The first word that comes to mind regarding how the 2022 Mercedes-Benz C300 rolls down the road is confidence. He encouraged me to give it another go on my drive home the next morning. It's a sweet little engine for the most part. Get Hotcars Premium. Mercedes calls this a cab backward design, meaning the windshield and passenger compartment have been shifted further back than in previous models. Now there's a totally new C-Class yet again, and it's even more worthy of the baby S-Class descriptor. No need to turn in twice after misjudging things. It's been offered with six-cylinder cars from Mercedes for a few years now, and here, it works just as brilliantly. When the fourth-generation Mercedes-Benz C-Class debuted in 2013 it was dubbed a baby S-Class thanks to its class-above interior design and refinement. The C300 4MATIC is a sporty sedan, not a sport sedan (a title I reserve for vehicles with more power and aggressive suspension tuning). There are no adaptive dampers here, instead sport-tuned conventional passive units that are a good tradeoff between comfort and attentive, sharp handling. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io, Audi E-Tron, Take Me to My Nuclear Bunker, The 911 Sport Classic Is Porsche's Greatest Hits, The Lucid Air Grand Touring Performance Astounds, The iX Isn't Like Any BMW, Past or Present, The Genesis G80 Drives Like a Vintage BMW, The Ferrari 296 GTB Is an Obedient Cruise Missile, Lamborghini Huracn Tecnica Is a Streetable STO, The 2022 Mercedes C300 Is Surprisingly Sporty. While the 4Matic all-wheel drive system isnt the type to persuade into some fun, tail-out rascality, it did keep the rear-end planted down nicely in sharp, quick left-right successions of twisty Santa Ana Mountain roads. Though, with a light foot rolling down a mostly flat stretch of Californias I-5 freeway through northern San Diego County, I saw as much as 36 MPG. Ultimate performance is not a primary objective, yet driving dynamics must be world-class and uncompromised. This packages Burmester 3D Sound System absolutely excelled and provided excellent sound clarity. Thats because Mercedes engine utilizes a 48-volt integrated starter-generator with lithium-ion battery that adds up to an additional 20 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque to assist with acceleration. Steering the car in Comfort mode, on the highway, the effort was light in that familiar Mercedes way. My main gripe centered around the volume control. If you really want to go all-out, you can also display your navigation instructions on the 12.3-inch digital dash display. There are plenty of cool turbo noises at low speeds, but otherwise the C300's engine sounds a little noisy and rough like most other 2.0Ts on the market. My hands lightly on the wheel and feet hovering over the brake, I let the car do its thing. The C300 offers great handling, comfort, and fuel economy. Mercedes-Benz is an innovator, leader, and its products are universally respected. Also included in this package is a Head-Up-Display (HUD), which projects detailed navigation instructions into the drivers line of sight on the windshield. As a result, the chassis stood out as a comfortable cruiser in the best Mercedes tradition but could handle the backroad dance with equal ease. None of this is necessarily surprising. The added 20 hp and 148 lb-ft of torque from the EV boost were most apparent when getting into the throttle at low rpm; that was especially appreciated since this is the first C-Class to feature a four-cylinder as its sole engine offering. There are some super cool details like the repeating star pattern in the grille and the LED taillights' graphics. The interior plays into a much higher-end segment than what the BMW 3 Series or Audi A4 currently offer, and provides a modern, luxurious feel. Every C-Class comes standard with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a fingerprint sensor for controlling driver profiles and the "Hey, Mercedes" voice assistant. While it's a bit sportier as denoted by the Power Red/Black Leather interior, this doesnt mean cramped or featuring seats with intrusive bolsters. The chassis felt attentive and confident through flowing mountain-top roads. It's not hard to find other cheap interior materials, if you go poking around, not that this impacts the functionality of the C-Class. There's not much to say about the C-Class' MBUX operating system that hasn't already been covered. My favorite new input was automatically configuring an almost-perfect seating position for my height. and 295 lb-ft of torque. In "Sport" the steering is a bit too artificially heavy which is true of virtually every car that has adjustable-weight steering though there's an "Individual" mode that can be configured to pair light steering with sharper engine/transmission response. This is just one