The compact sedan from Mercedes-Benz AMG is the biggest rival to BMW's M340i and Audi's S4.

SUV’s nowadays are so ubiquitous, you could say that they have become the ‘standard’ car type.

Sure, for many the pickup or city car is still the go-to vehicle category, but even normal cars are slowly becoming more SUV-fied.

When it comes to sports car and premium sedans though, business continues as usual, thankfully; the C-Class, 3-Series and Audi’s A4 line are all as low, sleek and appealing as they always were.

Choosing between them is usually a matter of taste as they are so closely aligned nowadays, especially at the performance-model level, but Mercedes-Benz AMG’s C43 is pretty tempting in 2022.

We look at the best parts of this sleek Mercedes-Benz sedan and how it measures up against the competition in this very competitive sector.

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class is a relatively old model line, stretching from the start of the 90s all the way to today – in 2021 we got the newest version which further refined the sleek design of it’s fourth-generation predecessor.

It’s now a sleek and desirable compact sedan, with space for four adults and a bit of luggage and, depending on the engine, as fast as a sports car when you need it to be.

The new 2023 model has been revealed, which for the AMG C43 version turn things up a little under the hood, potentially making this a car that could be a lot of things to a lot of people.

For the incumbent 2022 model there is a twin-turbocharged 3-liter V6 motor under the hood which offers up 385 hp and 384 lb-ft of torque which is good enough for a 4.5-second 0-60 mph time.

It is pricey at more than $60,000 before options, but this is the performance-variant of a premium sedan after all.#

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Fast-forward to the newly announced 2023 model, and there is a new engine for the AMG C-Class sedan; the same handbuilt engine from the SL43 roadster.

Instead of a 3-liter, 6-cylinder engine things have downsized once again but not to the detriment of performance: the new 2-liter, 4-cylinder motor makes 402 hp, 369 lb-ft and should be good for 0-60 mph in 4.6 seconds.

The transmission is another ubiquitous 9-speed automatic and the drivetrain incorporates an F1-style electrically-assisted turbo which helps to reduce turbo lag, as well as a 48v mild hybrid system to add 13 hp in certain situations.

So, it’s an incredibly-efficient and modern engine, pushing the boundaries of what we can do with small gasoline engines, both in performance and efficiency.

In addition to the rear-biased drivetrain, the rear wheels feature active steering and power goes to all four wheels with permanent all-wheel-drive.

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There are various drive modes and safety features, AMG Ride Control suspension and enhanced brakes and exhaust system over the standard C-Class, but a lot of details are carried over from the old C43 sedan too; wheels are 18” as standard but with the option to spec up-to 20” rims if you so choose.

Inside the AMG C43, you are getting a plush and premium cabin just like its predecessor, as Mercedes-Benz puts it:

“In the interior, features such as AMG seats with a distinct upholstery layout and seat covers in black MB-Tex/Microfiber with red contrasting stitching and red seat belts provide a particularly sporty touch. The flat-bottom AMG Performance steering wheel in Nappa leather has a perforated grip area and silver-colored aluminum gearshift paddles. The two round AMG steering wheel buttons allow fast and unerring operation of various dynamic driving functions and AMG DYNAMIC SELECT drive programs. The dashboard and upper door trim are upholstered in leather with red top stitching. The sporty, luxurious atmosphere is rounded off by AMG sport pedals, AMG floor mats and illuminated door sills with AMG lettering”.

There is a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and an 11.9-inch center screen for all the infotainment requirements you may have.

The first competitor’s to the C43 are the BMW M340i and the S4 from Audi.

BMW’s M340i XDrive sedan starts online from $56,000 and includes a 382 hp straight-six engine with 48v mild hybrid technology on board, allowing for a 4.1-second dash to 60 mph.

It also has 4-wheel-drive and an 8-speed automatic gearbox and inside, there is a cabin as equally beautiful to behold as the Mercedes’ cabin, but potentially even more refined still, coming as it does with two screens just likes its rival.

Audi’s S4 comes looking a little understated from first glance, under its hood things are also a little more understated with a 3-liter, 6-cylinder engine again (though this time a V6), making 349 hp and offering a 4.4-second 0-60 mph time.

It mimics the BMW with another 8-speed transmission and 4-wheel-drive too, can come with two screens and is offered from $52,000 online on the Audi website for the entry-level model.

As we can see, in this segment the three cars offer similar performance and features, but if you can afford the extra $7,000 for the Mercedes over the Audi, you will be getting something rather special.

Of course, these things are all rather subjective, but we can all agree that given the money to spend freely; we are today spoiled with choice.

Hailing from Britain, the home of both MG and Aston Martin, Dave is no stranger to sports cars. Or a little rain. When he's not busy working his day-job or writing songs and pretending to be a musician; Dave indulges his obsession with cars by writing and researching diligently, so that he can inform and convert other people to the dark side.