2020 Mercedes-Benz C-Class

The RWD C 300 comes in at $41,400 with a steep climb with optional extras but the trim suitable for most buyers would be the C 300 4MATIC which starts at $43,400, enabling one to drive in adverse conditions with the AWD available for enhanced traction at the rubber. Alongside the mechanicals, the silver arrows’ interior quality with soft-touch materials and aluminum and wood inserts elevates the customer experience. As a whole, this package puts you in a seat of a Mercedes with sporting advanced technology and powerful performance with a long list of features available as standard ready to cater to your needs in different dimensions.

Which Trim should you buy?

The most logical trim to go with would be the C 300 4Matic priced at $43,400, as it brings in levels of performance that keep you happy across the powerband, and the AWD in form of 4MATIC provides the added practicality that one might need from their family sedan in adverse weather conditions. 

At its core, this luxury German Tristar sedan in the form of 2020 Mercedes-Benz C 300 is powered by a twin-scroll turbocharged 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine that produces 255 horsepower & 273-pound feet of torque which is coupled with the 9G-Tronic nine-speed automatic torque converter automatic transmission that powers the rear wheels as standard with an option available for the 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system. 

The gearbox providing seamless shifts throughout the rev range and not being extremely throttled sensitive allows gradual and well anticipated downshifts, whilst the upshifts tackle redline in a calibrated swift and smooth fashion. The 4MATIC level brings in a well-engineered AWD system which ends one’s quest of finding traction while flooring the powerhouse on a damp patch of road.

The C 300 in its base non-AMG trim is no slouch either as it can do a 0-60 mph sprint in just 5.7 seconds for both the RWD and AWD variants. It covers the quarter-mile strip in just over 14 seconds while the top speed is limited at 132 mph. While the performance from the Mercedes is pretty brisk and enjoyable, the exhaust note of this engine is anything but exciting, which definitely affects the fun element for some parts. 

Against its rivals, the Autobahn-friendly C 300 is a strong performer, with a gorgeous design and a potent engine. There is hardly anything to differentiate in terms of the 0-60 mph timings of these cars but the quarter-mile is covered the quickest by the BMW 3-Series. The Jaguar is the slowest of them all and both are also on the affordable side as compared to the Mercedes. Audi A4 is quick as well and though it is pricier than the Bimmer and Jaguar, it gets AWD as standard, and yet is cheaper than the C-Class. 

How does the 2020 Mercedes-Benz C-Class handle?

In a class where the BMW 3-Series defines fun to drive statement, the C 300 takes a different approach to dynamics, its main goal is to enhance day to day drivability, it has light steering which gets heavy as you build speed making low-speed maneuvers in the city an easy task & highway rides comfy as it requires less steering input. The turning radius of the German is surprising for a sedan its size.

Yet don’t discount fun from its capabilities as the overall character of the car in its AWD form is engaging and can take corners with ease but it tends to go wide when you hit the apex with extra speed, reminding you about its sedan form factor. But on the contrary, the rear-biased power split gives the rear end a controlled sporty sway with minimum body roll, thanks to the balanced chassis with a suspension that stiffens up in sports mode.

2020 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Braking Performance

For something that weighs around 3500 pounds and does 130 MPH, stopping power becomes important. And it's safe to say, the 2020 Mercedes-Benz C 300 is easy to stop with 4-wheel discs, measuring 13 inches at the front and 11.8 inches at the rear with ABS, which are extremely bitey and are too be operated in a gradual manner to avoid sudden stopping.

The Jaguar XE is the lightest vehicle here and yet gets a decent-sized set of brake rotors as compared to its rivals and hence has a pretty short stopping distance. The Audi offers the largest set of brakes but also has a higher curb weight and standard Quattro AWD, therefore it travels a few feet more before coming to a halt. The BMW manages to match the braking distance of the Jaguar while the Mercedes travels the farthest in the 60-0 mph run.

The C 300 deems itself to be the most economical in its class with 22 MPG in the city and 33 MPG on the highway until it is pitched against BMW 3 Series. Opting for the 4MATIC AWD will also not affect the fuel efficiency much as well. It retains the title with a best-in-class fuel tank capacity for this year as well with the 17.4 gallons which ensure you can go a little bit longer and offers a solid driving range of well over 400 miles. 

The BMW 3-series is the most frugal of the lot as it has the EPA city ratings which are identical to the combined ratings of the C-Class. Therefore, even with the smaller gas tank, it offers a longer driving range than the Mercedes. Even the Audi A4 and its standard AWD have lower fuel consumption than Mercedes and even the Jaguar XE is more efficient. That being said, Audi needs frequent gas station visits due to its smaller gas tank.

The inside of the 2020 Mercedes-Benz C 300 in its class is as the tagline of the brand suggests best or nothing, built around materials such as wood, aluminum, and soft-touch plastics, synthetic leather the experience feels ritzy. The layout of the dashboard in terms of placement of controls and infotainment screen seems more organized and less distracting for the drivers. The leather upholstered seats hold you quite well and provide good amounts of support for longer rides. 

The center console houses DYNAMIC SELECT controls for infotainment with a swiveling wheel easing the commands. Moving to the rear the space is as plush as the front but it is a bit cramped for adults and due to its roof-line which sits lower because of its coupe-like body shape the headroom takes a hit just like your head would. The presence of a panoramic sunroof lightens up the compartment and makes it feel more open & spacious than it is.

