Overall Rating
Tijo Tenson Content Writer Updated on: December 8, 2019
The automobile was a reminiscence of luxury during the early days. We have surely come a long way after that. The market has become so competent that luxury has crept into the likes of affordability.
Healthy feature list
Optional features will leave you spoilt for choices
Usage of premium materials in the cabin
Eager and responsive gearbox
Poor cargo space
Infotainment System is confusing to use
Not the most involving to drive
10.25-inch High Res infotainment Display is standard now
Blind-Spot Monitoring is also standard
$41400
4dr Sedan
5
RWD
121 cu.in.
255 hp @ 5800 rpm
273 lbs.-ft. @ 1800 rpm
9 speed shiftable automatic
Unibody
Independent front strut suspension w/anti-roll bar
Independent rear multi-link suspension w/anti-roll bar
61.5/60.9
111.8 in.
184.5 in.
71.3 in.
56.3 in.
3472 lbs.
3.8 in.
12.6 cu ft.
6.3 sec.
24/28/35 mpg
417.6 mi.
609 mi.
4 yr./ 50000 mi.
4 yr./ 50000 mi.
4 yr. / 50000 mi.
4 yr. / 50000 mi.
Vehicle images are guides only and may not reflect the model's exact specifications/features– exact specifications/features should be confirmed with the seller.
Fuel Economy
Interior
Exterior
8.2
OVERALL RATING
$41,400 - $43,400
Style | Prices | MPG | Engine | Transmission | Drivetrain | Seats | Colors |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
C 300 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 9A) | Starting at $41,400 MSRP | (24/28/35) | 255hp @ 5800 rpm, 2 L, inline 4, premium unleaded | 9-speed shiftable automatic | rear wheel drive | 5 | |
C 300 4MATIC 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 9A) | Starting at $43,400 MSRP | (23/26/33) | 255hp @ 5800 rpm, 2 L, inline 4, premium unleaded | 9-speed shiftable automatic | all wheel drive | 5 |
Overall Rating
Affordable luxury sedan category is the most fought out segment in the Automotive industry today. It is the stepping stone for consumers who want to have a taste of luxury cars. The 2020 Mercedes-Benz C-Class is one such sedan that combines exploitable power and luxury to give a polished experience. It is powered by a 2.0L turbocharged inline four-pot which produces a healthy 255 horses and 273 pound-feet.
The $41,400 luxury sedan takes on the likes of its long-time rivals BMW 3-Series sedan, Audi A4 and Lexus IS 300 and fight it out for the best overall luxury experience.
8.5/10
Fuel Economy
9.0/10
Interior
7.0/10
Exterior
The 2020 Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan is offered in one wholesome trim which is available in either rear-wheel or all-wheel drive. There is only a marginal bump between the two as the rear-wheel-drive is $41,400 and the 4MATIC is $43,400.
Both the cars are powered by a potent 2.0L turbocharged inline four-pot which provides the juice needed without any hiccups. The C-Class has a very healthy set of standard features available which adds more value to it. But Merc has provided with more optional packages than standard to spoil you with choices.
Trims |
C 300 |
---|---|
MSRP(RWD) |
$41,400 |
MSRP (AWD) |
$43,400 |
Engine |
2.0L Turbo I4 |
Features |
ECO Start/Stop System |
Dynamic driving mode selection |
|
AMG body Styling |
|
Active Brake Assist |
|
Attention Assist |
|
10.25-inch Hi-Res Infotainment Display |
|
Mercedes-Benz Emergency Call |
|
Power front seats with driver's seat memory |
|
Steering Wheel with Touch Control Buttons |
|
Paddle Shifters |
Apart from the standard features, Mercedes-Benz offers the C-Class with seven optional packages that focus on aesthetics, creature comfort and assistance features. These packages add more character and exclusivity to the car and lets you make your car unique, right from the factory.
