Wearing the same distinguished styling as the larger E-class and S-class sedans, the Mercedes-Benz C-class is tasked with bringing similar levels of luxury and prestige to the compact sedan segment. The interior mostly succeeds, providing high-end materials, modern technology, and the requisite large screens to create an environment that feels a step above its price point. The turbo four and nine-speed automatic transmission follow suit, delivering smooth power to the rear wheels, although all-wheel drive is available. Though the chassis is solid and agile, the suspension tune could use a bit more finesse, and overall we feel it delivers a less sporty vibe than the BMW 3-series or Audi A4. Remedying that assessment is as simple as opting for the high-performance Mercedes-AMG C43 or C63 variants (reviewed separately), but that extra vitality comes at a price. Still, the C300 is sophisticated without being overtly flashy, which gives it a certain cachet and satisfying appeal that’s hard to fake.
Where This Vehicle Ranks
#5 in Best Compact Luxury Cars
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What’s New for 2025?
The C300 sedan enters the new model year with only minor updates, including the latest iteration of Mercedes’ MBUX operating system as well as a newly standard center airbag. Options include new nappa leather upholstery choices, an MB-Tex steering wheel, and an Alpine Grey exterior finish.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
The price of the 2025 Mercedes-Benz C-class starts at $49,600 and goes up to $53,750 depending on the trim and options.
The C300 is offered in three trim levels—Premium, Exclusive, and Pinnacle—that bundle popular options together. We think the Exclusive trim is the best value. There are still plenty of à la carte options too, including a sporty-looking AMG Line package, a panoramic sunroof, and navigation. Adding 4Matic all-wheel drive costs $2000 extra.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
All C-class models are powered by a 255-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder and wear the C300 name badge on their shapely trunk lid. The turbo four is enhanced by a 48-volt hybrid system that can temporarily provide up to 20 extra horsepower. All-wheel drive remains an option, with rear-wheel drive being the standard setup; a nine-speed automatic is the only gearbox offered. Handling is nimble, as expected from a compact sports sedan, but we were disappointed with the lack of steering feel and the flinty ride quality. Braking performance was good in C/D testing; the C300 stopped from 70 mph in just 154 feet, but we’d appreciate a firmer pedal feel.
0-60-MPH Times
In our testing, the all-wheel-drive C300 4Matic hit 60 mph in 5.3 seconds, beating the previous-generation C-class by 0.1 second.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
The EPA estimates that rear-wheel-drive examples of the C-class should deliver up to 25 mpg city and 36 mpg highway; adding all-wheel drive drops those figures by 2 mpg each, to 24 mpg city and 33 mpg highway. In our 75-mph highway fuel-economy test, the all-wheel-drive C300 4Matic beat its highway rating with a 35-mpg result. For more information about the C-class’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
The C-class comes with a high-tech cabin that mirrors that of the larger S-class flagship. All models come with a digital gauge display, touch-sensitive controls, and a host of amenities. The new model sports a steering wheel that looks like that of the S-class, and Mercedes offers a generous list of standard luxury features such as heated front seats with memory settings, a sunroof, open-pore wood trim, and aluminum accents. Overall, the C-class is about 2.5 inches longer than the outgoing model, and its wheelbase has been stretched by an inch. Mercedes-Benz says that results in more rear-seat legroom, but in reality, the difference is negligible.
Infotainment and Connectivity
A vertically oriented 11.9-inch infotainment touchscreen sweeps up from the center console and toward a trio of round air vents on the upper dashboard. The center display is slightly tilted towards the driver for easier use while driving and runs MBUX 3, the most up-to-date version of Mercedes’s MBUX infotainment system—complete with the voice-activated digital assistant, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and online access via a Wi-Fi hotspot. All models also come with a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, wireless device charging, and a fingerprint sensor to authenticate the driver’s unique profile for memory settings. A head-up display, an ambient lighting system, and a Burmester surround-sound stereo system are all optional extras.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
Mercedes equips the C-class with a host of standard driver-assistance features, but unfortunately the car’s coolest tech, which includes adaptive cruise control that utilizes navigation data to adjust the vehicle’s speed for upcoming curves and roundabouts, is still optional. For more information about the C-class’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:
- Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection
- Available lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist
- Available adaptive cruise control with a lane-centering feature
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
Although rivals such as BMW, Genesis, and Volvo offer three years of complimentary maintenance, Mercedes-Benz omits that benefit from its standard warranty offerings. Otherwise, all new Benzes come with an industry-standard plan that covers most things for up to four years or 50,000 miles.
- Limited warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
- No complimentary scheduled maintenance
Specifications
2022 Mercedes-Benz C300 4Matic
Vehicle Type: front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan
PRICE
Base/As Tested: $46,600/$63,590
Options: Pinnacle trim package (Burmester surround sound, surround-view system, navigation with augmented video, head-up display), $3950; AMG line (sport suspension and steering, flat-bottom steering wheel, cross-drilled brake rotors, AMG body kit), $3400; nappa leather, $2590; driver assistance package (adaptive cruise control with steering assist, active brake assist), $1700; LED headlamps, $1100; sunroof, $1000; Selenite grey paint, $750; 19-inch wheels, $600; ventilated front seats, $450; SiriusXM radio, $350; extra 12V and USB ports, $300; heated steering wheel, $250; dashcam, $200; wood trim, $200; acoustic glass, $150
ENGINE
turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve inline-4, aluminum block and head, direct fuel injection
Displacement: 122 in3, 1991 cm3
Power: 255 hp @ 5800 rpm
Torque: 295 lb-ft @ 2000 rpm
TRANSMISSION
9-speed automatic
CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: multilink/multilink
Brakes, F/R: 13.5-in vented, cross-drilled disc/13.0-in vented disc
Tires: Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
F: 225/40R-19 93Y MO
R: 255/35R-19 96Y MO
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 112.8 in
Length: 187.0 in
Width: 71.7 in
Height: 56.6 in
Passenger Volume: 94 ft3
Trunk Volume: 13 ft3
Curb Weight: 4044 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 5.3 sec
1/4-Mile: 14.0 sec @ 98 mph
100 mph: 14.7 sec
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec.
Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 6.4 sec
Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 3.3 sec
Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 4.2 sec
Top Speed (gov ltd): 129 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 154 ft
Braking, 100–0 mph: 314 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.91 g
C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 25 mpg
75-mph Highway Driving: 35 mpg
75-mph Highway Range: 600 mi
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 27/23/33 mpg