In terms of cargo space, the 3-series again blows the Mercedes-Benz C 300 and competition out of the water with its 17 cubic feet of cargo space. While both Audi and Jaguar sedans offer a slightly smaller trunk than the Mercedes-Benz, the difference between them is minuscule. In terms of cabin space, there is hardly any difference between all the cars for both the front and rear-seat passengers with each car pushing for maximum comfort and luxury. Some of the standout interior features are as follows:

• 8-way Powered front seats w/Driver Memory and lumbar support
• 40-20-40 Folding Bench Fold Forward Rear Seat
• MB-Tex Leatherette Seat Trim
• MB-Tex Leatherette Door Trim Insert
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Power Tilt/Telescoping Steering Column w/Auto Tilt-Away Leather/Metal-Look Steering Wheel
• 64 color LED Ambient Lighting system
• Memory Settings for Door Mirrors, Steering Wheel, and Head Restraints
• Homelink Garage Door Transmitter

What’s there to keep you entertained?

The high-res Audio system from Burmeister keeps the audiophile in you satisfied with crisp and clear sound backed by well-balanced bass and no distortion on higher frequencies. The aging infotainment system still works like charm and does the job, but it’s better left without comparison to BMW and Audis offerings. Inside the cabin, ambient lighting with 64 color options helps set the right mood for a relevant environment. Some of the highlights of the infotainment system are as follows:

• 10.25-inch COMAND infotainment system
• 5-speaker FrontBass audio system
• COMMAND Turn-By-Turn Navigation system
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration
• HD Radio and SiriusXM Satellite radio
• Mercedes me connect Mobile Hotspot Internet Access
• Mercedes me connect Tracker System
• Bluetooth technology for hands-free calling/audio streaming
• Voice Activation

The C 300 is surely a looker with its curves & striking lines forming an almost coupe-like silhouette, The lines on the hood add a masculine character to the revised front end. The newer LED lamps at the front and rear set it apart from the previous gen. The overall hunkered down image of the C-Class has still retained thanks to the sloping roof-line and enhanced wheel arches. The rear fascia is facelifted to accommodate the bigger air intakes. 

The C 300 is fairly lighter than the competition enabling it to gain numbers on the speedometer surprisingly quickly. With a wheelbase of 111.8 inches, the Tri-Star avoids three-point turns because of its small turning radius. But the low profile and stance with these Mercedes often scare you when you are approaching a speed bump. The Jaguar has the lowest ground clearance in this comparison while the BMW rides the highest. Some of the standout exterior features are as follows:

• Automatic Projector Beam LED Low/High Beam, Daytime Running Lights, Preference Setting Headlamps
• Rear Fog Lamps and LED Brakelights
• Power Close Trunk
• Rain Detecting Variable Intermittent Wipers w/Heated Jets And Reservoir
• Power Heated Side Mirrors w/Driver Auto Dimming, Power Folding and Turn Signal Indicator
• Black Grille w/Chrome Accents and and Black Front Windshield Trim
• Chrome Side Windows Trim and Bodyside Insert
• Express Open/Close Sliding And Tilting Glass First Row Sunroof w/Sunshade
• 18-inch Twin 5-Spoke Alloy Wheels

This entry-level Merc comes loaded with a ton of active and passive safety features. Such an exhaustive list indicates that Mercedes-Benz hasn’t cut any corners, and are committed to making safe cars for all. All the active systems cocoon you to safety and offer features like PRE-SAFE PLUS anticipates a rear-end collision beforehand to tighten up the seatbelts, adjusting seats amongst other precautions. While the NHTSA is yet to crash test the 2020 C-Class yet, the IIHS has awarded it with “Top Safety Pick+” accolade for the 2020 model year for performing extremely well in their tests. Standout safety features are as follows:

• Active brake assist with cross-traffic function
• Attention assist
• Crosswind assist
• Active blind-spot assist
• Active lane keeping assist and Active lane change assist
• PRE-SAFE PLUS & PRE-SAFE Sound
• Evasive steering assist
• Front Collision Mitigation
• Back-Up Camera

2020 Mercedes-Benz C 300 vs 2020 Audi A4 40 TFSI

Against the C 300, the Audi A4 is a decent contender from the same origin, but it only leads the pack on the technological front with all its bells and whistles and isn’t a complete package in itself as it has the weakest engine on offer. Mercedes is still better in terms of practicality with more cargo space and luxurious interiors.

2020 Mercedes-Benz C 300 vs 2020 BMW 330i

This is a fight where two worthy opponents are pitted against each other and it all boils down to personal preference, here the dynamic department is led by the BMW because of its fun and engaging driving character, with more range in the city as well as highways and a better boot. But where the C 300 excels at the other end of the spectrum providing better comfort with superior ride quality and plush interiors where most features are available as standard.

2020 Mercedes-Benz C 300 vs 2020 Jaguar XE 25t

The Jaguar XE exceeds the Mercedes engineering in terms of fuel efficiency but the C 300 counters with a higher capacity fuel tank and takes the center stage with its driver assistance features like Active Lane Assist, Blind Spot Monitoring, and much more. Also worth mentioning is the effortless shifting of the 9G Tronic 9 Speed Automatic transmission against the laggy 8 speed ZF gearbox.

The new Mercedes-Benz C 300 is an entry-level luxury offering from the star-studded brand of Stuttgart but with the learnings and technologies trickled down from the much expensive S-Class and E-Class it feels like a class ahead in its class. With a brilliant engine offering, balanced driving dynamics, and plush interiors, a long list of standard features, and one of the best AWD in the form of 4Matic on offer the C-Class should not be overlooked and it is something one should consider when looking for a luxury sedan.