2016 head-to-head · Compact Car

2016 Audi Q3 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
$2,576/ year to fuel
23 MPG
✓ Cheaper to run
$2,116/ year to fuel
28 MPG

The 2016 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 $2,576 for the 2016 Audi Q3 (23 MPG). That's roughly $460 a year, or about $2,300 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 Q3
  • Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Side by side

Audi Q3Mercedes-Benz C-Class
$2,576 Your annual fuel cost $2,116
23 MPG Combined efficiency 28 MPG
20 MPG City 25 MPG
28 MPG Highway 34 MPG
84 cu ft Passenger volume 90 cu ft
17 cu ft Cargo volume 13 cu ft
391 g/mi Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) 315 g/mi
5/10 EPA fuel economy score 7/10
5/10 EPA greenhouse gas score 7/10
Gas Powertrain Gas
Premium gasoline Fuel Premium gasoline
2.0L 4-cyl turbo Engine / motor 2.0L 4-cyl turbo
8-speed automatic Transmission 7-speed automatic
FWD 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 Q3 vs Mercedes-Benz C-Class across model years

  • Audi Q3
  • 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. 84 cu ft); the Audi Q3 has more cargo space (17 vs. 13 cu ft).

Among 51 2016 compact cars, the Audi Q3 ranks 46th and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class 38th for lowest fuel cost.

Frequently asked questions

Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2016 Audi Q3 or the 2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?

Measured by cost to drive, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. The Audi Q3 is rated 23 MPG combined and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class 28 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).

How much does it cost to fuel the 2016 Audi Q3 vs. the Mercedes-Benz C-Class per year?

At 15,000 miles a year with $3.95/gal premium gas, about $2,576 for the Audi Q3 and $2,116 for the Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

Which has more cargo space?

The Audi Q3, with 17 cu ft of luggage volume versus 13 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).

Audi Q3 vs Mercedes-Benz C-Class in other years

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