This all makes highway driving a very stress-free experience as well. The EQ Boost system utilizes a tiny 0.9 kWh battery (conserving space and saving weight). Optional goodies include a panoramic sunroof, a surround-view camera system, active park assist, a wireless charger, additional USB-C ports, an integrated dashcam, a wireless phone charger, NFC device pairing and a built-in toll reader. Fully loaded my test car is $62,070, which is a whole lot of scratch for a compact luxury sedan. No need to turn in twice after misjudging things. The fifth-generation C300 not only makes its competitors feel outdated, it makes the larger E-Class feel a bit irrelevant. The Mercedes-Benz C-Class has been around since 1993, or in layman terms, forever. Especially in pictures, it both looks like the old C and also every other new Mercedes, that longtime exponent of same-sausage-different-length design. All the climate controls are at the bottom of the screen, and while getting rid of physical controls and putting functions on the screen is cost-cutting masquerading as being tech-forward, they work well.
The C300s fuel economy bolsters this aspect, which is perhaps one its best benefits if you're thinking of buying the C-Class. Mercedes-Benz has also fitted the C-Class with the latest safety tools. At some point during every review of a German car, we must complain about a la carte option pricing. While the front seats don't offer active massaging (like the flagship S-Class), my test vehicle had Seat Kinetics. Get Hotcars Premium. That's quite a lot, but I have to imagine a C300 costing between $50,000 and $55,000 would not leave anyone feeling shortchanged. The new C300 is the first U.S.-market Mercedes to offer a four-cylinder engine paired with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system. 
Despite a substantial shift towards SUVs and crossovers, with some automakers abandoning traditional sedans altogether, Mercedes-Benz is doubling down on its four-door vehicles and producing great sedans. Mercedes-Benz will offer the 2022 C300 with a starting price of just under $44,000 and the C300 4MATIC with a starting price of about $46,000.
Is It Better To Lease Or Buy A Car In Summer 2022? But Mercedes-Benz is usually a step ahead in tech and safety features, and this new C-Class is no exception. Mercedes seems to take the Baby S-Class aspect of the C-Class seriously here, as with fully-independent suspension at all four corners plus sport suspension (as part of the AMG Line with Night Package) to tie it all together - its quite comfortable. Our car experts choose every product we feature. Sitting longitudinally between the front wheels of the 2022 Mercedes C300 is the three-pointed stars turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, internally coded as the M254 E20. Based on a rear-wheel-drive platform, the new C boasts a 48-volt mild-hybrid system that helps improve gas mileage, along with providing an extra 20 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque at lower rpm for a short period. It shouldn't be overlooked. Without getting too ahead of myself, theyre all welcome updates, and have molded the C-Class into an excellent entry-level European sedan. Even with the AMG Line's stiffer suspension tune and 19-inch wheels wrapped in Goodyear Eagle F1 tires, the 2022 C-Class has a smooth ride that soaks up road imperfections way better than before, without any of the old crashiness and shuddering. Throttle response is quick off the line (the 0-60 mph sprint should take about 6.0 seconds), and the transmission downshifts willingly for passing. The first word that comes to mind regarding how the 2022 Mercedes-Benz C300 rolls down the road is confidence. Harmon said he uses the system almost daily during his commute, and that optimal conditions are below 40 mph on a well-marked highway; congestion shouldnt be an issue whatsoever. Instead, it made a host of mild revisions throughout, from what propels it down the road to how it looks, that ensure its relevance and position as a solid entry-level modern luxury offering. But buyers who are familiar with the way Mercedes prides itself in bringing new technology to vehicles will fawn over all of the additional baubles. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking toAmazon.comand affiliated sites. The seats are quite comfortable to plop down into, and overall visibility is among the best I've ever reviewed. So I did exactly that early the next morning as traffic slowed to a crawl on I-5 amid inevitable rush-hour congestion. Shifts are quick and smooth, and for once it's nice to drive a car that doesn't have the popular ZF 8-Speed, if for no other reason than it saves me having to come up with yet another synonym for "ubiquitous." The turbine-like round HVAC vents deserve special mention as they deliver abundant airflow, are easy to position, and the center knob allows everyone to tell if they are open or close at a glance. Steering the car in Comfort mode, on the highway, the effort was light in that familiar Mercedes way. Especially if you don't intend on going the luxury route with the 2023 Mercedes GLE Coupe. RELATED: These Are Our Favorite Features Of The 2007 Mercedes C63 AMG. C-Class seats feature Seat Kinetics to improve comfort. This packages Burmester 3D Sound System absolutely excelled and provided excellent sound clarity. It was a revolutionary idea in the Eighties and today, it's what sets the C-Class apart from its competitors. It looks good. For some new vehicles, manufacturers have almost completely flipped the script when it comes to exterior aesthetics, such as the 2021 BMW