Merc1

ERIK JOHNSON

I really liked the flip-out COMAND screen—COMAND just gets easier and more intuitive to use with every iteration, by the way—and nicely laid-out central stack, but I was severely disappointed in the quality of the interior materials in the new C-class. The soft-touch material used for the dash and much of the center console had an oily, shiny sheen to it that completely overshadowed the attractive interior design.
SCOTT MOSHER

Sorry M-B, but driving-wise this C-class is still no 3-series. On the flip side, can you sell BMW the COMAND system? COMAND is so intuitive in comparison to iDrive; the contrasting brown and beige colors are soothing to look at and the menus are oh-so-easy to scan through. I seemed to naturally find my way through the various menus.

The grains of the interior plastics look cheap and mimic those found in the base M-class. By and large, it seems the general rule that Mercedes does full-size luxury sedans well and BMW does entry-level luxury sedans well is still quite true.

One last thought: Do I see a hint of the Chrysler Sebring in the C-pillar? I hope not but, after all, they were conceived from the same parents.

DAVE VANDERWERP

I like the design direction the sleek new C-class (with either the Luxury or Sport front fascia) has taken, although it’s not particularly good looking from behind. The base 228-hp V-6 provides adequate power (the C300 will run to 60 mph in the high-six-second range) but doesn’t sound invigorating doing so.

A nice touch is the spring-loaded trunk, which makes hands-full popping easy with the key fob—no expensive, motorized option needed. The COMAND driver interface, a slight evolution on the S-class’s system, is easy to wade through and the screen that folds out of the dash is always easy to decipher. The dash itself, however, looks a bit low-rent in this entry-luxury category, while the seats are too firm for my taste and headroom is marginal with the optional sunroof.

The throttle, brakes, and steering are all tuned for straight-line comfort instead of back-road friskiness which still makes the BMW 3-series the obvious choice for enthusiasts like us.

JON YANCA

To be quite frank, I had high hopes for the new C-class, but from the moment I sat inside our C300 Luxury with its economy-grade interior plastics, my thoughts of a true BMW 3-series competitor evaporated. I kept looking around thinking, “this is the luxury package!” I was further disappointed with the driving experience. The C300 lacks power as well as road feel, which led to a lackluster experience. I really do like the COMAND media interface system, but that's about all I can praise. If you have never driven a BMW 328i, then perhaps you will like this car, but in no way does the C300 even compare in my mind. Maybe the more powerful C350 Sport will remedy some of my complaints.

MIKE DUSHANE

The styling is a bit overdone for my taste, and the Luxury version I drove rode on some pathetic looking wheels. But I can’t argue with how the car drives—it feels like a Mercedes should with a nice ride, heavy but accurate steering, and an overall feeling of carved-from-granite solidity. This Luxury version of the new C-class isn’t a wannabe BMW 3-series; it’s more relaxed and a better choice for those who favor comfort over handling prowess. I also drove a Sport version of the C-class, and it’s less convincing; it loses the relaxed feeling of the luxury model but isn’t as dialed in as a BMW. If I could get the luxury model with decent wheels, I’d have my ideal C-class.


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An old article, but I just happen to stumble upon this section of Car and Driver's website. Basically an editor's page on cars in their test fleet, but not a formal roadtest. This section is called "Whats in our driveways this week". Kinda sorta the same thing Autoweek does.


M