Lexus ES 350 vs. Mercedes-Benz C-Class
iSeeCars' unbiased and data-driven comparison of the Lexus ES 350 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class contrasts the two cars across a broad spectrum of vehicle specifications to determine which car is better. In addition to comparing pricing and specs, iSeeCars uses all the ratings, rankings, and insights from its comprehensive analyses of each vehicle model, including calculations of reliability, safety, depreciation, value retention, and the vehicle's projected lifetime recalls (based on analyzing over 25 billion data points). This in-depth evaluation is used to identify which vehicle represents a better overall choice for shoppers who are considering both the Lexus ES 350 and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class.
When comparing the Lexus ES 350's and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class's specifications and ratings, the Lexus ES 350 has the advantage in the areas of new vehicle base pricing, typical lower range of pricing for one- to five-year-old used cars, reliability, resale value, interior volume, overall quality score and base engine power. Based on this comparison of the Lexus ES 350's and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class's specifications and ratings, the Lexus ES 350 is a better car than the Mercedes-Benz C-Class.
Pricing: A used 2024 Lexus ES 350 ranges from $41,664 to $55,146 while a used 2024 Mercedes-Benz C-Class is priced between $46,801 to $62,210. For a new model, the Lexus ES 350's price is between $44,902 and $56,496, with the Mercedes-Benz C-Class priced between $49,176 and $64,214.
Resale/Retained Value: Looking at the 5-year depreciation rate for both models, the Lexus ES 350 loses 41.1 percent of its value and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class loses 47.9 percent of its value. This means the Lexus ES 350 retains 6.7 percentage points more of its value and has the advantage of higher resale value versus the Mercedes-Benz C-Class.
Quality Rating: The iSeeCars Overall Quality rating for the Lexus ES 350 is 8.7 out of 10 while the Mercedes-Benz C-Class' quality rating is 8.3 out of 10. This results in the Lexus ES 350 being ranked 2 out of 29 Best Luxury Midsize Cars and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class being ranked 8 out of 36 Best Luxury Small Cars.
Reliability Rating: iSeeCars’ Reliability Rating for the Lexus ES 350 is 9.0 out of 10. For the Mercedes-Benz C-Class the reliability rating is 8.3 out of 10. This gives the Lexus ES 350 a slight advantage in reliability compared to the Mercedes-Benz C-Class.
Engine Power and Fuel Efficiency Comparison: For engine performance, the Lexus ES 350’s base engine makes 302 horsepower, and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class base engine makes 255 horsepower.
Passenger Space Comparison: The Lexus ES 350, a midsize car, has the advantage of offering more interior volume, reflected in more front leg room, rear head room, rear leg room, and cargo space. The Mercedes-Benz C-Class, a compact car, has the advantage in the areas of front head room, front shoulder room and rear shoulder room.
Safety Ratings: When comparing crash test ratings from NHTSA, both the Lexus ES 350 and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class have the same average safety rating of 5 out of 5 Stars. When comparing IIHS evaluations, both the Lexus ES 350 and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class have the same Top Safety Pick award.
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
$44,902 - $56,496
Starting MSRP:
$42,040
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
(Luxury Midsize Cars)
$73,001
Category Starting MSRP Range:
(Luxury Midsize Cars)
$38,395 - $138,800
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
$49,176 - $64,214
Starting MSRP:
$46,950
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
$48,375
Category Starting MSRP Range:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
$31,800 - $79,900
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
$47,885
Price Range:
$41,664 - $55,146
Category Avg Price:
(Luxury Midsize Cars)
$78,175
Category Avg Price Range:
(Luxury Midsize Cars)
$44,925 - $144,288
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
242
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
6,251
# Good or Great Deals:
34
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
$52,934
Price Range:
$46,801 - $62,210
Category Avg Price:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
$52,490
Category Avg Price Range:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
$35,163 - $100,522
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
4,647
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