M3. Equipped here with the AMG Line package which brings a number of visual tweaks in addition to a 15mm drop in ride height, upgraded brakes, and retuned steering and gorgeous 19-inch multispoke wheels, this C300 is a very handsome car. The fancy features don't stop there. With such a good platform and baseline, however, this drive has only further wet my whistle for the forthcoming C63 AMG, rumored to pair a tuned-up four-cylinder engine with a more powerful EV motor. It has an excellent ride quality for everyday driving, and does a great job ironing out rougher road-surfaces. There are some super cool details like the repeating star pattern in the grille and the LED taillights' graphics. You get used to them, but all feel cheap and are just more finicky than individual buttons. The turbocharged four-cylinder puts out 255-hp and 295 lb-ft of torque at peak. This electrical system can provide a power boost for a short period during full-throttle acceleration, but also helps during normal driving to improve gas mileage. The 2022 C-Class is already reaching dealer lots and its starting price of $44,600 includes features like keyless entry, push-button start, a single-pane sunroof, heated front seats, ambient interior lighting, a power trunklid, LED lights and some of the aforementioned safety systems. Mercedes calls this a cab backward design, meaning the windshield and passenger compartment have been shifted further back than in previous models. This 2022 Mercedes-Benz C300 is a well-rounded sports sedan with an attractive exterior design. Thats OK, as I have to keep reminding myself that this isnt an AMG-engineered car. Our tester came equipped with virtually everything, including $2590 worth of Napa leather, and stickered for $63,440. Well-engineered, beautifully crafted, and a joy to drive, the standard C300 is just the first of a range of new C-Class models that will hit the market over the next several years. I did have one erroneous emergency auto-brake situation in traffic, which I believe was caused by following the car in front too closely, and an errant sun reflection from the front car. In person, it's a different story. The driver faces a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel directly behind the three-spoke steering wheel. My favorite design elements are the new squircle air vents, which have a really nice tactile feel. Like the front-grille that features neat Mercedes emblem accents, thats shaped to be a tad wider at the bottom, and accompanying sharp LED headlights. Sadly, the brand killed the A-Class for the US market, including the riotous Mercedes AMG A35. While it projects a luxurious overall theme, Mercedes has done an excellent job ensuring that the passenger compartment retains a slightly more youthful and sportier aura. Trying out as many features as I could while we dawdled along some slow roads, I found almost everything ergonomic and easy to use. It might not please Mercedes traditionalists, but if you think the BMW 3 Series has gone soft, you'll like what you find. On that note, the four-door is perfectly comfortable tackling a twisty canyon road, yet it will lose its composure if pushed too hard (initial blame is pointed at the all-season tires, as they are first to throw in the towel). The center screen is slightly smaller than what you get on the S-Class, but its functionality is exactly the same and it features the same great zero-layer display option. Solid stability and confidence in all scenarios make for great additions in this class, and to return such fuel economy numbers to boot is a very nice added bonus. It's definitely smoother in operation than the old motor, especially in terms of the start/stop system, and the new engine has better midrange response. The C300 offers great handling, comfort, and fuel economy. Technology, performance and design delivered to your inbox. The all-new 2022 Mercedes-Benz C300 4MATIC is the best premium compact luxury sedan I have driven in many years it has earned the coveted spot as the new benchmark in the segment. PwC Cloud and Digital Transformation BrandVoice, How To Earn Cash Rewards For Everyday Spending. Then, to bathe in luxury a bit further, I turned on the massage option. It worked best in low-mid rpms, where you can ride the torque wave between the EV fill and the turbo-boost happy place. I switched back to analog driving until I had a better feel for when and how to use the assistance features. Turn-in was better than I expected, and body-roll wasnt terrible. It's a sweet little engine for the most part. Wind it out and the power plateaued toward the top of the rev band, with not much to say in terms of engine sound. What is surprising is the way that the C300 drives. The range-topping Pinnacle trim begins at just under $48,000. With a hand rested on the bottom of the wheel, not manipulating the input, the DISTRONIC and lane-keeping systems did a truly impressive job driving the car under 40 mph. It's possible the looks aren't doing the new C-Class any favors. This displays video from the front-end camera, with navigation instructions overlaid on the video, via the central 11.9-inch screen. My C300 4Matic tester had a Sport+ mode that added a decibel or two more to the exhaust system and livened up throttle response. It felt very flexible and balanced, easily handling whatever the road threw at it. There are four standard driving modes (ECO, Comfort, Sport, and Individual), but opt for the AMG Line package, and a fifth mode (Sport+) is added to the menu. I swiped it until it stated six-foot-three-inches, and the seat reclined and changed position accordingly.
