Although it's been a few years since I wrote this, I feel like it's safe bet to say that, compared to a Stellantis product, the C class will hold up well over time.
When it debuted in all the way back in 1982, the W201 190 was slotted as Mercedes Benz’s entry-level car, somewhat taking the reins from the W123’s 240D, at least in spirit anyway.
The 190 led us to the W202, now referred to as the C Class, and thus begun what has essentially been Mercedes Benz’s naming structure ever since.
The C Class is no longer the entry-level model it once was, and that’s no bad thing. While not as upscale as its E/CLS Class brethren, it’s still a nice space to spend some time. And rather strangely, it looks smaller in pictures than it did in our parking lot.
The C300 4Matic we had stickers for $43,400, with a $995 destination charge.
David S. WallensNothing else feels like a Benz–even one that’s “just” a C-class. Yes, there are other luxury brands out there, and on paper they might look just fine, but there’s nothing that duplicates that Benz feel, from the thud of the closing door to the feel of the switches.
And no matter the class, those switches are going to seem familiar: seat controls on the door, radio volume on the right side of the console, shifter on the column. The setup works and quickly reminds you that, yes, there’s a three-pointed star up front. Could other arrangements work just as well? Probably. But it wouldn’t feel like a Benz.
After sampling several AMG-class vehicles, the C300 feels subdued–and it is. No rocket-like acceleration, no giant brakes. But the C300 still delivers a comfortable ride, while the performance can be described as more than adequate. It’s not the fastest thing in the lineup, but it’s not billed as such.
The C300 doesn’t feature massaging seats or a build-in minibar, but it’s quiet and composed. At no point, though, does it feel like an economy version of a Mercedes-Benz. It’s just a tad smaller.
JG PasterjakWelcome to this edition of “What if the Germans built a Camry?” where we discuss how appliance cars don’t have to be boring but also somehow how making something more baring can make it really good and now my head hurts. See the C series is basically Mercedes’ “normal” car. It’s a Ford Taurus. A Chevy Malibu. A Kia Optima. The aforementioned Camry. It occupies that place in the market for people who want to check the box marked “car” and fulfill that requirement of their life. It should be—by most metrics—unremarkable. Except it’s really good. And it’s really good, almost not despite its decontented nature, but because of it. And, by “decontented,” we’re mostly using that statement relative to its AMG and other high-end cousins that inhabit press fleets. In reality, this Benz comes equipped with nearly every gizmo and gadget that you could ever want, but very few that you don’t. The result is a car that feels well-equipped, but not bloated. The package oozes competence,and while the overall impression—and near $50,000 price—may be on the premium side of the intended market, the C300 succeeds in being a remarkable standout as an unremarkable device.
Although it's been a few years since I wrote this, I feel like it's safe bet to say that, compared to a Stellantis product, the C class will hold up well over time.
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