1,811
# Good or Great Deals:
440
5-year Depreciation
Depreciation $:
$17,494
Depreciation %:
41.6%
Resale Value $:
$24,546
Residual Value %:
58.4%
Typical Category Depreciation %:
(Luxury Midsize Cars)
52.5%
Category Depreciation Range:
(Luxury Midsize Cars)
38.3% - 63.1%
5-year Depreciation
Depreciation $:
$22,866
Depreciation %:
48.7%
Resale Value $:
$24,084
Residual Value %:
51.3%
Typical Category Depreciation %:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
48.9%
Category Depreciation Range:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
33.5% - 53.5%
Lexus ES 350 Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
8.7 / 10
Reliability:
9.0 / 10
Retained Value:
7.9 / 10
Safety:
9.0 / 10
Mercedes-Benz C-Class Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
8.3 / 10
Reliability:
8.3 / 10
Retained Value:
7.5 / 10
Safety:
9.0 / 10
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for Lexus ES 350
Avg Life Expectancy (years):
14.6
Typical Category Life Expectancy:
(Luxury Midsize Cars)
10.9
Category Life Expectancy Range:
(Luxury Midsize Cars)
8.5 - 14.6
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
54.1%
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Avg Life Expectancy (years):
11.2
Typical Category Life Expectancy:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
10.6
Category Life Expectancy Range:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
8.1 - 14.3
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
16.6%
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
1.7
Typical Category Recalls:
(Luxury Midsize Cars)
2.2
Category Range for Recalls:
(Luxury Midsize Cars)
0.8 - 16.7
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
3.1
Typical Category Recalls:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
2.2
Category Range for Recalls:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
1.2 - 14.6
Lexus ES 350 Rankings
Ranking
1 out of / 1Ranking
2 out of / 29Ranking
2 out of / 29Ranking
2 out of / 20Ranking
2 out of / 9Ranking
3 out of / 29Ranking
3 out of / 29Ranking
4 out of / 29Ranking
14 out of / 29Ranking
24 out of / 29Ranking
25 out of / 29Mercedes-Benz C-Class Rankings
Ranking
1 out of / 1Ranking
2 out of / 36Ranking
2 out of / 36Ranking
5 out of / 36Ranking
6 out of / 36Ranking
8 out of / 36Ranking
10 out of / 36Ranking
10 out of / 12Ranking
16 out of / 31Ranking
23 out of / 36Ranking
32 out of / 36Available Body Styles
Sedan
Available Body Styles
Sedan
Available Drivetrain Options
Gasoline
Available Drivetrain Options
Gasoline, Plug-In Hybrid
Lexus ES 350 Trim Levels
Base, F SPORT Design, F SPORT Handling, Luxury, Ultra Luxury
Mercedes-Benz C-Class Trim Levels
AMG C 43, C 300, C 300 4MATIC
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
6 years / 70000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
4 years
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
4 years / 50000 miles
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
5 out of 5 Stars
2024 NHTSA Overall Rating:
4 out of 5 Stars
2024 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
4 out of 5 Stars
2024 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
2024 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
4 out of 5 Stars
IIHS Safety Rating:
TOP SAFETY PICK
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
5 out of 5 Stars
2024 NHTSA Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2024 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2024 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2024 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
Not yet available
IIHS Safety Rating:
TOP SAFETY PICK
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
302 hp @ 6600 rpm
Torque:
267 foot-lbs @ 4700 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.082 hp per pound
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
255 hp @ 5800 rpm
Torque:
295 foot-lbs @ 2000 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.067 hp per pound
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
3.5 liters
Engine Configuration:
V
Number of Cylinders:
6
Transmission:
Automatic
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
FWD
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
22 / 32 / 26
Range (city/hwy):
350 / 509 miles
Recommended Fuel Type:
Regular Unleaded
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
2 liters
Engine Configuration:
Inline
Number of Cylinders:
4
Transmission:
Automatic
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
RWD / AWD
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
Not yet available
Range (city/hwy):
Not yet available
Recommended Fuel Type:
Not yet available
Standard/Optional Features
Adaptive Cruise Control:
Standard
Alloy wheels:
Standard
Android Auto:
Standard
Apple CarPlay:
Standard
