BMW i4 Vs Mercedes-Benz C 300d: Price and spec comparison
BMW has launched its latest offering in the EV segment with the BMW i4 and the car doesn't face any sort of direct competition. But with all new Mercedes-Benz C class being introduced quite recently as well, the 2 sedans are quite similarly priced. Especially the Mercedes-Benz C 300d, which is the closest comparison to the i4 in terms of money. Let's see how these 2 vehicles stack up against each other.
On the outside, the BMW i4 features LED headlamps, LED DRLs, LED taillights and 17-inch aerodynamically-designed alloy wheels. The overall design is identical to its ICE sibling, the BMW 4 Series.
The styling of the Merc echoes that of the larger S-Class with the softer bodylines and the sharper lighting elements. The top-spec AMG Line is differentiated by a sportier grille with star-shaped studs, an AMG-themed bumper, 18-inch wheels(standard 17-inch) and a sportier rear bumper, along with the digital lights.
BMW i4 Vs Mercedes-Benz C 300d: Features
The interiors of the BMW i4 are similar to that of the 4 Series Gran Coupe it is based on. Notable features include a special soundtrack composed by Hans Zimmer, a 12.3-inch instrument cluster, 14.9-inch touchscreen with the latest iDrive 8 and double-glazing, The exterior gets EV-focused enhancements like a blanked-out front, flush door handles and aero wheels.
The interiors of the 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class have also been modelled around that of the current S-Class, dominated by the large 11.9-inch vertical touchscreen, the high-mounted airvents and the T-shaped dash design with the cascading fascia. Italso gets an all-black theme with a carbon-fibre pattern, while a brown and black upholstery choice is also available. The C 300d also gets the AMG-style steering wheel and Burmester 3D sound. Other notable features include the latest NTG7 MBUX with wireless phone pairing, voice commands, 3D Maps and OTA updates. The new MBUX is also equipped with Car-to-X communications. There is a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, panoramic sunroof, dual-zone climate control, electric adjustment for the front seats and steering wheel and wireless charging.
BMW i4 Vs Mercedes-Benz C 300d: Powertrains
An 83.9 kWh(80.7 kWh) battery pack powers the single-motor i4 eDrive40 and has a WLTP range of up to 590 km. The BMW i4 is based on the firm's CLAR architecture which it also shares with the 4 Series Gran Coupe. Although, significant structural changes have been made to the suspension, front sub-frame and underbody to accommodate the battery pack and EV drivetrain. The BMW i4 can charge at up to 205 kW DC which lets the i4 eDrive40 add 164 km in 10 minutes. There is one-pedal driving, an adaptive regen mode as well as a heat pump for improved efficiency.
The Mercedes Benz C 300d AMG Line uses a higher tune of the same 2.0-litre diesel making 265 PS and 550 Nm. For the first time, the C-Class comes paired with the nine-speed auto and gets the 48V mild-hybrid integrated starter generator with adds up to 20PS and 200 Nm of electrical assistance when needed. The C 300d can do 0 to 100 kmph in 5.7s and returns 20.37 kmpl.
BMW i4 Vs Mercedes-Benz C 300d: PriceThe on-road price of the Merc is Rs 73.88 lakh which is just a smidge over the BMW i4 which is priced at Rs 73.84 lakh. The BMW does have a higher ex-showroom price of Rs 69.90 lakh but in states like Maharashtra, due to the low tax that EVs are subject to, it works out just a little bit cheaper than the Mercedes-Benz C 300d which has an ex-showroom price of Rs 61 lakh.