are lower profile than the AMG C-Class Sedan’s optional 35 series front tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the RS 3 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the AMG C-Class Sedan.

The RS 3 handles at .94 G’s, while the AMG C 43 pulls only .92 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Audi RS 3 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 550 to 1100 pounds less than the Mercedes AMG C-Class Sedan.

The RS 3 is 10.1 inches shorter than the AMG C-Class Sedan, making the RS 3 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The RS 3 has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The AMG C-Class Sedan doesn’t offer headlight washers.