Audi A5 Coupé vs. BMW 4 Series Coupé vs. Mercedes-Benz C200 Coupé: Running costs

By Ané Theron

Do these three premium German brands all cost the same to run and to repair? Let's take a look.

 

In this costing comparison, we pit the the A5 against the 4 Series and the C-Class: More specifically, the Audi A5 Coupé 40TFSI (R625 500), the BMW 420i Coupé Sports-Auto (R666 186), and the Mercedes-Benz C200 Coupé AMG Line, R702 136.

 

Warranty & Maintenance plans

According to Malcolm Kinsey, author of the Kinsey Report, the cost of servicing for these three premium German brands are more or less the same, but in the smaller executive saloon section, BMW is the most affordable, by a small margin. Audi is in second place, but Mercedes, who stands in third place, has the longest maintenance plan. The A5 has a 1-year warranty with unlimited mileage, while the 4 Series and C200 Coupe have 2-year warranties (also with unlimited kilometres). However, the 4 Series and A5 both have a 5-year maintenance plan, which is a year shorter than Merc's 6-year plan.

 

Parts costs

Once these cars start running out of their maintenance plans, you will need to have some rainy-day money saved. Having parts such as timing chains replaced will cost you big bucks. Pricing for smaller parts (such as spark plugs, oil filters and air filters etc) work out to be more or less the same across the three brands.

 

Inside info

A friend who has owned repair shops all his life, says that when it comes to the older 2.0-litre turbo-petrol models of the above brands, he would rather go for the 2.0-litre diesels, as they have less of a tendency to be problematic in the long run. If you are looking for an older, pre-loved 2.0-litre petrol model, do take a good look at its service history. Has engine work been carried out? Has a timing chain been replaced? If it has, you can rest assured that this big expense won't be your problem very soon. If you do opt for a 2.0-litre diesel instead, just remember that diesel cars need oil changes and servicing done regularly.

 

Fuel economy

With regards to fuel costs, all three these coupés are relatively frugal. According to Audi and BMW, Average consumption figures for the A5 and 4 Series are 5.5 litres per 100 km, and Merc says that their C200's figure is rated at 6.3 litres per 100 km (the latter has a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine with similar output as the 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engines in the A5 and 4 Series.) We all know that the manufacturers rarely give you real-life consumption figures, so don't expect these numbers to be accurate on your daily drive. The (more powerful) all-wheel drive Audi A5 Coupe 2.0 TFSI quattro sports S tronic 's average figure was 8 litres per 100 km when I tested it in 2017, but it's decidedly more spicy with 185 kW and 370Nm (vs. the 40TFSI's 140kW and 320Nm). 

In my personal experience, Audi and BMW tend to have a similar thirst in petrol, with Mercedes being ever-so-slightly thirstier. Do bear in mind that your driving style and whether you have your car serviced regularly, also play a large part in how much your car will cost you to run. Other factors such as driving around with extra weight in your car, and not having your tyres pumped to their optimal pressure will also impact your car's fuel economy.

 

Also read BMW 4 Series vs. Audi A5 vs. Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe: Here's our winner.

Click here to read BMW 4 Series vs. Audi A5 vs. Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupé: Here's our winner.