Package Name |
AMG Line |
AMG Line w/ Night |
Exterior Lighting |
Premium |
Multimedia |
Parking Assistance |
Driver Assistance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MSRP |
$2000 |
$2400 |
$900 |
$1500 |
$1250 |
$1150 |
$1700 |
Features |
AMG body styling |
All the features in the AMG line added and: |
LED Intelligent light system |
64-color LED ambient lighting |
COMAND navigation |
Active Parking Assist |
Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC |
18-inch AMG alloy wheels |
Gloss black exterior accents |
Adaptive high-beam assist |
Illuminated front door sills |
Touchpad controller |
Surround View System |
Active Steering Assist |
|
Chrome diamond-block grille |
Burmester Surround Sound System |
No-charge online navigation map updates for three years |
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert |
Evasive Steering Assist |
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Sport suspension and steering |
SiriusXM with 6-months All Access trial |
Car-to-X communications |
Active Brake Assist with Cross-Traffic Function |
||||
Sport brake system |
Enhanced voice control |
Congestion Emergency Braking |
|||||
AMG line interior with sport front seats |
3 years of Live Traffic service provided by TomTom |
Active Emergency Stop Assist |
|||||
Sport Steering wheel |
Active Speed Limit Assist |
||||||
Brushed aluminum pedals |
Active Lane Keeping Assist |
||||||
Active Blind Spot Assist |
|||||||
Active Lane Change Assist |
|||||||
PRE-SAFE PLUS |
|||||||
Route based Speed Adaptation |
|||||||
Extended Restart in Stop-and-Go Traffic |
Which Luxury trim should you go for?
We recommend you to go for the all-wheel-drive variant for added traction and better driving dynamics. Now, the packages are all very tempting but we can’t have everything, can we? So, we recommend you to opt for the Driver Assistance and Premium package for all the active safety features and the quirky infotainment system. All of this for $46,600 and it won’t burn a hole in your wallet.
C-Class sedan is powered by a 2.0L turbocharged inline-four motor which pumps out 255 hp and 273-pound-feet of torque. The power has substantially been bumped up from last year and it helps in increased top speed.
The engine is coupled to a very responsive 9-Speed Automatic transmission which pulls the car quickly and it won’t flicker while overtaking on highways. The vehicle responds proactively to the driver’s inputs and there is no turbo-lag as well. Then again, the C-Class is a linear machine that doesn’t push you into the seat with its power but has a comfortable and luxurious approach to it. The bland exhaust note makes it a tad uninspiring to drive.
Models |
Mercedes-Benz C-Class C 300 (RWD) |
Lexus IS 300 Base (RWD) |
Audi A4 Titanium (AWD)* |
BMW 3-Series 330i (RWD) |
---|---|---|---|---|
MSRP |
$41,400 |
$38,560 |
$42,000 |
$40,750 |
Engine |
2.0L Turbo I4 |
2.0L Turbo I4 |
2.0L Turbo I4 |
2.0L Turbo I4 |
Transmission |
9-Speed Automatic |
8-Speed Automatic |
7-Speed Automatic |
8-Speed Automatic |
Horsepower |
255 hp @5800 rpm |
241 hp @5800 rpm |
248 hp @5000 rpm |
255 hp @ 5000 rpm |
Torque |
273 lb-ft @1800 rpm |
258 lb-ft @1650 rpm |
273 lb-ft @ 1600 rpm |
295 lb-ft @ 1550 rpm |
Then again, the C-Class is a linear machine that doesn’t push you into the seat with its power but has a comfortable and luxurious approach to it. All of the competition is powered by a 2.0L turbocharged engine which helps all of them to settle under the same radar. In fact, the bimmer produces the same power and slightly more torque. Lexus is the least powerful of the lot. The power delivery also varies among the lot due to the different transmission setups.
Acceleration is linear and it does 0-60 in an impressive 5.7 seconds which is pretty good for a rear-wheel-drive car. The precise gear ratios help the engine retain its power throughout without lagging and thus provide a quicker drive.
As the torque comes in as low as 1800 RPM, you will not have an issue in overtakes and the car will move without any lag. The 4MATIC variant has a similar character with the added benefit of all-wheel-drive and added cornering control.
Models |
Mercedes-Benz C-Class C 300 (RWD) |
Lexus IS 300 Base (RWD) |
Audi A4 Titanium (AWD)* |
BMW 3-Series 330i (RWD) |
---|---|---|---|---|
0-60 MPH |
5.7 s |
6.9 s |
5.6 s |
5.6 s |
Quarter mile |
14.1 s |
N/A |
14.4 s |
14.0 s |
Emission (Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15k mi/yr) |
5.2 |
6.0 |
5.4 |
4.9 |
The Merc is just behind the A4 with a difference of 0.1 seconds in the 0-60 run. Bimmer also has the same time at 5.6 seconds. The soundtracks of Audi A4 and BMW 330i are much more impressive than the Merc. Lexus fares last because of the least power and torque figures.
The C-Class is a posh ride that transports you comfortably. The suspension setup takes care of all the imperfections on the road. Road and wind noise are well insulated and the cabin is quiet, with the upmarket interior making it a luxurious experience.
C-Class has four distinctive driving modes, namely, Eco, Comfort, Sport, and Sport+ which change the driving characteristics accordingly. Eco and Comfort modes focus on passenger comfort and offer a plush ride whereas you get a stiffened suspension and a more responsive throttle and steering. It still doesn’t provide you with the zeal as the bimmer which is a much better driving car.
