2009 Mercedes-Benz C350 vs. 2009 BMW 328

The entry-level luxury car was first launched in the 1970’s; little amazement that it was introduced by German manufacturers. The BMW 3 Series, 35 years old now, is the make’s most popular car by a long way with customers, accounting for almost 40% of the company’s sales in recent years. The BMW 328 has been right there among the best sellers of all of these, so how does it compare with one of its rivals, the 2009 Mercedes Benz C 350?

The specs on both cars make for instructive reading. The 2009 Mercedes
Benz C350 carries a 3.5-liter V6 engine under its bonnet, developing
268 bhp. A 108.7″ wheelbase hangs around the lower end average for this
class of vehicle. Devotees of the C350 say that it gives them an
agreeable feel of power and does not ask too much of them when
cornering. Meanwhile, the EPA suggests it cannot get you very far at
17.4 mpg, but that is an estimate worth testing with a spin rather than
a read.

The 2009 BMW 328? Well, it has a smaller engine at 3.0 liters, which
translates to 230 bhp. And the wheelbase is the exact same length as
that of the Mercedes. You will pay a little bit more for the C 350 in
exchange for a boost of power and a little extra cargo capacity. If you
can stretch a little, the specs make the Mercedes a more desirable buy.
But if you have driven in both, you know that the numbers do not always
make the difference.

We finally gave the 335 a rest but now it seems the C350 is too much for the 328. Makes us wonder: are the German rivals purposely not manufacturing direct competition for their models?

2008 BMW 3 Series

2008 Mercedes-Benz C Class