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Features Comparison: Mercedes-Benz C-Class vs. BMW X5
| Model Year | 2006 | 2006 | 2006 | 2006 | 2006 | 2006--2007-2009-2006 | 2006--2007-2009-2006 | 2006--2007-2009-2006 |
| Model | C-Class | C-Class | C-Class | C-Class | C-Class | X5 | X5 | X5 |
| Trim | C230 Sport Sedan | C280 Luxury Sedan | C350 Sport Sedan | C350 Luxury Sedan | C55 | 3.0i | 4.4i | 4.8is |
| Engines | ||||||||
| Transmissions | ||||||||
| Drivetrains | ||||||||
| Tires | ||||||||
| Audio Systems | ||||||||
| Accessories | ||||||||
| Often must be ordered with power rear side windows, if these are available. | ||||||||
| Pulls decklid / liftgate tight after latch is engaged. Door can be shut with very little effort. | ||||||||
| Unlock and lock the car using buttons on the keyfob. | ||||||||
| Operate the power windows, sunroof, and/or convertible roof using buttons on the keyfob. | ||||||||
| Greatly reduces the amount of sunlight entering the rear window. Includes the value of manual rear shade. | ||||||||
| Greatly reduce the amount of sunlight entering the rear side windows. Retract into rear doors. | ||||||||
| Homelink. | ||||||||
| Brakes, Airbags, and Other Safety | ||||||||
| Rear disc brakes. | ||||||||
| If active, automatically move forward when the vehicle is rear-ended. Note: becoming less common. | ||||||||
| Only listed when pricing a single model because insufficient data for all cars. | ||||||||
| Automatically pulse the brakes in hard stops to prevent wheels from locking up, making it possible to brake and steer at the same time. | ||||||||
| When a panic stop is sensed, fully applies the brakes. | ||||||||
| Mandatory, in all cars. | ||||||||
| Selectively applies the brakes to maintain a slow, steady descent on off-road downhill slopes. | ||||||||
| Beeps signal distance to object in front of vehicle. Parking aid. | ||||||||
| Beeps signal distance to object behind vehicle. Parking aid. | ||||||||
| Only listed if not standard on all trims. No value because no way to compare across models. | ||||||||
| Torso-level second row airbags, usually contained in the rear door. Some also protect the head, but not as well as side curtain airbags. | ||||||||
| Airbags contained just above the window level. Except in cars without a rear seat usually cover first and second row. | ||||||||
| Selectively applies the brakes to prevent excessive understeer or oversteer (spinning). | ||||||||
| Two types: a warning light when a tire is low on air and a pressure readout for each tire. | ||||||||
| When a drive wheel slips, it is braked and/or engine power is reduced, restoring traction. | ||||||||
| Cargo Management | ||||||||
| Usually concealed behind a stowed armrest. Enables long items like skis to be carried without folding the rear seat. | ||||||||
| No crossbars. | ||||||||
| Sack attached to rear seat pass-through. Keeps dirty skis from messing up the interior. | ||||||||
| Floor of cargo area slides to extend out of tailgate, to ease loading and unloading. | ||||||||
| Climate Control | ||||||||
| Maintains set temperature in front row. Requires air conditioning and does not include its value. | ||||||||
| Temperature can be separately set for left and right sides of the passenger compartment. Requires air conditioning and does not include its value. | ||||||||
| Filters exterior air before it enters the passenger compartment. No default value because most cars have them, even in cases where they're not in the official list of features. | ||||||||
| Wipers automatically turn on and adjust their speed based on input from a rain sensor. | ||||||||
| Vents at aft end of center console, in B-pillars, and/or in ceiling. | ||||||||
| Ducts under front seats direct heated air to the second row. | ||||||||
| Provides heat for an extended period of time after the engine has been cut off. | ||||||||
| Exterior | ||||||||
| Side skirts and possibly a front air dam and rear apron. | ||||||||
| Side skirts and possibly a front air dam and rear apron. Not body color. | ||||||||
| Moldings on the bodysides, to protect against door dings in parking lots. | ||||||||
| Increasingly often these are not actually connected to the exhaust. | ||||||||
| Front glass panel retracts over a fixed glass roof panel. Entire unit covers nearly the entire roof. | ||||||||
| Can be small lip spoiler or a larger raised spoiler. | ||||||||
| Only listed if not standard on all trims. No value because no way to compare across models. | ||||||||
| Extensions to the wheel opening, both decorative and protective. | ||||||||
| Gas Guzzler Tax | ||||||||
| Infotainment | ||||||||
| Enables hands-free communication by wirelessly connecting a cell phone to a microphone and the vehicle's stereo speakers. | ||||||||
| CD changer in the glove compartment, trunk, or cargo area, beyond easy reach. Can be in addition to an in-dash CD player. | ||||||||
| Audio system capable of playing discs with MP3 files. | ||||||||
| Screen-based navigation system. | ||||||||
| XM or Sirius. Includes a subscription for three to six months, after which monthly fees apply. | ||||||||