Then, after adding in the Power Red/Black Leather interior ($1,620), 19-inch AMG Multi spoke wheels ($600), the AMG Line with Night Package ($3,050) and a host of other driver assistance, safety, and multimedia packages; it comes to a total of $58,470 after a $1,050 Destination and Delivery fee. This torquey aluminum powerplant produces 255 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, identical to its 2.0-liter Bavarian rival, the B48, which lives in the 2022 BMW 230i Coupe. I didnt have high expectations, however. I told him I tested it driving fast on a congested highway with poor road markingsprobably the most challenging set of conditions. An all-new standard Integrated Starter Generator adds an electrical motor system to the drivetrain. Android Auto, Bluetooth, and Apple CarPlay are standard, and my tester possessed the Sound Package ($650) and Multimedia Package ($1,700). Its solid and stable at speed on the highway, and has that unmistakably classic German weight to it, in a great way. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. This discerning buyer is likely new to the brand, and the C-Class will be the first of their many Mercedes-Benz products down the road. Mercedes invited us to sample the C-Class on an excellent route that included a lot of our favorite roads north of New York City. You may opt-out by. You might not have realized Mercedes has a new C-Class. Thats because Mercedes engine utilizes a 48-volt integrated starter-generator with lithium-ion battery that adds up to an additional 20 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque to assist with acceleration. That was too much navigation for me. We may earn money from the links on this page. On the move, though, it largely stays out of the way. Its what keeps fans of the brand going backnow in a smaller, more manageable package thats no less great. Unfortunately, adaptive dampers will only be available on the AMG C43. There's not much to say about the C-Class' MBUX operating system that hasn't already been covered. The 2022 C-Class' chassis is not just better than the outgoing car's, it's a cut above pretty much every competitor in terms of ride quality. This car had optional double-pane glass, which helps keep tire and wind noise down all the better for enjoying this top-of-the-line model's Burmester surround sound system. What else would you expect from Mercedes? While the driver has the best seat in the house and the most accessible access to the technology, passengers will find the C300 an equally enjoyable and comfortable ride. Also included in this package is a Head-Up-Display (HUD), which projects detailed navigation instructions into the drivers line of sight on the windshield. Start your free trial today. One quick initial jab at the brake pedal reveals that this thing isnt engineered for lateral and longitudinal G-force enthusiasm. In some respects, it doesn't appear that Mercedes-Benz has done a lot to differentiate the W206 from its W205 predecessor. This is just one of many upsides to the W206 that make it a great commuter and road trip rig. However, the devil is in the details, and upon closer inspection, you really start to notice the improvements. Follow this author to improve your content experience. Certain trims like this car's metal weave replace the center console's standard piano black finish with a matching panel, which is a lot more interesting. The cabin is quiet (unless the available Burmester surround-sound audio system is rocking), and the MBUX system includes a hands-free artificial intelligence voice control system (commanded with a simple "Hey Mercedes") that permits many operations from any seat. Mercedes-Benz is an innovator, leader, and its products are universally respected. Progress has come in all shapes and sizes in new car lineups over the past couple of years. Winding up through Harriman State Park and up to the eastern Catskills, this C300 4Matic tester was engaging. It was only a few moments before I had to give a steering input after entering a construction zone with shifting lanes, bad road markings and heavy congestionprobably not the ideal first test. I quickly scrolled through Comfort menus, and changed a slider to input my exact height. The engine fires up instantly, and when you put the car in Eco mode, it can actually shut down entirely when the driver is off throttle. Everything is tuned for low- and mid-range torque, and the C300 feels very strong up to around 5500 rpm. And while it's remained the aesthete's choice in the subsequent years, newer competitors offer better overall packages. The lower, wider grill is accented by the thinner and wider headlights. Less successful is the C-Class' many touchpad controls. For the vast majority of consumers after a solid array of technology and luxury for the 2022 C300s sub-$60,000 price range, its plenty. A welcome case of having more chassis than power. Leaving Los Angeles, heading south in midday traffic on the 405, I took a moment to appreciate the stellar interior design of this new C-Class. Opting for 4Matic all-wheel drive increases the cost by $2000, while the AMG Line package is a little steep at $3050. Of course, it takes a while for the gearbox to re-engage and select the correct of its nine ratios when you suddenly need power, but for low-traffic highways, it's a brilliant system. Even if you don't have those optional assists, the C-Class is so easy to guide down the road. Then the car gave me an alert since Id been driving for a while: I should consider an alertness break. I can see the L2 semi-autonomous being a very attractive feature for those saddled with slow commutes. Thats not ideal, and its not the type of power curve to hide its curb-weight well, either, meaning it feels faster than it actually is. My test car has the optional $2,000 all-wheel-drive system and there's virtually no understeer even when I push the C300 hard. Simply put, the Augmented Video For Navigation felt clunky and unnecessary when presented with an HUD in my direct line of sight. It also replaces the engines accessory belts and allows for a complete gasoline engine shut-off during coasting. Upon first glance, this Polar White W206 Mercedes-Benz C300 doesnt look a whole lot different from the W205. The second-row seats split and fold 40:20:40 for trunk access and additional utility. It's not hard to find other cheap interior materials, if you go poking around, not that this impacts the functionality of the C-Class. 