of many upsides to the W206 that make it a great commuter and road trip rig. Still, the car feels solid, and even the worst bumps don't send a judder through the structure. Everything is tuned for low- and mid-range torque, and the C300 feels very strong up to around 5500 rpm. I switched back to analog driving until I had a better feel for when and how to use the assistance features. It was alarming, but I place the blame on myself. What else would you expect from Mercedes? If the C300s basic chassis and suspension design is anything to go by, the far more performance-oriented, rear-wheel drive 2023 Mercedes-AMG C43 should be quite good. This 48-volt system, which consists of an integrated starter-generator mounted at the back of the engine, does away with belt-driven accessories and can actually provide an additional 20 horsepower and 148 lb-ft of torque to help mitigate turbo lag. It is downright gorgeous in design, execution, materials, and fit and finish. Upon first glance, this Polar White W206 Mercedes-Benz C300 doesnt look a whole lot different from the W205. The turbine-like round HVAC vents deserve special mention as they deliver abundant airflow, are easy to position, and the center knob allows everyone to tell if they are open or close at a glance. An air suspension is no longer an option and adaptive dampers aren't on the menu either, but I don't find myself missing these features. Is It Better To Lease Or Buy A Car In Summer 2022? With a hand rested on the bottom of the wheel, not manipulating the input, the DISTRONIC and lane-keeping systems did a truly impressive job driving the car under 40 mph. For the vast majority of consumers after a solid array of technology and luxury for the 2022 C300s sub-$60,000 price range, its plenty. As expected, the various settings alter the engine responsiveness, steering effort, throttle sensitivity, and transmission shift speed. One quick initial jab at the brake pedal reveals that this thing isnt engineered for lateral and longitudinal G-force enthusiasm. 
In person, it's a different story. It looks good. You might not have realized Mercedes has a new C-Class. The all-new 2022 C-Class sedan, completely redesigned this year, has just emerged as the new compact luxury sedan benchmark. Then, having the C300s 12.3-inch instrument cluster straight in front was also quite welcoming and easy to configure, and you can navigate it through the steering wheel controls. Some buyers won't like that the ride isn't totally plush across broken surfaces, and around 25-35 mph, there are plenty of bad roads that just feel unpleasant here. I quickly scrolled through Comfort menus, and changed a slider to input my exact height. Mercedes-Benz has done more like the latter, and slowly refined its various product lines. Of course, that's a strong validation. During some traffic-choked commuting hell, I wanted to try out the latest Mercedes DISTRONIC system, also known as adaptive-cruise, with new-for-the-C-Class additional lane-keeping technology. PwC Cloud and Digital Transformation BrandVoice, How To Earn Cash Rewards For Everyday Spending. Later on, I asked Mercedes-Benz Product Manager Paul Harmon when and how to take full advantage of the L2 driver-assistance features. However, the independent suspension does not utilize adaptive dampers, so the ride is unaffected. However, for 2022, the Stuttgart brand recently unveiled its brand-new C-Class, signifying a changing of the arms with a new generation code known as W206. I didnt have high expectations, however. Peter Nelson is a freelance automotive journalist based in Southern California. There's a lot more visual drama than the old C-Class, and the steeply angled sharknose front is especially striking. Especially from a rear-quarter angle, it really does look like a smaller S-Class. Trying out as many features as I could while we dawdled along some slow roads, I found almost everything ergonomic and easy to use. 2022 Forbes Media LLC. Sitting longitudinally between the front wheels of the 2022 Mercedes C300 is the three-pointed stars turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, internally coded as the M254 E20. The driver faces a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel directly behind the three-spoke steering wheel. While its overall shape and curb weight are on the larger side, Mercedes did a good job making it look more slender and athletic, too. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking toAmazon.comand affiliated sites. The ride is pleasingly firm, not harsh, and there's a sophistication to the way the C300 goes down the road. This car had optional double-pane glass, which helps keep tire and wind noise down all the better for enjoying this top-of-the-line model's Burmester surround sound system. For those in the know, this follows a proud, long-lasting history. 
