2019 Mercedes-Benz C Class 250

2019 Mercedes-Benz C Class 250

Mercedes-Benz C250 showcases the more modest-side of the Mercedes C Class. This refreshed version has scored a makeover in upgrades that feel substantial. The C250 function better in it鈥檚 revitalized skin.The Destination: Downtown Los Angeles. I started at LAX and speeded toward downtown LA where I stayed at the Standard, and then headed for the hills, the Hollywood Hills and Pasadena. The Looks: The C Class sedan is more conservative than say, the CLS, but it鈥檚 not displeasing. It鈥檚 small proportions give it a sense of lightness that is supported by drivability and subtly sculpted body work. The grille has a look at me quality that adds a bit of oom-pa-pa to the overall package. Nice twinkly LED lights, too. The Numbers: Zero to 60 mph in 5.5-7.0 sec, 201 hp and 229 pound-feet of torque. The Engine:1.8-liter four-cylinder turbo-charged engine. How it drives: Smooth acceleration and responsive braking. The extra option for lumbar support made all the difference on days when the freeways were packed. The refurbished engines on this line are specialized in redistributing air flow, so we have a car that鈥檚 more responsive with better fuel economy 鈥?21 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway.

The redesigned midlevel luxury sedan promises blissful comfort and panache. While this might seem like nothing new for the Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedan, the updated 2010 model impresses with slightly larger dimensions, sharper bodylines, more high-tech safety technology and a lower starting price than the 2009 model. Slightly larger inside and out, the E-Class sedan competes against such premium models as the BMW 5 Series, Infiniti M, and Cadillac CTS. Sitting an inch lower to the ground, Sport sedans have squared-off exhaust tips, "twist" rocker panels and a grille with three horizontal bars, above a massive air intake. Luxury-model grilles contain four bars, with a smaller air intake. Interiors feature an abundant selection of hand-polished burl walnut wood. The sedan's gearshift lever has moved from the floor console to the steering column, operated electronically. Five-level Ambient Lighting, taken from S-Class sedans, aims to reduce eyestrain. E550 Sport sedans have a three-spoke steering wheel with thumb notches (optional for E350 Sport), versus a plain four-spoke wheel for other models.

Seats are 14-way power-adjustable. Heading the list of safety features is newly standard Attention Assist, a drowsiness monitor that tries to alert a dozing driver. Steering-angle sensors consider more than 70 variables, starting with your profile, over the first 20 minutes of driving. An audible warning is accompanied by display of a coffee-cup icon. Standard enhanced Pre-Safe Braking can provide partial or full-power braking in emergencies. Nine airbags are standard, including driver's knee and pelvic bags. Additional safety items are optional. Radar-based Distronic Plus maintains a pre-set distance from the car ahead, working like an "invisible rubber band," according to Bernhard Glaser, general manager for product management. Night Vision Assist Plus recognizes pedestrians ahead, using twin infrared beams. Adaptive Highbeam Assist provides the best possible illumination, reaching up to 1000 feet ahead. Lane Keeping Assist uses a camera above the windshield to analyze lines in road, delivering three steering-wheel vibrations when the car begins to leave its path. Blind Spot Assist monitors the area 10 feet back and 10 feet to the side. Today's Mercedes-Benz sedans are lighter on their feet than those from a few years back, while roomy and comfortable for long-distance treks.

On reasonably smooth surfaces, occupants of an E550 Luxury sedan can barely discern bumps and other road imperfections. Even when a jolt occurs, it's stifled virtually instantly, transmitting minimal annoyance to the interior. Mercedes-Benz offers U.S. buyers a choice of two engines, both available in either Luxury or Sport trim level. In E550 sedans, a 5.5-liter V-8 again develops 382 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque, driving a seven-speed automatic transmission. E350 sedans contain a 3.5-liter V-6, still rated at 268 horsepower and 258 pound-feet. Estimated fuel economy is 18/25 miles per gallon (city/highway) for V-6 models, and 16/23 mpg for E550 sedans. Mercedes-Benz's transmission can skip as many as three gear ratios when downshifting, depending on the situation. A Hold function prevents "creep" at stoplights. Instead of coil springs, an Airmatic air suspension is installed on all V-8 sedans. Transmission downshifts with the V-8 engine are not only impressively smooth, they happen promptly.