Bench Seats:
Standard
Bluetooth:
Standard
Internet Radio:
Standard
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Keyless Ignition:
Standard
Leather Upholstery:
Standard
Paddle Shifters:
Standard
Power outlet:
Standard
Roadside assistance:
Standard
Satellite radio:
Standard
Sunroof/Moonroof:
Standard
Voice Recognition:
Standard
Wifi:
Standard
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
Available
Heated Seats
Available
Heated Steering Wheel:
Available
Navigation System:
Available
Parking Sensors:
Available
Power Lift Gate:
Available
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
Available
Air Suspension:
N/A
Automatic Parking:
N/A
Captain's seat:
N/A
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Massage Seats:
N/A
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
N/A
Quad Seats:
N/A
Roof Rack:
N/A
Trailer Hitch:
N/A
Standard/Optional Features
Adaptive Cruise Control:
Available
Alloy wheels:
Standard
Android Auto:
Standard
Apple CarPlay:
Standard
Bench Seats:
Standard
Bluetooth:
Standard
Internet Radio:
N/A
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Keyless Ignition:
Standard
Leather Upholstery:
Standard
Paddle Shifters:
Standard
Power outlet:
Standard
Roadside assistance:
Standard
Satellite radio:
Standard
Sunroof/Moonroof:
Standard
Voice Recognition:
Standard
Wifi:
Standard
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
Available
Heated Seats
Standard
Heated Steering Wheel:
Available
Navigation System:
Available
Parking Sensors:
Standard
Power Lift Gate:
Standard
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
Standard
Air Suspension:
N/A
Automatic Parking:
Standard
Captain's seat:
N/A
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Massage Seats:
N/A
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
N/A
Quad Seats:
N/A
Roof Rack:
N/A
Trailer Hitch:
N/A
Safety Features
Backup camera:
Standard
Blind Spot Monitoring:
Standard
Forward Collision Warning:
Standard
Lane Departure Warning:
Standard
Lane Keeping Assist:
Standard
Pedestrian Detection:
Standard
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
Standard
360-Degree Camera:
Available
Driver Attention Monitoring:
N/A
Rear Seat Reminder:
N/A
Safety Features
Backup camera:
Standard
Blind Spot Monitoring:
Standard
Forward Collision Warning:
Standard
Lane Departure Warning:
N/A
Lane Keeping Assist:
N/A
Pedestrian Detection:
Standard
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
N/A
360-Degree Camera:
Available
Driver Attention Monitoring:
Standard
Rear Seat Reminder:
N/A
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
37.5 inches
Front Leg Room:
42.4 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
55.9 inches
Rear Head Room:
37.8 inches
Rear Leg Room:
39.2 inches
Rear Shoulder Room:
54.3 inches
Cargo Space:
13.9 cubic feet
Overall Interior Volume:
99.9 cubic feet
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
40 inches
Front Leg Room:
41.7 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
56.3 inches
Rear Head Room:
37.5 inches
Rear Leg Room:
36 inches
Rear Shoulder Room:
55.6 inches
Cargo Space:
12.6 cubic feet
Overall Interior Volume:
93.0 cubic feet
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
3690 lbs
Width:
73.4 inches
Height:
56.9 inches
Length:
195.9 inches
Wheelbase:
113 inches
Ground Clearance:
Not yet available
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
3825 lbs
Width:
80 inches
Height:
56.6 inches
Length:
187 inches
Wheelbase:
112.8 inches
Ground Clearance:
3.8 inches
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
17.0 x 7.5 inches
Wheel Type:
aluminum alloy
Tire Size:
215/55R17
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
18.0 x 7.5 inches
Wheel Type:
aluminum alloy
Tire Size:
225/45R18
Exterior Colors
Beige
Moonbeam Beige Metallic
Black
Caviar / Obsidian
Blue
Nightfall Mica
Gray
Cloudburst Gray
Green
Sunlit Green
Red
Matador Red Mica
Silver
Iridium
White
Eminent White Pearl
Exterior Colors
Beige
Not available
Black
Black / Obsidian Black Metallic
Blue
Starling Blue Metallic / Twilight Blue Metallic
Gray
Graphite Grey Metallic / MANUFAKTUR Graphite Grey Magno / Selenite Grey Metallic
Green
Not available
Red
MANUFAKTUR Patagonia Red Metallic
Silver
Cirrus Silver Metallic / Mojave Silver Metallic
White
MANUFAKTUR Moonlight White Metallic / Polar White
Interior Colors
Black
Black w/ Open-Pore Black Wood Trim / Black w/ Striated Black Film Trim
Brown
Acorn w/ Open-Pore Black Wood Trim / Acorn w/ Striated Black Film Trim / Palomino w/ Open-Pore Brown Walnut Trim / Palomino w/ Striated Black Film Trim
White
Macadamia w/ Ash Bamboo Trim
Beige
Not available
Gray
Not available
Red
Not available
Interior Colors
Black
Black
Brown
Sienna Brown/Black
White
Not available
Beige
Macchiato Beige
Gray
Neva Grey
Red
Power Red/Black