Buying a car is nothing new for today’s young consumers. Buying a luxury car, a luxury car that is both desirable and within reach, has become a question that consumers start to think about in their spare time.
As a result, the old luxury car BBA flew into the homes of ordinary people. The invisible war between the entry-level BBA BMW 3 Series and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class has begun again. It just so happens that both cars have recently received annual facelifts, so which one is more suitable for you, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class or the BMW 3? Today we will talk about this new "showdown".
Appearance comparison
In terms of appearance, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class continues the design of the overseas version. The new car abandons the "object-like" style of the current model and instead adopts the current mainstream flat design. Design direction, and this design makes the overall look younger. Looking at the specific details, including the inverted L-shaped headlights, rounded front face, densely spoked wheels, etc., it has a "small S-class" look, and the overall style is more luxurious and stable.
The air intake grille adopts the "Night Galaxy" style air intake grille design. The interior is composed of 240 star emblems. At the same time, the inclination angle of the heat dissipation grille is designed to be larger, and the overall visual impact is very good. But to be honest, I can't tell how much it looks like the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, but the horizontal air intake grille of the standard version still has a hint of flavor.
The biggest change on the side is that the body and wheelbase have been lengthened. It is the longest body size among the three BBA models, but it still does not have advantages in other aspects. In terms of styling, the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class is lower and lower, and the front overhang is designed to be very short, making it more like an AMG GT model.
The wheels are quite attractive in appearance, using 18-inch two-color multi-spoke wheels. The overall style is more stable and equipped with Pirelli P7 tires. The front wheel specification is 225/45 R18 and the rear wheel specification is 255/40. R18. The shape of the tail has basically not changed, but it has been controversial. Some people think that the shape is fuller and more coordinated; some people think that the tail is a bit slumped, which is inconsistent with the temperament of the C-class. Personally, I prefer the latter.
The front face of the BMW 3 Series has changed significantly. The new model is equipped with a new grille and headlights. This is by no means a minor plastic surgery for a mid-term facelift, but a relatively large operation. The size of the star screen air intake grille has been further increased, but it has not been enlarged from the "double kidneys" to the "double lungs" of the 4 Series, otherwise it would be a replacement. What is somewhat controversial is the headlights. The internal LED light source style has also changed. The original half-spoon-shaped "angel eye" on the lower side has become a "double L-shaped" on the upper edge of the lamp unit.
The length, width and height of the BMW 3 Series are 4719mm*1827mm*1459mm, and the wheelbase is 2851mm. It is positioned as a mid-size car. The space inside the car is good, more than enough for daily household use, and it is also equipped with a regular-sized sunroof. The burgundy seat design, as well as the wide leg rests and wings, create a good sports atmosphere and good comfort. The front seats support electric adjustment, and the rear seats are equipped with armrests, cup holders, and air-conditioning outlets.
The rear designs of the two cars echo their respective fronts. BMW uses the M sports package. The surround at the bottom of the rear looks more powerful. At the same time, both cars have small ducks. The tail enhances the sense of movement. The taillight shape of the new 3 Series is still the familiar L-shaped internal design with thick light strips that are highly recognizable.
Interior Comparison
The interior design has once again made a breakthrough. In terms of design style and materials, it is on par with its big brother Mercedes-Benz S. The console materials are made of soft leather and large areas. The imitation carbon fiber trim is matched with it to create the ultimate sense of texture and luxury, and 64-color ambient lights are added under the chrome trim, which is indeed better than the 3 Series in terms of luxury.
The steering wheel is completely designed according to the Mercedes-Benz S in terms of shape and control method. It is wrapped in leather and has a very moderate grip. The function buttons are also controlled by touch and slide. The left side is the trip computer and assisted driving function buttons, and the right side is It is a multimedia control button and supports electric four-way adjustment.
The 12.3-inch LCD instrument adopts a suspended design, and the designed UI interface is relatively high-tech. Except for naked-eye 3D technology, the layout and functions are basically similar to the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. The air outlets have also been newly designed, and the interior is still decorated with ambient lights. It is very luxurious in the dark or when passing through a tunnel, which is also a reflection of the details.