The brakes are responsive with all-around-disc brakes providing enough bite to get you safely out of any situation with the active brake assist. Electronic brake distribution makes sure that you get a seamless response from all the rotors.
The front rotors are one of the largest of the lot which helps in calmly bringing the sedan to halt. The brake pedal has an impressive response which doesn’t take time getting used to.
Models |
Mercedes-Benz C-Class C 300 (RWD) |
Lexus IS 300 Base (RWD) |
Audi A4 Titanium (AWD)* |
BMW 3-Series 330i (RWD) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Brake Front (in.) |
13.0 |
13.1 |
12.4 |
12.3 |
Brake Rear (in.) |
11.8 |
12.2 |
11.8 |
11.4 |
60-0 MPH (ft) |
124 |
125 |
N/A |
103 |
*2019 data used for comparison purpose
As per the available data, C-Class is the quickest from 60-0 MPH. This is mostly because of it being the lightest of the lot. Lexus IS 300 follows with a marginal difference in stopping distance. Audi A4 and BMW 330i will incidentally take more time to come to halt due to the comparatively heavier bodies.
C-Class provides good EPA numbers with a combined MPG of 28. The all-wheel-drive variant will suffer a bit but still manages to provide 24/35/29 for city/highway/combined. The precise 9-Speed Automatic transmission is responsible for providing us with these numbers.
The engine is not allowed to be stressed and thus facilitates in above-average figures. But then the curb weight limits it from performing better. Mercedes-Benz has equipped the C-Class with a large 17.4-gallon fuel tank which helps it provide the best range of the lot.
Models |
Mercedes-Benz C-Class C 300 (RWD) |
Lexus IS 300 Base (RWD) |
Audi A4 Titanium (AWD)* |
BMW 3-Series 330i (RWD) |
---|---|---|---|---|
MPG (city) |
24 |
21 |
23 |
26 |
MPG (highway) |
35 |
30 |
34 |
36 |
MPG (combined) |
28 |
24 |
27 |
30 |
Fuel Tank Capacity (Gal.) |
17.4 |
17.4 |
15.3 |
15.6 |
Range (City/Highway) |
418/609 |
365/522 |
352/520 |
406/562 |
*2019 data used for comparison purpose
Audi does an impressive job of returning a combined 27 MPG despite being the heaviest of the lot. BMW is in the spotlight here with better overall EPA figures.
2020 C-Class flaunts, unarguably the most premium interior in its class. We do not need to talk about the build quality as Mercedes-Benz always nails it. The cabin is clearly laid out and therein lies the beauty. You are treated to an airy cabin unlike clustered ones like in other cars of this class. But the rear seats if comfortable are devoid of headroom which is a bummer. Three people are out of question here.
The seats are ergonomic and gives ample support in both the rows. The materials used are of the utmost quality and are devoid of any defects. A 10.25-inch infotainment screen is positioned high up at the center of the dashboard, which might look odd, but we kinda dig it as it gives it a floating appearance.
Models |
Mercedes-Benz C-Class C 300 (RWD) |
Lexus IS 300 Base (RWD) |
Audi A4 Titanium (AWD)* |
BMW 3-Series 330i (RWD) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.) |
37.1/55.3/41.7 |
38.2/55.9/44.8 |
38.9/55.9/41.3 |
38.7/56.0/42.0 |
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.) |
37.1/55.0/35.2 |
36.9/53.4/32.2 |
37.4/54.5/35.7 |
37.6/54.6/35.2 |
*2019 data used for comparison purpose
The seats in C-Class are not spacious of the lot as its competition provides for a more airy experience. But the extremely supportive seats will forgive the space constraint. Lexus IS 300 has the most spacious front row whereas the most comfortable rear seats are in the BMW 330i.
Mercedes-Benz has given a lot of effort in providing a quirky experience. The standard setup is good and provides all the modern features and ticks most of the boxes. But we wish Apple CarPlay and Android Auto was free instead of being paid.
The Burmester Surround Sound System available with the Premium package is the takeaway part here as it actively uses the chassis of the vehicle to amplify bass and produce a more natural experience. The steering wheel has touch-sensitive buttons which, well becomes addictive after some time.
Cargo space is satisfactory as 12.6 cubic feet is not much. The opening is also not wide and restricts loading and unloading. Foldable rear seats are a relief as it folds flat to provide you with added storage space.
