2019 Mercedes-Benz C300 Coupe First Drive Review

2019 Mercedes-Benz C300 Coupe First Drive Review

A few years ago, I saw the then-new C-Class sedan parked next to its predecessor, and it wasn't pretty for the old guard. The new (current) car with its baby S-Class looks inside and out made the old car look ancient. The only thing they seemed to share was the star. The C-Class Coupe has, as expected, done the same. Its look is clearly baby S-Class Coupe, and it makes the old C-Class Coupe look ancient. The change goes right down to the bones. The new Coupe is longer, wider, and (slightly) lower, and although it shares the new sedan's chassis, they share no body panels. What's under the hood isn't shared, either, with the laggy 1.8-liter turbo-four replaced with a new 2.0-liter turbo-four that's linear enough and gutsy enough to fool you into thinking it's a slow V-6. The old and new cars do share a seven-speed automatic, though it's come a long way in refinement and calibration. It's also slated to be replaced with a new nine-speed auto in a year's time.

There's something different in the car's character, too. The old C-Class felt like it was trying to be a BMW 3 Series, and although it was fun to drive once the turbo joined the party, it wasn't a 3 Series. The new C-Class has given that nonsense up. Like the sedan, the new C-Class Coupe is less interested in being a sports car and more interested in being a luxury car. You know, like a Mercedes used to be. That's not to say this car can't go around a corner. In fact, one of the stronger lasting impressions this car leaves is of how good its chassis is. Whether in sharp corners or long sweepers, the C300 feels confident, buttoned-down, and in control. It doesn't want to attack corners like a Lotus, but you don't have to baby it around them, either. You can lean comfortably into the car, and it will reward you with smooth, solid cornering not likely to disturb your passengers. The steering is responsive and linear, nicely weighted and mostly devoid of road feel, because it's a luxury car, not a sports car. You drive the C300 like the guy in the TV commercial, in a button-down shirt and a tie with a slight but cocky smile on your face. You don't drive too fast, because you have nothing to prove, but you don't slow down for corners nearly as much as the lesser cars around you.

Thank you for choosing Mercedes-Benz of Fairfield, where our highly trained staff is excited about the opportunity to earn your business. At our dealership, located near Westport, Weston, Wilton, Norwalk, and Bridgeport, you鈥檒l always find a comprehensive lineup of new Mercedes-Benz vehicles in stock, including a variety of GLA models as well as popular C-Class, E-Class, S-Class options. We鈥檝e also selected a variety of high quality pre-owned luxury cars and certified pre-owned models. Our team will always work as hard as we can to reflect the apex of customer service in everything we do. We want to make sure that shopping for, buying, and driving your Mercedes-Benz is as enjoyable as it鈥檚 supposed to be. Stop by to take a tour of our pristine lineup, take a test drive of as many models as you would like, and stop into our finance department to find out about our many financing options. When you work with Mercedes-Benz of Fairfield, you never have to worry about being without a professional technicians at your disposal. Our Mercedes-Benz service department has a vast range of state-of-the-art diagnostics and repairs equipment in stock, as well as a variety of service bays to make sure our customers never have to wait longer than necessary. You鈥檒l also have access to our Mercedes-Benz loaner models if your vehicle requires more extensive service. Our dealership is open for sales Monday through Saturday, and we鈥檙e always ready and excited to meet all your luxury auto needs. We鈥檙e located at 165 Commerce Dr in Fairfield, CT, and you can always reach out to us with questions.

Entry-level luxury cars like the 2019 Mercedes-Benz A220 4MATIC have a fine line to walk. On the one hand, they鈥檙e the gateway to an aspirational brand. At the same time, though, Mercedes鈥?margins get healthier the further up the range you shop: it鈥檚 in Stuttgart鈥檚 best interest to get you hooked on the three-pointed star and then rapidly coax you into larger, more expensive models. The cynical driver, therefore, accepts that corners are probably going to be cut. Make an entry-level car too good, after all, and you run the risk of delaying those upgrades. 32,500 starting price starts to feel outlandish. Some questioned the new sedan鈥檚 existence given Mercedes also has the CLA, but in the metal the baby four-door makes its argument well. It鈥檚 compact and punchy, as you鈥檇 expect, but perfectly proportioned with it. The grille, lower fascia, and squinting headlamps give it the right amount of snarl at the front, while the rear - though a little Mazda-esque from some angles - has a tautness that鈥檚 pleasing.

2,600 AMG Line package, which adds different bodywork, lowered suspension, the chrome-finish diamond-block grille, and perforated front brake discs to this review car. 500 AMG black multi-spoke 19-inch wheels look the part, too. Together they make the A Class a little more youthful, bridging the gap between a C-Class and a CLA, and to my eyes besting both in the process. Power is down compared to the latest CLA, but the A220 4MATIC is a lesson in how there鈥檚 more to performance than the numbers on paper. In theory, the 188 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque from its 2.0-liter turbocharged engine might seem underwhelming, as could the 7.1 second 0-60 mph time. From behind the wheel, though, it never pans out that way. Don鈥檛 get me wrong, the thought of the 2020 Mercedes-AMG A35 sedan with its 302hp has me mighty curious. The A220 4MATIC, though, is unexpectedly sprightly.