Verdict
The RM60,012 gap is substantial: the Audi Q5 costs RM352,900 against RM292,888 for the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, while its annual road tax is also RM434 versus RM90. The Q5 makes its case with SUV practicality, a 520-litre boot, 68-litre tank and 340 Nm from its 2.0-litre petrol turbo. But the C-Class is 201 hp, adds a 20-hp/200-Nm motor, returns a rated 6.6 L/100 km and has a 7.3-second 0-100 km/h time. For most Malaysian buyers, the Mercedes is the more rational spend; choose the Audi for the cargo space and higher-riding body.
Q5
Pick the Audi Q5 if you need an SUV with a 520-litre boot, 68-litre fuel tank and 340 Nm of torque.
C-Class
Pick the Mercedes-Benz C-Class if you want to save RM60,012, pay RM344 less annual road tax and get rated consumption of 6.6 L/100 km.
Key differences
- Price: Audi Q5 RM352,900; Mercedes-Benz C-Class RM292,888.
- Road tax: Audi Q5 RM434 per year; Mercedes-Benz C-Class RM90 per year.
- Boot space: Audi Q5 520 litres; Mercedes-Benz C-Class 455 litres.
- Powertrain: Audi Q5 196 hp/340 Nm from 1,984 cc; Mercedes-Benz C-Class 201 hp/300 Nm from 1,496 cc plus a 20-hp/200-Nm motor.
- Dimensions: Audi Q5 4,717 mm long and 1,669 mm tall; Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4,751 mm long and 1,437 mm tall.
- Driver assistance: Audi Q5 has adaptive cruise control and surround-view camera; Mercedes-Benz C-Class has passive cruise control and a reverse camera, but…
Q5
- 520-litre boot and 40:20:40 split-folding rear seats.
- 340 Nm, 40 Nm more than the C-Class petrol engine.
- Digital Matrix LED headlamps, OLED tail lamps and surround-view camera.
- Costs RM60,012 more and carries RM344 higher annual road tax.
- No rated fuel economy or 0-100 km/h figure is stated, unlike the C-Class' 6.6 L/100 km and 7.3 seconds.
- Lacks the C-Class' parallel and perpendicular auto parking.
C-Class
- RM292,888 price and RM90 annual road tax.
- Rated at 6.6 L/100 km, with a 7.3-second 0-100 km/h time and 246 km/h top speed.
- Auto parking, powered rear sun shade and rear door sun shades.
- 455-litre boot is 65 litres smaller than the Q5's.
- 50-litre tank is 18 litres smaller than the Q5's 68-litre tank.
- Passive cruise control and reverse camera only, versus the Q5's adaptive cruise control and surround-view camera.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM352,900 | RM292,888✓ |
| Body type | SUV | Sedan |
| Segment | Compact Executive | Compact Executive |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM434 | RM90✓ |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC, direct fuel injection, turbocharged with variable valve timing | 16-valve DOHC, Turbocharged with Direct Fuel Injection and Variable Valve Timing |
| Capacity | 1,984 cc | 1,496 cc |
| Horsepower | 196 hp | 201 hp✓ |
| Torque | 340 Nm✓ | 300 Nm |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol Hybrid/REV |
| Bore | — | 78 mm |
| Compression Ratio | — | 10.5 |
| Number of Motors | — | 1 |
| Motor Horsepower | — | 20 hp |
| Motor Torque | — | 200 Nm |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Dual-clutch Automatic (Wet) | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 7-speed S-tronic | 9G-TRONIC |
| Gears | 7 | 9 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | — | Mercedes-Benz |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | — | 7.3 seconds |
| Rated Economy | — | 6.6 L/100 km |
| Top Speed | — | 246 km/h |
| Co2 | — | 151 g/km |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,717 mm | 4,751 mm |
| Width | 1,900 mm | 1,820 mm |
| Height | 1,669 mm | 1,437 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,817 mm | 2,865 mm |
| Weight | — | 1,650 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 68 litres | 50 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 4 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 520 litres✓ | 455 litres |
| Front Tyre | 235/55R19 | 225/45R18 |
| Rear Tyre | 235/55R19 | 245/40R18 |
| Spare Tyre | Tyre Repair Kit | — |
| Factory Tyres | Michelin e-Primacy | Pirelli Cinturato P7 Run-flat |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Mexico (CBU) | Germany (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-Link |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-Link |
| Front Wheels | 19" 10 Spoke Aero Design Alloys | 18" 5-spoke 2-tone Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 19" 10 Spoke Aero Design Alloys | 18" 5-spoke 2-tone Alloy |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | Comfort suspension | Agility Control Suspension |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Front Centre Airbag | Driver and Passenger, Driver's Knee, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Electric for rear doors | Manual for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on Two Outer Rear Seats | Available for 2 Outer Rear Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes (7 to 250 km/h), with Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection (7 to 80 km/h) |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | For All Seats |
| Safety Notes | — | Blind Spot Collision Prevention, Rear Cross Traffic Collision Prevention, Active Bonnet |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | Digital Matrix LED Headlights | LED Projector with Auto High Beam |
| Taillamps | Full OLED Tail lights | Full LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Driver's Memory Function | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Memory Function and Adjustable Lumbar |
| Rear Seats | 40:20:40 Split-folding | 40:20:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control System | Rear Vents |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Wireless Charger, 2 USB-C Front, 2 USB-C Rear | 4 Front USB-C |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights | Map Lights and Ambient Lights (64 Colours) |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | — | Powered Rear Sun Shade, Manual Rear Door Window Sun Shades |
| Audio | 14.5" Touchscreen with Android Automotive OS, 10-speaker Audi Sound System | 11.4" Touchscreen Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) with Voice Control, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and 8 Speakers |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation with Digital Key | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Passive Cruise Control |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Powered with Contactless Operation | Powered Boot, with Contactless Operation |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, with Surround View Camera | Yes |
| Auto Parking | — | Yes, Parallel and Perpendicular |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Convenience Notes | — | Auto-dimming Mirrors, Qi Wireless Charger, Fingerprint Scanner |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Mileage Extended | — | Unlimited |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 2 years | 2 years |
| Warranty Extended | — | 2 years |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration.
Used Q5 & C-Class for sale
Q5 vs C-Class FAQ
Is the Audi Q5 or Mercedes-Benz C-Class better?
The Mercedes-Benz C-Class is the stronger value choice at RM292,888, with RM90 annual road tax, 6.6 L/100 km rated consumption and a 7.3-second 0-100 km/h time. The Audi Q5 is better suited to buyers needing its SUV body and 520-litre boot.
What is the price difference?
The Audi Q5 costs RM352,900 and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class costs RM292,888, so the Q5 is RM60,012 more expensive.
Which has the larger boot, the Audi Q5 or Mercedes-Benz C-Class?
The Audi Q5 has the larger boot at 520 litres, compared with 455 litres in the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. That is a 65-litre advantage for the Audi.