[AutoGuide.com]

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As part of our long-term test of the Audi A4, we wanted to challenge it against the class leaders, and the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class dominate the small luxury segment.

To see whether the A4 deserves your consideration, we brought out the Mercedes C-Class in C300 4Matic trim, perfectly matching our A4 2.0T Quattro long-term tester. A competitively priced and equipped 3 Series was not available at the time of the test, but we continue to search for one before we wrap up this long-term test.

It’s actually kind of crazy how closely these two cars line up in terms of power and capability, so it will all come down to the details: Which car has a more polished ride, refined interior, advanced technology and better value for the buyer that wants some luxury without being too extravagant? Does this Audi have what it takes to break into the top tier of luxury sedans this time around?

Read more about the 2017 Audi A4 vs 2017 Mercedes-Benz C300 at AutoGuide.com.