2023-06-23 10:00:00
“I’m shopping for an entry-level luxury car and I’m hesitating between theAudi A4the BMW 330i xDrive and the Mercedes-Benz C 300 4MATIC, all three from 2017 or 2018. My criteria are, in order, reliability and driving pleasure. —Benjamin
Answer
Hello Benjamin,
You should know, first and foremost, that the maintenance costs related to these three vehicles are in the high average. These are vehicles that deliver very acceptable performance, but have a higher level of complexity than the fleet average. So, when it comes time to make repairs, the cost is usually higher than for an equivalent Japanese car, the Lexus IS 350 for example.
2017 BMW 330i xDrive Photo provided by: BMW
Now which one to choose? Certainly the BMW 330i xDrive is the one that puts more emphasis on driving pleasure. The calibration of its suspension, the responsiveness of its engine and its well-adapted transmission are elements that work very well together and provide a pleasure that sets it apart from the other two.
On the other hand, the Mercedes-Benz C 300 4MATIC will prioritize comfort more. Its more cozy interior, but also more spectacular than that of the BMW, will make it a sedan in which it is pleasant to spend time. In terms of pleasure, it is slightly behind, due in particular to a transmission that promotes smoothness and a rougher 4-cylinder engine. It’s not a bad car, but I have a feeling it wouldn’t be able to meet your need for pleasure at the same level as the others.
2017 Mercedes-Benz C 300 4MATIC Photo provided by: Mercedes-Benz
As for the Audi A4, it does not leave its place. Even if the current generation has proven to be less sharp than the previous one, it nevertheless provides a good dose of pleasure behind the wheel. It also provides good comfort and is assembled with a lot of seriousness, which allows it to hold its own. a little the external presentation.
What about reliability now?
Now that we’ve established that maintenance costs will be high for all three vehicles, let’s focus on reliability. The BMW and the Mercedes-Benz are pretty much on the same level. These are established cars whose reliability, especially electronics, is not impressive. Electronic bugs have been identified for both products that interfere with the operation of the vehicle. On the side of the Mercedes-Benz, add to that mechanical glitches, especially with the gearbox, the engine and the brakes.
Audi A4 2018 Photo provided by: Audi
The Audi A4, however, is a little less worse than the other two. Its mechanics are slightly simpler, which is likely to cause less breakage. Also, historically, it’s a car that has given owners fewer headaches than the other two, and a slightly lower maintenance bill, courtesy of sharing components with Volkswagen. It would therefore be towards this that I would go to respond with more balance to your criteria.
If you can, opt for a 2018 vehicle to avoid the first model year of this B9 generation of Audi small sedan. You will thus avoid the pips of youth. However, make sure you have a good independent mechanical inspection done before buying to know in depth the condition of the car, since it is a vehicle that is more or less 5 years old.
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#car #Audi #BMW #330i #MercedesBenz