2023 BMW 3 Series vs Mercedes Benz C-Class. The latest fifth-generation Mercedes-Benz C-Classknown internally as the W206 generationis an amalgamation of great features gleaned from previous great cars, all trickling down into one quite capable pool. Especially from a rear-quarter angle, it really does look like a smaller S-Class. So definitely test drive C-Classes of various specs to see whether the ride is to your liking. More of that trickle-down effect in action, as the new C300 benefits from updated suspension geometry ported over from the S-Class. Jonathan Harper is a photographer and writer based in Los Angeles, California. Ultimate performance is not a primary objective, yet driving dynamics must be world-class and uncompromised. All Rights Reserved. But with the new C300, Mercedes is taking a different tactic, offering three different basic trim levels, and relatively few individual options.
My favorite new input was automatically configuring an almost-perfect seating position for my height. Mercedes-Benz fits the C300 with Dynamic Select to allow the driver to configure the vehicle to the driving environment. The 12.3-inch digital dashboard display can be configured in any number of ways to show gauges, maps and entertainment information. None of this is necessarily surprising. 255-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4 engine with EQ Boost, Mercedes-Benz equips the C300 with a turbocharged, 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder combustion engine rated at 255 horsepower. Still, the interior generally looks and feels fabulous, and it won't take long to get used to all the haptic controls. Rolls-Royce Is Testing Spectre EV On French Riviera (Because Of Course It Is), Tested: Three 2022 Hybrid Gas-Sippers From Lexus, Honda And Toyota, Back-To-Back, Future Tech Watch: Sono Motors Sion EV Is Covered In Solar Panels To Soak Up Free Power, The Unique Curtiss 1 Electric Motorcycle Is The Brough Superior Of The New Electric Age, EV Drivers Love That Quick Acceleration - And Thats Forcing Companies Like Pirelli To Rethink Tire Design, Mini Reveals Aceman EV Concept Ahead Of 2024 Production, General Motors EV Live Site Will Answer All Your Electric Car Queries, Rolls-Royces Latest Phantom Is The Most Imaginative Crafted Bespoke Collection. On the road, the new C-Class sedan drives beautifully significantly exceeding the dynamics expected from this class of vehicle. You can choose any number of places to get a similar experience.
I hate constantly trying to slightly increase or decrease the volume. Some buyers won't like that the ride isn't totally plush across broken surfaces, and around 25-35 mph, there are plenty of bad roads that just feel unpleasant here. 2022 Forbes Media LLC. There are four touchpads on the steering wheel, a touchpad for all the controls below the infotainment system, a touchpad for both seat memory and heating/cooling, and even a touchpad for the sunroof.
The drive back from our overnight stay in Kingston, NY gave us our most aspirational view at how a C-Class will be used as transport back to a city after your country getaway. It takes all but five minutes behind the wheel of the all-new 2022 Mercedes-Benz C300 4MATIC to confirm my suspicions Mercedes-Benz is currently engineering the world's finest passenger vehicles. Clocking in at a base price of $44,600, the all-wheel-drive test car was fitted with an additional $16,520 in optional equipment for a total of $62,070. The added 20 hp and 148 lb-ft of torque from the EV boost were most apparent when getting into the throttle at low rpm; that was especially appreciated since this is the first C-Class to feature a four-cylinder as its sole engine offering. While its overall shape and curb weight are on the larger side, Mercedes did a good job making it look more slender and athletic, too. The technology options Mercedes has assembled are quite likely the most impressive part of the new generation C-Class, though you will certainly be paying a premium for those features. It's been offered with six-cylinder cars from Mercedes for a few years now, and here, it works just as brilliantly. Combined with refined, luxury-worthy sound-insulation and optional acoustic glass ($150), the C 300 makes for a great place to sit through some lengthy podcasts while cruising down the road. A second 11.9-inch touchscreen infotainment display is mounted in portrait mode on the center console. The rear end gets a bit more of that S-Class stuff in the form of two-piece LED taillights. Mercedes' augmented-reality navigation is available, but while a head-up display is also optional, the C-Class sadly does without the huge AR HUD offered in the S-Class. RELATED: 2022 Mercedes-Benz S500 4Matic Review: Luxury At Its Finest. Still, it does its job effectively, allows Mercedes to eliminate the heavy starter motor, and makes the start/stop system nearly transparent. The 2022 C300 uses a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4 like the outgoing model, but it's a totally new engine. 2022Recurrent Ventures. Those in the back seat will find room to sit behind six-footers without feeling cramped, although nobody wants to be the fifth passenger as the center cushion isn't molded for comfort. The C300 feels solid and well-damped, and it never exhibits any noticeable jostling over highway expansion joints, bumpy on- and off- ramps, and temporary laid-down construction zone tarmac.