| In-vehicle security, communications, and diagnostics system. For 2011 and newer cars often includes a remote app. Monthly fee after the first 1-12 months. | ||||||||
| Includes frequencies for weather channels. Only listed when pricing a single model because incomplete data for all model. | ||||||||
| Instruments, Lights, and Mirrors | ||||||||
| Driver-side exterior mirror automatically dims when hit by headlights of following vehicle. | ||||||||
| Passenger-side rearview mirror automatically dims when hit by headlights of following vehicle. | ||||||||
| Interior rearview mirror automatically dims when hit by headlights of following vehicle. | ||||||||
| Headlights automatically turn on and off. Includes value of automatic-off headlights. | ||||||||
| We haven't given this feature a value because it's hard to tell which cars have it. | ||||||||
| Make it easier for following vehicles to see the vehicle in fog. | ||||||||
| Light wide area close in front of the vehicle. | ||||||||
| Clears ice and fog from mirrors. | ||||||||
| Includes value of non-illuminated vanity mirror. | ||||||||
| Includes value of non-illuminated vanity mirror. | ||||||||
| Front row reading lights. | ||||||||
| One or both exterior mirrors tilt down when the transmission is in reverse, to provide view of the curb. | ||||||||
| Area around the vehicle is illuminated when the vehicle is remotely unlocked. | ||||||||
| Includes value of manual remote mirrors. | ||||||||
| Headlights swivel when steering wheel is turned. | ||||||||
| Reports engine speed. | ||||||||
| Reports average fuel economy, and perhaps also instantaneous fuel economy, distance to empty, average speed, and other stats. | ||||||||
| Provide a brighter, whiter light than halogen headlights. | ||||||||
| Seats and Interior Trim | ||||||||
| Real aluminum trim on instrument panel, door panels, and/or center console. Deleted by wood trim even if they appear together. | ||||||||
| Seat folds to enlarge cargo area. Unless the seat is also removable, it usually folds flat or nearly flat. | ||||||||
| Seating surfaces are trimmed in leather; other upholstery tends to be leatherette. | ||||||||
| Leather beyond the seating surfaces, door panels, and IP top. No additional value over leather upholstery because no way to standardize across all models. | ||||||||
| Manually adjustable lower back support. | ||||||||
| Manually adjustable cushion length; provides better support for long legs. | ||||||||
| Manually adjustable cushion length; provides better support for long legs. | ||||||||
| Manually tilting seat cushion; can take the form of a second height adjustment. | ||||||||
| Manually tilting seat cushion; can take the form of a second height adjustment. | ||||||||
| Lower back support power-adjustable vertically as well as in and out. | ||||||||
| Lower back support power-adjustable vertically as well as in and out. | ||||||||
| Power tilting seat cushion; can take the form of a second height adjustment. | ||||||||
| Power tilting seat cushion; can take the form of a second height adjustment. | ||||||||
| The upper part of the seatback be be adjusted separately from the lower part. | ||||||||
| The upper part of the seatback be be adjusted separately from the lower part; especially useful when the seat is heavily reclined, to better support the upper back. | ||||||||
| Fold at press of a button on the instrument panel, to improve rearward visibility. | ||||||||
| Only listed if not standard on all trims. No value because no way to compare across models. | ||||||||
| A.k.a vinyl, leatherette, MB-Tex, NuLuxe. | ||||||||
| Seating surfaces are part leather, part synthetic suede. | ||||||||
| Real wood trim on instrument panel, door panels, and/or center console. | ||||||||
| Suspension, Wheels, and Tires | ||||||||
| Air springs automatically level the vehicle and enable manual adjustment of ride height. | ||||||||
| Air springs maintain the rear ride height. | ||||||||
| Only listed if not standard on all trims. No value because no way to compare across models. | ||||||||
| Only listed if not standard on all trims. No value because no way to compare across models. | ||||||||
Option Package Contents
Premium Package
Premium Driver Assistance Package
Driver Assistance Package
Premium Package
Premium Driver Assistance Package
Driver Assistance Package
Premium Package
Premium Driver Assistance Package
Premium Package
Premium Driver Assistance Package
Premium Driver Assistance Package
M Sport Design
Rear comfort seats
Executive Tier
Premium Tier
Luxury Design
Multicontour seats
Rear comfort seats
Executive Tier
M Sport Design
Premium Tier
Luxury Design
Multicontour seats
See TrueDelta's information for all Mercedes-Benz models.
What Our Members Are Saying about the Available Features of the 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
6-speed manual RWD
5-speed shiftable automatic AWD
7-speed shiftable automatic RWD
What Our Members Are Saying about the Available Features of the 2006--2007-2009-2006 BMW X5
6-speed shiftable automatic AWD