The BMW 328i xDrive is the compact premium European sedan with all-wheel drive that everyone else is chasing. No other automaker wants to catch BMW as dearly as its fellow countryman Mercedes-Benz. The 2011 BMW 328i xDrive and Mercedes C300 4MATIC Sport sedans (the 328i xDrive also comes in a coupe body style, unlike the C300) are tightly matched competitors to be sure, but BMW’s continual improvements make sure it always finds its way to the top.
Both cars have pedigree, though driving enthusiasts overwhelmingly choose BMW over Mercedes when considering a sedan with aplomb. BMW has built its “driver’s car” stature into a legend through generations of practice.
The BMW 328i xDrive has an MSRP of $36,600, compared with the Mercedes C300 Luxury 4MATIC price of $37,900. That’s a $1,200 difference, and $1,200 could go a long way toward fuel costs. BMW’s naturally aspirated inline six-cylinder engine bristles with exceptional engineering like Valvetronic Variable Valve Timing and Double-VANOS camshaft timing, which makes it a smoother operator than the 3.0-liter V6 Mercedes uses in the
C300, and the BMW engine produces 230 hp to the C300’s 228.
Another nod to serious drivers is the standard six-speed manual transmission you’ll find in the BMW 328i xDrive. C300s are only available with an automatic transmission. BMW’s six-speed STEPTRONIC® automatic gearbox features paddleshifters, as does the C300 for its seven-speed auto. Despite the extra cog in the C300, the 328i xDrive with manual transmission out sprints it to 60 mph, and automatic-equipped models are neck and neck. So much for the performance enhancement of a seven-speed transmission.
There’s more headroom in the BMW as well, by nearly an inch and a half in front and a half-inch in the rear, which makes its cabin more accommodating. There’s also more front shoulder room, rear legroom and more overall passenger volume. Butter-soft Dakota leather is available on some of the most comfortable seats to ever grace an automobile interior, and BMW’s four-way power lumbar support offers a greater adjustment range than what’s available in the C300.
The BMW also offers standard Comfort Access Keyless Entry and Push Button Start as standard while Mercedes makes it an extra-cost option. An 8.8-inch display is the business end of BMWs optional navigation system, and the extra size over the seven-inch screen in the Mercedes COMAND system delivers information more clearly. BMW’s consistent upgrading and refinement of its technology makes the high level of entertainment, communication and vehicle control available in the 328i xDrive exceptionally easy to use and understand. While Mercedes tries its hardest with COMAND, BMW has had the lead for a decade, and the entire industry is still trying to catch up. BMW also adds in standard High Definition (HD) Radio, which isn’t even available in the C300.
The BMW 328i xDrive features standard Dynamic Cruise Control, which automatically maintains a consistent, driver-selected following distance, a feature Mercedes doesn’t offer in the C300. BMW’s variable-ratio rack-and-pinion steering system also delivers a level of handling precision that the power rack in the C300 can’t match. Beneath it all, the C300 and 328i xDrive both feature all-wheel drive systems enhancing rear-wheel drive architectures. The BMW Intelligent All-Wheel Drive system maintains a rear-drive bias to make the most of the finely balanced chassis’ near-perfect 52/47 percent weight distribution.
Along with delivering dynamic peace of mind out on the open road, the BMW 328i xDrive also includes BMW Ultimate Service®, which covers factory recommended maintenance at no cost to the buyer for the first four years or 50,000 miles. Oil changes, inspections, brakes, drive belts and even wiper blades are all covered. Mercedes offers Star Service, a pre-paid maintenance plan that adds an extra $1,942 for a similar level of service.
When adding check marks to the advantage column, the BMW 328i xDrive makes a convincing argument versus the C300 by requiring no sacrifice and delivering the famed driving experience that no automaker has yet matched.