The Mercedes-Benz C-Class has been around since 1993, or in layman terms, forever. Compared to the outgoing C-Class the new model has a 1-inch longer wheelbase and is 2.5 inches longer overall. Mercedes-Benz has also fitted the C-Class with the latest safety tools. Opting for 4Matic all-wheel drive increases the cost by $2000, while the AMG Line package is a little steep at $3050. RELATED: Which Is Best? The 2022 C-Class' chassis is not just better than the outgoing car's, it's a cut above pretty much every competitor in terms of ride quality. Equipped here with the AMG Line package which brings a number of visual tweaks in addition to a 15mm drop in ride height, upgraded brakes, and retuned steering and gorgeous 19-inch multispoke wheels, this C300 is a very handsome car. Passengers in front will look forward to the seats, which have been sculpted to hold occupants snugly and comfortably. All C300 models are fitted with a 9-speed automatic transmission. The biggest changes are the wider grille and horizontal taillights, and creases and prominent surfacing elements have been kept to a minimum. Powering through some properly twisty patches of pavement, putting the improved 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system to work over sandy and rutted patches of dry creek beds, the chassis was more than competent. It has an excellent ride quality for everyday driving, and does a great job ironing out rougher road-surfaces. 255-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4 engine with EQ Boost, Mercedes-Benz equips the C300 with a turbocharged, 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder combustion engine rated at 255 horsepower. The chassis is vaultlike, and the tires effortlessly roll over bumps and imperfections in the road surface. The biggest issue with how the old C-Class drove was the ride quality and the new car fixes that. The cabin of the new C-Class is stunning it could easily be mistaken for that of an S-Class. There's not a ton of detailed feel, but the weighting is very precise, especially as you wind back to center, and the rack is very accurate. On some nice roads, I found myself using the wheel-mounted paddle shifters to keep the engine in its ideal range, though the gearbox does a fine job left to its own devices. It offers major value, and it's good enough to make the larger E-Class feel a bit irrelevant. Driving this car was a pleasant experience, like going to brunch is a pleasant experience. An all-new standard Integrated Starter Generator adds an electrical motor system to the drivetrain. It takes all but five minutes behind the wheel of the all-new 2022 Mercedes-Benz C300 4MATIC to confirm my suspicions Mercedes-Benz is currently engineering the world's finest passenger vehicles. Technology, performance and design delivered to your inbox. 2022 CNET, a Red Ventures company. Mercedes' augmented-reality navigation is available, but while a head-up display is also optional, the C-Class sadly does without the huge AR HUD offered in the S-Class. Simply put, the Augmented Video For Navigation felt clunky and unnecessary when presented with an HUD in my direct line of sight. Start your free trial today. NJ Allegedly Hunting Facebook For Illegal Diesels, Honda SUV Wrecks McLaren 570s on Woodward Ave, Ford Will Reveal Next-Gen Mustang in September, Vettel to Retire From F1 at End of 2022 Season, The 2023 Mercedes-AMG C43 Makes Over 400 HP, 2022 Mercedes-AMG SL: No More Mr. Nice Benz, 2022 Mercedes-AMG EQS Is Impressive, Intimidating, This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. I like my seating position more upright than most, so I brought the seat back a little more forward, but otherwise the fit was great. The C-Class is also available with basically every safety feature from the S-Class like automated emergency braking, lane-change assist, front and rear cross-traffic alert, active blind-spot assist, lane-keeping assist and adaptive cruise control with route-based speed and stop-and-go capabilities up to 35 mph. All the climate controls are at the bottom of the screen, and while getting rid of physical controls and putting functions on the screen is cost-cutting masquerading as being tech-forward, they work well. Standard equipment includes a driver monitoring system, pre-Safe forward collision preparation technology, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring with Exit Warning Assist. You just turn on the (optional) adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist and let the miles fly by. Rolls-Royce Is Testing Spectre EV On French Riviera (Because Of Course It Is), Tested: Three 2022 Hybrid Gas-Sippers