2017 head-to-head · Subcompact Car

2017 Audi S3 vs Mercedes-Benz C-Class

MPG, range and what each one really costs you to fuel, from official EPA ratings and recalculated with your own gas and electricity prices.

Swap sides
✓ Cheaper to run
$2,469/ year to fuel
24 MPG

AWD · 2.0L 4-cyl turbo · 6-speed dual-clutch · 24 MPG

✓ Cheaper to run
$2,116/ year to fuel
28 MPG

The 2017 Mercedes-Benz C-Class is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.95/gal premium gas, it costs about $2,116 a year to fuel (28 MPG), versus $2,469 for the 2017 Audi S3 (24 MPG). That's roughly $353 a year, or about $1,763 over five years.

Your numbers

Change these to match your driving and local prices. Every figure and chart on this page updates.

Fuel cost over 10 years

  • Audi S3
  • Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Side by side

Audi S3Mercedes-Benz C-Class
$2,469 Your annual fuel cost $2,116
24 MPG Combined efficiency 28 MPG
21 MPG City 24 MPG
28 MPG Highway 34 MPG
86 cu ft Passenger volume 90 cu ft
10 cu ft Cargo volume 13 cu ft
373 g/mi Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) 319 g/mi
5/10 EPA fuel economy score 6/10
5/10 EPA greenhouse gas score 6/10
Gas Powertrain Gas
Premium gasoline Fuel Premium gasoline
2.0L 4-cyl turbo Engine / motor 2.0L 4-cyl turbo
6-speed dual-clutch Transmission 7-speed automatic
AWD Drivetrain RWD

✓ marks the better value. EPA scores run 1–10 (10 is best). Volumes come from the EPA interior volume index and aren't published for every body style.

Audi S3 vs Mercedes-Benz C-Class across model years

  • Audi S3
  • Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Annual fuel cost of the most efficient configuration of each model year, at your prices. Click a point to open that year.

How they differ

Per EPA interior volume figures, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class has more passenger space (90 vs. 86 cu ft); the Mercedes-Benz C-Class has more cargo space (13 vs. 10 cu ft).

Among 43 2017 subcompact cars, the Audi S3 ranks 27th and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class 15th for lowest fuel cost.

Frequently asked questions

Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2017 Audi S3 or the 2017 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?

Measured by cost to drive, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. The Audi S3 is rated 24 MPG combined and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class 28 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).

How much does it cost to fuel the 2017 Audi S3 vs. the Mercedes-Benz C-Class per year?

At 15,000 miles a year with $3.95/gal premium gas, about $2,469 for the Audi S3 and $2,116 for the Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

Which has more cargo space?

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class, with 13 cu ft of luggage volume versus 10 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).

Audi S3 vs Mercedes-Benz C-Class in other years

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