Compare the2025 Honda Civic Type RVS 2025 Mercedes AMG C-Class Sedan

The Honda Civic Type R has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The AMG C-Class Sedan doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the Civic Type R deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The Civic Type R’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The AMG C-Class Sedan’s side airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

The Civic Type R’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the AMG C-Class Sedan.

Both the Civic Type R and the AMG C-Class Sedan have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

Honda’s powertrain warranty covers the Civic Type R 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Mercedes covers the AMG C-Class Sedan. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the AMG C-Class Sedan ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 3 times as many Honda dealers as there are Mercedes dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Civic Type R’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Honda vehicles are better in initial quality than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Honda above average in initial quality. With 25 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes With 12 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Honda higher than Mercedes.

On the EPA test cycle the Civic Type R gets better mileage than the AMG C-Class Sedan running its gasoline engine:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Honda Civic Type R uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The AMG C-Class Sedan requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

For better traction, the Civic Type R has larger tires than the AMG C-Class Sedan (265/30R19 vs. 245/45R18).

The Civic Type R’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 30 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the AMG C-Class Sedan’s standard 45 series tires. The Civic Type R’s tires are lower profile than the AMG C-Class Sedan’s optional 35 series front tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Civic Type R has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the AMG C-Class Sedan.

The Civic Type R offers an available space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the AMG C-Class Sedan; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed. Some tire options on the AMG C-Class Sedan don’t have a run-flat feature, either.

The Civic Type R Touring handles at 1.04 G’s, while the AMG C 43 pulls only .92 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Civic Type R Touring executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the AMG C 43 (24.5 seconds @ .76 average G’s vs. 24.9 seconds @ .76 average G’s).

The Honda Civic Type R may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1000 to 1550 pounds less than the Mercedes AMG C-Class Sedan.

The Civic Type R is 7.7 inches shorter than the AMG C-Class Sedan, making the Civic Type R easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Civic Type R a Large car, while the AMG C-Class Sedan is rated a Compact.

The Civic Type R has 6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the AMG C-Class Sedan (99 vs. 93).

The Civic Type R has .6 inches more front legroom, .7 inches more front shoulder room, 1.4 inches more rear legroom and .4 inches more rear shoulder room than the AMG C-Class Sedan.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Honda service is better than Mercedes. J.D. Power ranks Honda 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 7% lower rating, Mercedes is ranked 14th.

The Civic Type R’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The AMG C-Class Sedan does not have an oil pressure gauge.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Civic Type R has a standard rear wiper. The AMG C-Class Sedan doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

The Civic was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2025 and 10 more times in the last 41 years. The AMG C-Class Sedan has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Civic as the 2025 North American Car of the Year. The C-Class was last chosen in 1994.

The Honda Civic outsold the Mercedes C-Class by almost seven to one during 2024.