From Lexus, Honda And Toyota, Back-To-Back, Future Tech Watch: Sono Motors Sion EV Is Covered In Solar Panels To Soak Up Free Power, The Unique Curtiss 1 Electric Motorcycle Is The Brough Superior Of The New Electric Age, EV Drivers Love That Quick Acceleration - And Thats Forcing Companies Like Pirelli To Rethink Tire Design, Mini Reveals Aceman EV Concept Ahead Of 2024 Production, General Motors EV Live Site Will Answer All Your Electric Car Queries, Rolls-Royces Latest Phantom Is The Most Imaginative Crafted Bespoke Collection. I told him I tested it driving fast on a congested highway with poor road markingsprobably the most challenging set of conditions. The front seats are plenty supportive and comfortable, though I wish they offered a massage function. Instead, it made a host of mild revisions throughout, from what propels it down the road to how it looks, that ensure its relevance and position as a solid entry-level modern luxury offering. The steering is sharper than before and though it has a bit of an on-center dead zone, it provides a nice amount of feedback. I hate constantly trying to slightly increase or decrease the volume. RELATED: These Are Our Favorite Features Of The 2007 Mercedes C63 AMG. While the C-Class is offered with rear-wheel-drive, the model I tested was equipped with electronic power-distributing all-wheel-drive (Mercedes-Benz brands it "4MATIC"). At just $150 extra, it's essential. On that note, the four-door is perfectly comfortable tackling a twisty canyon road, yet it will lose its composure if pushed too hard (initial blame is pointed at the all-season tires, as they are first to throw in the towel). 
A sweeping trim panel shaped like an airplane wing can be had in a number of different finishes, with my favorite being the matte wood with inset aluminum lines. Especially if you don't intend on going the luxury route with the 2023 Mercedes GLE Coupe. The lower, wider grill is accented by the thinner and wider headlights. Then, to bathe in luxury a bit further, I turned on the massage option. My favorite design elements are the new squircle air vents, which have a really nice tactile feel. Our tester came equipped with virtually everything, including $2590 worth of Napa leather, and stickered for $63,440. The C300s fuel economy bolsters this aspect, which is perhaps one its best benefits if you're thinking of buying the C-Class. During my drive, the 3,957-pound 4MATIC model indicated an average of 35.4 MPG during the highway portion of the testing, beating its EPA estimates. This torquey aluminum powerplant produces 255 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, identical to its 2.0-liter Bavarian rival, the B48, which lives in the 2022 BMW 230i Coupe. I swiped it until it stated six-foot-three-inches, and the seat reclined and changed position accordingly. Road & Track participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. What is surprising is the way that the C300 drives. You can choose any number of places to get a similar experience. Trust came quickly, and I was able to focus on other non-driving distractions. Open the doors and you're yet again met with the best interior in the segment, one that punches above its class. Our car experts choose every product we feature. Leaving Los Angeles, heading south in midday traffic on the 405, I took a moment to appreciate the stellar interior design of this new C-Class. The 11.9-inch center touchscreen display has excellent clarity and is a breeze to get used to after fiddling around with it for a few moments. It also replaces the engines accessory belts and allows for a complete gasoline engine shut-off during coasting. My C300 4Matic tester had a Sport+ mode that added a decibel or two more to the exhaust system and livened up throttle response. While the driver has the best seat in the house and the most accessible access to the technology, passengers will find the C300 an equally enjoyable and comfortable ride. My test car has the optional $2,000 all-wheel-drive system and there's virtually no understeer even when I push the C300 hard. It has always been a solid leg of the German mid-size sport sedan triumvirate, along with the BMW 3 Series and the Audi A4. 