Our Opinion - 2024 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Review The 2024 Mercedes-Benz C-class is smaller and more sporty than the top S-class, but it offers the same experience in a smaller, less expensive car. The seats and door panels are made of high-end materials, and the high-end screens are just one of the many things that make the interior so luxurious. The C300 is a sports car that handles well and has a strong, smooth turbo four that makes 255 horsepower. Not quite right, though. The BMW 3-series and Audi A4 are better on the road than the C-class, and the ride quality and driving feel could be better. However, none of these problems take away from the C300’s general sense of being unique and brilliant. If you want to get the most out of your driving experience, think about the Mercedes-AMG C43 or C63 models, which we have reviewed separately. What's New? By 2024, the C300 car will come standard with SiriusXM satellite radio, parking sensors, and a wireless charging spot for smartphones. We will discuss the new CLE class separately, but it has replaced the coupe and convertible types from the previous year that were removed from the market. Pros and Cons Pros Beautiful pattern on the outside and inside. Classy and cozy. Rear seat with lots of space. Cons It’s boring to drive a C300. The cabin doesn’t seem as expensive as it is. The AMG C63’s engine has less power now. Engine, Transmission, and Performance All C-class cars have a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that makes 255 horsepower. The name “C300” is stamped on the trunk lid of each car. A 48-volt hybrid system that can make up to 20 horsepower for a short time works with the turbo four to make it better. All-wheel drive is still a choice, but rear-wheel drive is what most cars come with. A nine-speed automatic gearbox is the only choice. The all-wheel-drive C300 4Matic beat the old C-class by 0.1 seconds in our tests, going from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.3 seconds. The driving is quick, as you’d expect from a small sports car, but the rough ride and lack of steering feel let us down. The C300 could stop from 70 mph in just 154 feet, which is great, but we would have liked the pedals to feel stronger. Safety The C-class from Mercedes comes with a lot of basic driving assistance systems. However, the most advanced technology still needs to be standard. For example, an adaptive cruise control system that uses navigation data to change the speed of the car before curves and roundabouts still need to be standard. You can find out more about the C-class crash test findings on the websites of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Some important safety factors are: Most emergency brakes that work on their own can tell who is on the road. There is a lane departure indicator and a lane-keeping aid. You can get adaptive speed control that can center your car in its lane. Internal and External Cargo Capacity The luxurious cabin of the C-class is the same as the flagship S-class, which is bigger. Touch-sensitive controls, a digital gauge display, and a number of other useful features are built into all models. Many high-end features are standard in Mercedes cars. These include heated front seats with memory settings, a sunroof, open-pore wood trim, and aluminum details. The new model has a steering wheel that looks just like the one in the S-class. The C-class is about 2.5 inches longer and has a wheelbase that is an inch longer than the last model. Mercedes-Benz says this gives the backseat more space, but it only makes a little difference. Fuel Economy and Actual MPG A C-class car with rear-wheel drive should get up to 25 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway, according to the EPA. Adding all-wheel drive drops those numbers by two mpg each, to 24 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway. The all-wheel-drive C300 4Matic got 35 miles per gallon in our highway test at 75 mph, which was better than its highway estimate. Infotainment and Connectivity Three round air vents are on the upper dashboard, and a huge 11.9-inch multimedia screen that is positioned vertically from the center panel sweeps up toward them. With the latest version of Mercedes’ MBUX infotainment system installed, the touchscreen is slightly tilted toward the driver to make it easier to use while driving. The system includes a voice-activated digital assistant, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and internet connectivity through a Wi-Fi hotspot. All versions come with a 12.3-inch digital gauge screen, a wireless charging pad for smartphones, and a fingerprint reader that checks the driver’s personalized profile to make sure memory settings are correct. A Burmester surround-sound stereo system, ambient lights, and a head-up display are all extras that can be added. Price and How to Choose We’d choose the C300 sedan from the most recent generation of C-class cars. There are now three trim levels for the sedan: Premium, Exclusive, and Pinnacle. These levels combine popular features. People think that the Exclusive trim is the best deal. There are still upgrades like a panoramic sunroof, GPS, the sporty-looking AMG Line package, and more. All-wheel drive costs an extra $2,000 when you add 4Matic.