Hooks and straps are provided to hold smaller or fragile items in place. The rear center armrest can alone go down to access the cargo compartment. The space is not half bad as two suitcases can fit in with ease.
Models |
Mercedes-Benz C-Class C 300 (RWD) |
Lexus IS 300 Base (RWD) |
Audi A4 Titanium (AWD)* |
BMW 3-Series 330i (RWD) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cargo Volume (cu.-ft) |
12.6 |
10.8 |
13.0 |
17.0 |
*2019 data used for comparison purpose
But that's about it and you should not expect much from the cargo space. BMW, on the other hand, provides the best cargo volume in the lot with 17 cubic feet. Lexus has the least and Audi A4 comes in close with the Merc at 13.0 cubic feet.
The 2020 C-Class is still sport with design clues shared with AMG line models. The front and rear fascia gets a mild yet noticeable update with bolder creases in the front bumper and a splitter like design at the rear. It now rides on 18-inch AMG alloy wheels which goes well with the car.
The all-LED headlamps and taillamps are standard and are a reminiscence of the C-Class. Available AMG line packages adds a lot more sportiness to the C-Class with a redesigned grille and AMG-line alloy wheels. The tapering roofline gives it a coupe-like body line that looks good but steals the headroom off the second row.
2020 C-Class is available in a total of 10 exterior color options but only has two standard options. The others are priced at a flat $720. There are two premium colors on offer: Designo Cardinal Red Metallic at $1,080 and Designo Diamond White Metallic at a heavy $1,515. We bet, you can’t get more unique than that!
Models |
Mercedes-Benz C-Class C 300 (RWD) |
Lexus IS 300 Base (RWD) |
Audi A4 Titanium (AWD)* |
BMW 3-Series 330i (RWD) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Length (in) |
184.5 |
184.3 |
186.1 |
185.7 |
Width (in) |
71.3 |
71.3 |
72.5 |
71.9 |
Height (in) |
56.3 |
56.3 |
56.2 |
56.8 |
Ground clearance (in) |
3.8 |
5.3 |
N/A |
5.7 |
Wheelbase (in) |
111.8 |
110.2 |
111.0 |
112.2 |
Track width (in) F/R |
61.5/60.9 |
60.4/61.0 |
61.9/61.2 |
62.3/63.0 |
Curb weight (lbs) |
3472 |
3583 |
3627 |
3589 |
*2019 data used for comparison purpose
Audi A4 is the longest of the lot by a margin and so is the difference in length among the lot. C-Class is the lowest with just 3.8 inches of ground clearance which favors high-speed maneuverability. All of the cars have more or less the same dimensions which makes it a tight fight. But the A4 weighs in at the most which steals off its performance. C-Class being the lightest makes it the most nimble of the lot.
Safety is top-notch on the C-Class as apart from the basic features, it also has a host of standard driver-assist features. The crash test results are not out yet but as there are minimal changes from last year, it should bag a top score of Good in all the measures.
The ATTENTION ASSIST feature is very useful as it monitors the driver and warns of drowsiness, a boon for long gruesome travels when we seldom rest. Apart from the standard list, you can also choose from an array of optional active and passive features.
The Japanese counterpart is a worthy opponent which has a well-isolated cabin that gives more weight for occupancy comfort and provides the best value for money proposition in terms of the feature list. It is a comfortable ride that goes uninterrupted over uneven surfaces. But Lexus’s best is not enough to topple the German as C-Class provides us with a much better-performing car which is high on features and the luxury offered is a class above. We choose the German over the Jap.
The friendly neighbor has all the right boxes ticked. It even provides a more comfortable second-row than the C-Class. The infotainment is easy to use unlike the Merc and cabin has a lot of modern design elements. But then again it fails to provide the fine balance which the C-Class treats us with and is underpowered as well. We would choose Merc over the Audi.
You can call the BMW 330i, the Merc’s twin as it has almost the same performance figures and are more or less the same in external dimensions. But things start to change underneath as the bimmer provides you with a more well-planned cabin and much more cargo space. It has a similarly specced cabin with all the latest gizmos to entertain you. The bimmer looks much sharper and drives much better than the C-Class. It costs a bit less as well. This is a tough one but we would go with the Merc for the complete experience it provides.
The 2020 Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan is a complete car. It has the perfect blend of performance, driving dynamics, and well built luxurious interior. We have better driving machines in the Audi A4 and BMW 330i, but for a sedan that fights it out in the commuter category, driving is not the only criterion that counts. Merc excels in all aspects and rewards you with a well-polished car that is much more luxurious than the competition. We would have loved for a more comfortable second-row seating but nothing can be 100 percent perfect and the C-Class is the closest one to it.