2022Recurrent Ventures. On the inside, its a very comfortable and welcoming environment. Blasting some recently liked songs through the Burmester sound system is an aural treat; crisp trebles and deep bass are perfect for drowning out my horrific singing voice. The second-row seats split and fold 40:20:40 for trunk access and additional utility. Mercedes-Benz has proven that slow and steady progression, as well as letting high-end luxury and tech appointments trickle down to entry-level models, is a solid recipe for success, and even when specd to nearly $60,000, is a great way to have a comfortable all-rounder. The 2.0-liter spins up with a complete lack of turbo lag. The fancy features don't stop there. Diving into tight corners, the brakes shone as a confidence-builder. The interior is an evolution of what's come before, and a reflection of Mercedes today. Thanks in part to hybrid assistance, the heavy sedan returns as high as 23 MPG city and 33 MPG highway. His bylines can be found on TheDrive.com, WindingRoad.com, WhichCar.com.au, and the Donut Media YouTube Channel. Those in the back seat will find room to sit behind six-footers without feeling cramped, although nobody wants to be the fifth passenger as the center cushion isn't molded for comfort. The 2022 C-Class' exterior design is evolutionary and slots in well with the rest of the Mercedes lineup, though while it's handsome, I wish it were less boring. Mercedes seems to take the Baby S-Class aspect of the C-Class seriously here, as with fully-independent suspension at all four corners plus sport suspension (as part of the AMG Line with Night Package) to tie it all together - its quite comfortable. Combined with the C-Class excellent ride and highway manners, its a brilliant cruiser in excess of 70 mph with plenty of passing power, making it an awesome road trip machine. Sadly, the brand killed the A-Class for the US market, including the riotous Mercedes AMG A35. Still, it does its job effectively, allows Mercedes to eliminate the heavy starter motor, and makes the start/stop system nearly transparent. Despite the size, the screen doesn't feel like tech overload, with a default "Zero Layer" menu system that permanently displays the navigation map with large shortcut controls for media, phone, and other car settings. Around town, the C300 is all the same, and helps isolate your back from less than ideal road conditions. So I did exactly that early the next morning as traffic slowed to a crawl on I-5 amid inevitable rush-hour congestion. It shouldn't be overlooked. Every new C-Class has a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and an 11.9-inch central touchscreen, the latter of which is nicely angled toward the driver. It might not please Mercedes traditionalists, but if you think the BMW 3 Series has gone soft, you'll like what you find. I did have one erroneous emergency auto-brake situation in traffic, which I believe was caused by following the car in front too closely, and an errant sun reflection from the front car. It was a revolutionary idea in the Eighties and today, it's what sets the C-Class apart from its competitors. Even if you don't have those optional assists, the C-Class is so easy to guide down the road. Follow this author to improve your content experience. My testers 9G-TRONIC 9-speed automatic transmission banged off shifts quite smoothly and effortlessly. Some of this is a problem of Mercedes' own making the company sells too many different models though it's equally a reflection on our current reality. Despite only having a little over a day with the 2022 Mercedes C300 4Matic during its Spring 2022 launch event, it was a fun and relaxing time spent getting to know its latest luxury, tech, performance, and looks. So definitely test drive C-Classes of various specs to see whether the ride is to your liking. C-Class seats feature Seat Kinetics to improve comfort. The 2022 C300 4MATIC follows the thread, with an extra helping of S-Class sauce to spruce it up. Top speed is limited to 130 mph, and this four-cylinder is currently the only engine available with the new C-Class, with an option to add the 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system for an additional $2,000 over the base price. Starting with the C-Class predecessor 190E, the idea behind this car has been, essentially, S-Class luxury in a compact package, executed to varying degrees of success. The 2022 Mercedes-Benz C300 is a premium compact luxury sedan targeting a young and affluent audience seeking a stylish, innovative, safe, and technically advanced sedan. When it comes to tech-friendliness, Mercedes-Benz is still on top with their latest iteration of their venerable MBUX system. Not bad at all. But with the new C300, Mercedes is taking a different tactic, offering three different basic trim levels, and relatively few individual options. However, where the Bavarian option falls short is in the added electric power. The 12.3-inch digital dashboard display can be configured in any number of ways to show gauges, maps and entertainment information. 
