REVIEW: 2020 Mercedes-Benz C300

REVIEW: 2020 Mercedes-Benz C300 - An Affordable Sports Sedan

Compared to BMW’s own 2.0-liter turbocharged I4 in the 328i, the Mercedes unit feels a bit more refined. The C63 is a bit absurd in the way it mashes through rubber on its way to 60 mph in just 3.8 seconds, according to Benz estimates. Despite being lighter, the C300 is a few tenths slower to 60 mph at 6 seconds flat (6.3 to 100 km/h). All 2019 Mercedes-Benz C300 models use a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that now makes 255 horsepower, a 14-horsepower bump over last year’s model. Originally sold as a sedan, the C-Class is now also available as a coupe and soft-top convertible. DIGITAL EDITOR ANDREW STOY: My takeaway after two days of driving the new Mercedes-Benz C-class at the launch event a few months ago was that the four-cylinder C300 is the athlete while the V6 C400 is the luxury cruiser. The C300 Coupe starts closer to $43,500, while the C300 4MATIC pushes past the $45,500 mark.
After having both cars back-to-back again in the past couple weeks I feel that way more than ever. Benz’s 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder delivers plenty of power with peak torque of 273 lb-ft online from 1,300 rpm all the way to 4,000 rpm. What is it: Now more than ever, a luxury coupe represents a conscious choice; it's a subtle way to stand out in a sea of crossovers. Next year will see a rear-drive entry C300 starting under $40K, but you can still expect a nicely optioned C300 to run $45K-$50K out the door -- hardly cheap, but still entry-luxury, and possibly the best definition of that class on the market today. As in the six year scenario, the purchased vehicle will have payments for the first five years and then will be paid off for the remaining four years. The purchased vehicle will have payments for the first five years and then will be paid off in the final year.
We’ve assumed that payments for the second lease will be 5% higher than the first with the same down payment and that the disposition fee will be waived when the first vehicle is turned in because the client is leasing another Mercedes-Benz. Payments for the second and third leases will each be 5% higher than the previous with the same down payment. Leasing offers the benefit of consistently driving a newer car-in this scenario the vehicle driven is never more than three years old as well as offering lower payments during the six year period. Leasing also makes monthly cash flow easier, saving a little over $325/month in payments. For those who are willing to drive the same vehicle for nine years, this represents a notable savings over leasing. All three leased vehicles will be under warranty during the nine years. I’m sure owners will learn its nuances, but it’s not immediately comfortable. It’s not quite as smooth as Audi’s turbo four, though. It’s smooth and quiet during regular driving, which is what you’ll be doing most of the time.
Vehicle is in very good condition at time of trade-in. This is a good thing. Driver’s get to grips with a new multi-function leather-wrapped steering wheel, which mounts touch-sensitive controls at thumb length, and includes inputs for the various onboard systems like the cruise control. Further on-board equipment includes a heads-up display, standard USB ports, an SD card reader, and Bluetooth connectivity. Standard active driver assistance features include forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, and crosswind assist. It all makes for a cushy and fast street car with a beautifully trimmed interior that features S-class levels of luxury now. On the flip-side, though, the C300 had a smoother, more comfortable ride and an interior CR preferred. The aforementioned interior is a stunner with matte finished wood trims and a flowing layout design that’s intuitive and comfortable. It can regulate your speed based on directions in the navigation system. You can also watch movies on the navigation screen when the car is stationary. In this case, buying one car saves around $5,000 over two leases, (this is about $2,500 if the pre-paid maintenance option is selected).
Finally, leasing saves the trouble of selling the vehicle and paying off the balance at the end of three years. This scenario assumes that the vehicle above is only driven for three years. The decision to buy or lease depends on a number of factors, including how long the vehicle will be driven. Unless otherwise noted, information relating to these featured vehicles comes from third-party sources, including manufacturer information. The tire size for your Mercedes-Benz C300 depends upon the year of manufacturer. In the 2018 model year Mercedes added a C350e plug-in hybrid to the C-Class family. Select the year of your C300 to narrow down the results. The most fuel-efficient choice in the C-class lineup is the rear-drive C300 sedan, and the EPA estimates its fuel economy at 24/35 mpg city/highway. The interest in the C-class line of vehicles is no wonder. Purchase: $2,500 down, 60 month loan at 2.99% interest.