The central control screen is the biggest change in this generation. It adopts an 11.9-inch vertical central control screen and is tilted 6 degrees toward the main driving position. This is a Mercedes-Benz detail that considers the driver. In terms of aspects, it is different from the Mercedes-Benz S in that the Mercedes-Benz S adopts a straight design. Because the Mercedes-Benz S mainly takes care of the rear row, mainly for the boss to watch the screen; the main personnel of the Mercedes-Benz C are basically in the driving position, so this car is very comprehensive.
The seats are wrapped in genuine leather with perforations, which makes the ride feel particularly comfortable. Both the material of the package and the internal filling are very comfortable, and the wrapping of the waist and back is very good. In terms of configuration, this car supports electric adjustment of the main and passenger seats and lumbar support. The seat adjustment buttons become gravity-sensitive controls. The advantage is that the adjustment stroke is shorter and more convenient. The disadvantage is that there is no tactile feedback; in addition, this car's Seat ventilation and heating are optional for all series, which is a bit unscrupulous.
Entering the car, as a luxury sedan that focuses on sports handling, the atmosphere created by the interior of the BMW 3 Series is relatively strong. For example, the door panels and seats are in volcanic red, while the rest of the interior is mainly black. The size of the steering wheel is relatively large, but the leather material used in the exterior gives a good grip. The interface design of the 12.3-inch full LCD instrument panel on the front is relatively simple, but it is slightly less functional than Audi. The car system equipped with the 10.25-inch floating central control screen in the middle is equipped with Internet of Vehicles and OTA upgrade functions, and supports Apple CarPlay and Baidu CarLife mobile phone interconnection, which can meet basic operations.
The second obvious change in the car is the cancellation of the chicken-leg gear handle that was once the soul of BMW interiors. Some netizens bluntly said, "The screen is copied from Mercedes-Benz, and the gearbox is copied from Volkswagen." Netizens almost complained about replacing the classic drumstick with small paddles like Volkswagen's. You know, "chicken legs" have always been the soul of BMW cars. The old 3 Series can also be retrofitted with the crystal gear lever of the 7 Series, which is also a configuration that Bimmer likes very much. China's reform directly eliminated the chicken legs, which is really confusing.
Power comparison
As for power, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class is still equipped with a powertrain composed of 1.5T+48V light hybrid system, but the engine is divided into high and low power versions, and some models are optional. It has a 48V mild hybrid system and is matched with a 9-speed automatic manual transmission. Among them, the 2.0T engine has a maximum power of 190kW and a peak torque of 370N·m; the 1.5T engine has a maximum power of 115kW and a peak torque of 250N·m; the 1.5T engine with a 48V light hybrid system has a combined maximum power of 135kW and a peak torque of 280N ·m.
In terms of suspension, this car uses multi-link independent suspension at the front and rear. As a sports car, this combination can effectively ensure body support, increase stability, and thus ensure the overall controllability of the vehicle. and comfort.
It is natural that the power will remain unchanged in the mid-term facelift, but it seems that the 2023 BMW 3 Series has changed again. The new model continues to be equipped with the B48 2.0T series four-cylinder engine, and the transmission system is still matched with the ZF 8AT gearbox. Although the power parameters of the 320/325 models remain the same as the current model, the maximum power of the 330 model is 10 kilowatts lower than the current model, to 180 kilowatts. It doesn't matter if the power of the top-end 330 model is reduced at all. After all, it is not the main model and has very few sales.
In terms of driving, the rear suspension balance bar that Bimmer is most concerned about is still not equipped on the 2023 BMW 320/325. This may disappoint some fans, as it means there are no changes to the chassis or handling. It must be pointed out here that since the BMW 3 Series was replaced in 2019, today's G Series 3 Series is no longer the sportsman it once was.
Compromising on luxury and comfort, it prefers to be a three-good student with a balance in all aspects. This kind of audience is obviously wider, and the sales volume also proves it. Therefore, the mid-term facelift of the 2023 BMW 3 Series still does not think about sports control, but uses technology and intelligence as the biggest changes to further cater to users.
From a design perspective, the new BMW 3 Series is more suitable for young people’s aesthetics, and its good comfort has also left a deep impression on many consumers. If you put aside the differences in appearance and interior between the two cars, the new BMW 3 Series is also slightly better in terms of power. Mercedes-Benz has completely defeated its old rival in creating a luxurious atmosphere and brand value