There are four standard driving modes (ECO, Comfort, Sport, and Individual), but opt for the AMG Line package, and a fifth mode (Sport+) is added to the menu. You may opt-out by. The Alfa Romeo Giulia and Genesis G70 are still the driver's choices in this segment, but even this lowly C300 is a lot of fun on the tight mountain roads north of Ojai, California. The Polar White 2022 C300 4Matic Sedan that Mercedes-Benz USA lent me during its launch event last month starts at $45,550. And while it's remained the aesthete's choice in the subsequent years, newer competitors offer better overall packages. Plus, I don't need to remind you that sedans are out of fashion. It felt very flexible and balanced, easily handling whatever the road threw at it. All Rights Reserved. The base Premium model comes with pretty much everything you need at its $44,600 base price, while stepping up to the $46,850 Exclusive and $48,550 Pinnacle bring more S-Class-esque luxuries that are nice to have, but far from essential. This electrical system can provide a power boost for a short period during full-throttle acceleration, but also helps during normal driving to improve gas mileage. You get used to them, but all feel cheap and are just more finicky than individual buttons. Of course, it takes a while for the gearbox to re-engage and select the correct of its nine ratios when you suddenly need power, but for low-traffic highways, it's a brilliant system. The technology options Mercedes has assembled are quite likely the most impressive part of the new generation C-Class, though you will certainly be paying a premium for those features. Others have made minor revisions, slowly but steadily, like the 2021 Toyota Supra 3.0 and 2022 Lexus LC 500 Coupe. So even though the C-Class has long been one of the most important cars made by Mercedes-Benz, it seems no one noticed there's a new one. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. With such a good platform and baseline, however, this drive has only further wet my whistle for the forthcoming C63 AMG, rumored to pair a tuned-up four-cylinder engine with a more powerful EV motor. I prefer a knob, but Ive always been a bit of a Luddite. For some new vehicles, manufacturers have almost completely flipped the script when it comes to exterior aesthetics, such as the 2021 BMW M3. The EQ Boost system utilizes a tiny 0.9 kWh battery (conserving space and saving weight). The 3,957-pound C300 4Matic will jump to 60 mph in 6.0-seconds. That was too much navigation for me. In terms of the latest design: The front end is very familiar when seen next to the E-Class or CLS. Turn-in was better than I expected, and body-roll wasnt terrible. Shifts are quick and smooth, and for once it's nice to drive a car that doesn't have the popular ZF 8-Speed, if for no other reason than it saves me having to come up with yet another synonym for "ubiquitous." We may earn money from the links on this page. All of this is great for fuel economy, with the car returning 23 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway, but the motor lacked any amount of soul. The cabin is quiet (unless the available Burmester surround-sound audio system is rocking), and the MBUX system includes a hands-free artificial intelligence voice control system (commanded with a simple "Hey Mercedes") that permits many operations from any seat. The turbocharged four-cylinder puts out 255-hp and 295 lb-ft of torque at peak. The latest fifth-generation Mercedes-Benz C-Classknown internally as the W206 generationis an amalgamation of great features gleaned from previous great cars, all trickling down into one quite capable pool. The motor now has a 48-volt mild-hybrid system and puts out 255 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, an improvement of 22 lb-ft. Winding up through Harriman State Park and up to the eastern Catskills, this C300 4Matic tester was engaging. Fully loaded my test car is $62,070, which is a whole lot of scratch for a compact luxury sedan. There are four touchpads on the steering wheel, a touchpad for all the controls below the infotainment system, a touchpad for both seat memory and heating/cooling, and even a touchpad for the sunroof. 
I had a few instances during some spirited driving where I put my foot to the floor on corner exit and was greeted with very little acceleration, only finding the torque after a downshift or two.
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