New Audi A4 35TDI vs Mercedes C250d vs BMW 320d comparison

The petrol A4 didn’t quite cut it in the engine department, but the diesel version holds a lot more promise. We put it to the test against its German rivals

Published on Apr 14, 2017 07:00:00 AM

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New Audi A4 35TDI vs Mercedes C250d vs BMW 320d comparison

The new A4 laughs in the face of Indian roads. The same bump that thunked through in the BMW barely registered as we drove over it in the Audi. It just cruises silently and smoothly over everything, with a ride quality that’s truly remarkable. The flip side is that you do get quite a lot of floaty movement at high speeds and on undulating roads, the soft setup induces it to pitch quite a bit, but luxury buyers would take that over crashy low-speed behaviour any day. The other place you pay the price, of course is handling; this is nowhere near the BMW on this front. The steering still feels disconnected from the road, and the added weight in Dynamic mode doesn’t do much to change that; this at least make it super easy to manoeuvre at low speeds. Then there’s the body roll, which just puts you off cornering the A4 hard, and with all that power going only through the front wheels, it’s prone to both understeer and torque steer. While that sounds a bit harsh, the A4 should still prove quite agreeable to drive for most; it’s just that it’s not as good as its rear-wheel-drive opponents.

Which brings us to the C-class, and it is quite a surprise. Mercs are traditionally all about the comfort, but this one is quite a lot of fun to drive. The steering might not be the most feelsome, but it’s not as bad as the Audi’s and it is super quick, meaning the slightest flick will get the nose moving. You could view the C 250d’s relative lack of grip as a bad thing, but up a mountain road, the slight chirp from the tyres might actually goad you to go faster. Lord knows if you turn the ESC off and floor it, all of that 500Nm will make itself felt. It’s even got good body control – which is easily a match for the BMW – and that’s because of the stiff suspension which also gives it a super flat ride on the highway, but of course, there is another side to this coin. The C-class feels distinctly stiff-kneed on poor surfaces, nudging you around quite a bit in your seat. It crashes hard through bumps and what doesn’t help is that you hear a lot of the road in the cabin too. It’s quite unlike Mercedes to make the stiffest riding car in the class, but alas, with this C-class, that’s what it’s turned out to be.

DIESEL DO

There’s no doubt that this, as with any time these three step in the ring together, is a serious grudge match. Each time a new version of any of these cars comes along, it targets the other two’s weaknesses with vicious precision, and it’s no different this time around.

The BMW is still a car we have a particular soft spot for, mostly because of how nice it is to drive, and if you drive yourself, we’d still recommend it highly. Despite this, it still has its luxury car fundamentals intact, with a great back seat, good ride comfort and a strong engine. However, its age is starting to show, especially inside the cabin, where things just don’t look and feel as special as the other two, and it is still the noisiest car in this test.

The C-class is just a baby S-class, and we mean that in a good way. It’s got that regal charm on the outside and in, with all its tech buried underneath the plush veneer. The flair of its interior just can’t be beaten and that smooth, powerful motor just adds to that feeling of effortless luxury. However, two key areas that hurt its standing are the back seat and the ride quality, and they prevent it from being the best luxury car here. Plus, its clunky infotainment system just feels half a generation behind the slick interfaces of the other two.

So it seems then that Audi has done its homework with the new A4, studying its two rivals and attacking them where it hurts. It’s not perfect, of course. It’s not the most engaging to drive and its ride can get a bit unsettled at high speeds. But these faults are not deal-breakers. There’s enough entertainment for most, and the outstanding ride at all other speeds makes up for the float. Plus, it scores super high in every other area, with the latest tech, the best refinement, and a superb cabin altogether. It pushes all the right luxury buttons, and that’s why it’s our winner.