Vs Autobild: (New) A4 2.0 TDI vs. MB C 200 CDI

[JLBM]

100% correct! I am a MB fan but my next car is a 335i with iDrive - much nicer interior!

 

[coolraoul]

Well really you should sit in it, it is a very nice place to be. very comfortable, you feel good in a C-Class, and the steering wheel looks much much better in real life.
Also, imo, you have to take it in black/grey, then it looks really really nice.

Much warmer thant the interior of a 3-Series, and imo also better than the new A4 , really complex and with no harmony: a lot of curves and lines endind nowhere, lots of parts everywhere...(but the interior of the old A4 was the top of the top).

 

[Yperion]

The facelifted C class (previous model) had much better interior IMO. I think that the instrument and the Navi screen design dont leave much space for a good impression.

 

[bmer]

I honestly have to say that C-Class interior is on par with the 3 Series sedan. Obviously I haven't been inside the B8 A4 yet but the B7 A4 had better interior than either one of those two cars.

 

[Centurion]

I honestly have to say that C-Class interior is on par with the 3 Series sedan. Obviously I haven't been inside the B8 A4 yet but the B7 A4 had better interior than either one of those two cars.

I've sat inside the A5 which you probably know has the same interior as the A4 and the quality isn't as good on the B7. Cheaper plastic used in some areas.

 

[bmer]

I've sat inside the A5 which you probably know has the same interior as the A4 and the quality isn't as good on the B7. Cheaper plastic used in some areas.

Really? That's surprising. Now I want to see it even more.

 

[Centurion]

Really? That's surprising. Now I want to see it even more.

Yupp it's not that the interior doesn't look good, it's just that the feel of the buttons and some of the panels on the entire center console doesn't feel top notch. Several other journalists have said the same thing that the interior quality of the A5 is good but not 100% up to Audi standards.

 

[Zafiro]

Im with Luw, I noticed the same thing with a A5 3.0 TDI. Audis interior arent flawless

 

[PHYBENZ]

I actually started noticing a drop in Audi interiors when I spent a considerable amount of time in a Q7. In certain places some cheap plastic is used. I have also read that the new A4 and A5 aren't quite up to Audi's previous standards. I think everyone is feeling the pinch of the euro and competition.

As far as the C, it feels very well put-together and I think the pop-up Nav screen adds a lot to the interior. I just wish there was a wood trim or something on the passenger of the dash kind of like the SLK. It should be noted though that for the first time in an MB sedan hard plastic is used in the center console/transmission tunnel area. Before it was soft touch plastic or leather in the case of the E. That's a definite cost cutting move.

 

[Mr Robert]

I've sat inside the A5 which you probably know has the same interior as the A4 and the quality isn't as good on the B7. Cheaper plastic used in some areas.

Personally I fell in love the first time I sat in an A5. That interior fits me perfectly!

I agree regarding the interior quality feel, not as good as the B7 but still damn nice to touch and feel.

 

[Yperion]

So all German sedans have worse quality than the previous generations? Cause i have also read journalists say that E90 doesn't have the same quality plastics with E46 3 series.

 

[Amo]

So all German sedans have worse quality than the previous generations? Cause i have also read journalists say that E90 doesn't have the same quality plastics with E46 3 series.

Exactly what I was just about to say. I think it is true though. The interiors may look better in some cases, but they just don't feel as high a quality as before.

 

[coolraoul]

No the C-Class has a much better finish than the precedent model, even restyled. Everything feels much better, the buttons, the plastics...Less shiny, more soft to touch, buttons better to use...
Both materials and finition are really improved.

The e90 has a much much worse material/finition than the e46, this is clear.

And the Audi, well, I don't know; never sat in the A5/new A4. But even the precedent A4 had a wonderful finish, wonderful design, but much more hard plastics than BM/Mercedes. Center console and lower part of the dashboard were hard plastic only in the Audi. But the finition was clearly class-leading, only some materials were not that good imo. The finition does not look as perfect in the new model, and I sat in an A6 and was not really impressed both by materials or design...

 

[Zafiro]

E90 is a getting a facelift soon with improved interior materials.

My family has a E46 but I cant say the difference is huge compared to E90. Even my facelifted 1-series feels better than E46 from the inside.
The new M3 has much better materials and finish than the old M3 E46, thats for sure.

 

[coolraoul]

My bro has an e46 with leather and alu trim, and I sat in different e90s, I am sorry but the difference is huge.

The dashboard is made from a better plastic in an e46, and you don't have all these little pieces of hard plastic everywhere...Everything feels softer, better made. If feels more premium to me.

Concerning the 1-Series, I don't know for the FL model, but the non-FL did not feel premium at all. Materials choice was not really good.

 

[Zafiro]

My bro has an e46 with leather and alu trim, and I sat in different e90s, I am sorry but the difference is huge.

The dashboard is made from a better plastic in an e46, and you don't have all these little pieces of hard plastic everywhere...Everything feels softer, better made. If feels more premium to me.

Concerning the 1-Series, I don't know for the FL model, but the non-FL did not feel premium at all. Materials choice was not really good.

Regarding 1-series the facelift, interior is very good. All facelifted bimmers have gotten improved materials therfore same is going to happen for facelifted 3-series. The interior in E90 is alright and I dont agree that its bad but of course its going to be better with the facelift.

Ps, my mum own a prefacelifted 1-serie and I own a facelift 1er. So I should know the differences.

 

[Tumbo]

1. A4 (478p)
2. C-class (468p)

Amen! In your face all you "oh A4 is like the old one"-sayers
Btw,

Are those the two best looking cars out there now or what?

 

[cawimmer430]

So all German sedans have worse quality than the previous generations? Cause i have also read journalists say that E90 doesn't have the same quality plastics with E46 3 series.

Who cares what these guys have to say? YOU'RE the final judge.

I'm sure they're saying stuff like this hoping readers will respond with letters so they have something to do when they're not reviewing cars!

 

[cawimmer430]

Its the design that is the problem for the Benz interior, not the quality.

And you're suddenly the "design expert" here?

Ok, what's wrong with the design? I'd like to hear it. Design is a subjective matter, always has, always will be. Some folks love it, some don't.

I think the W204 C-Class interior is fine, better than the W203 by miles in terms of quality and design and materials. It's also very ergonomical in my experience. Everything is within reach and where it should be or where you'd expect it in a Mercedes.

 

[Zafiro]

And you're suddenly the "design expert" here?

Ok, what's wrong with the design? I'd like to hear it. Design is a subjective matter, always has, always will be. Some folks love it, some don't.

I think the W204 C-Class interior is fine, better than the W203 by miles in terms of quality and design and materials. It's also very ergonomical in my experience. Everything is within reach and where it should be or where you'd expect it in a Mercedes.

Yes Christian, I actually work with layout and stuff, my visit card says graphic designer.
And you calm down please , I dont like the interior, too much black plastic for instance and the layout remind me about Honda model. And yes I know its subjective, every damn thing we write about when we discuss design on this board is subjective, it always is and alwyas will be. I cant use the word IMO everytime we discuss design.