The system makes subtle adjustments to the occupant's seat as if the person is readjusting their position and it's surprisingly effective. There are no adaptive dampers here, instead sport-tuned conventional passive units that are a good tradeoff between comfort and attentive, sharp handling. Every C-Class comes standard with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a fingerprint sensor for controlling driver profiles and the "Hey, Mercedes" voice assistant. It has always been a solid leg of the German mid-size sport sedan triumvirate, along with the BMW 3 Series and the Audi A4. The C-Class is also available with basically every safety feature from the S-Class like automated emergency braking, lane-change assist, front and rear cross-traffic alert, active blind-spot assist, lane-keeping assist and adaptive cruise control with route-based speed and stop-and-go capabilities up to 35 mph. An air suspension is no longer an option and adaptive dampers aren't on the menu either, but I don't find myself missing these features. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io, Audi E-Tron, Take Me to My Nuclear Bunker, The 911 Sport Classic Is Porsche's Greatest Hits, The Lucid Air Grand Touring Performance Astounds, The iX Isn't Like Any BMW, Past or Present, The Genesis G80 Drives Like a Vintage BMW, The Ferrari 296 GTB Is an Obedient Cruise Missile, Lamborghini Huracn Tecnica Is a Streetable STO, The 2022 Mercedes C300 Is Surprisingly Sporty. Mercedes-Benz has proven that slow and steady progression, as well as letting high-end luxury and tech appointments trickle down to entry-level models, is a solid recipe for success, and even when specd to nearly $60,000, is a great way to have a comfortable all-rounder. During my drive, the 3,957-pound 4MATIC model indicated an average of 35.4 MPG during the highway portion of the testing, beating its EPA estimates. Then, having the C300s 12.3-inch instrument cluster straight in front was also quite welcoming and easy to configure, and you can navigate it through the steering wheel controls. Plus, I don't need to remind you that sedans are out of fashion. Though, with a light foot rolling down a mostly flat stretch of Californias I-5 freeway through northern San Diego County, I saw as much as 36 MPG. When the fourth-generation Mercedes-Benz C-Class debuted in 2013 it was dubbed a baby S-Class thanks to its class-above interior design and refinement. Starting with the C-Class predecessor 190E, the idea behind this car has been, essentially, S-Class luxury in a compact package, executed to varying degrees of success. Standard equipment includes a driver monitoring system, pre-Safe forward collision preparation technology, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring with Exit Warning Assist. Still, I'm bestowing it on an automaker that is credited with developing the first automobile (the 1885 Benz Patent-Motorwagen) and acknowledged for bringing advanced safety features such as airbags (SRS) and anti-lock brakes (ABS) to the masses. Getting the jump at a fresh green light takes a bit of travel with the gas pedal, but theres plenty of torque pushing and pulling you along to make it happen. A gas-powered sport sedan might not be in vogue, but that doesn't change the fact that the C300 is an excellent luxury sport sedan.
Later on, I asked Mercedes-Benz Product Manager Paul Harmon when and how to take full advantage of the L2 driver-assistance features. Mercedes has been on a roll with steering as of late, and it continues with the C-Class. The ride is pleasingly firm, not harsh, and there's a sophistication to the way the C300 goes down the road. Open the doors and you're yet again met with the best interior in the segment, one that punches above its class. The 2022 C300 4MATIC follows the thread, with an extra helping of S-Class sauce to spruce it up. The interior is an evolution of what's come before, and a reflection of Mercedes today. Top speed is limited to 130 mph, and this four-cylinder is currently the only engine available with the new C-Class, with an option to add the 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system for an additional $2,000 over the base price.