Used 2019 Mercedes-Benz C-Class

No longer a mere gateway into the German luxury brand, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class has matured into a prestigious, elegant, advanced car in its own right. Available as a sedan, coupe or cabriolet, this latest-generation C-Class looks and feels like a smaller version of Mercedes’ flagship S-Class. For 2019, the C-Class gets a mid-cycle freshening that updates exterior and interior design, adds power, and improves technology. It adds up to a compact-luxury car that easily stays in step — or ahead, depending on your priorities — of rivals like the BMW 3 Series, Audi A4 and Lexus IS. Starting over $41,000, the 2019 Mercedes-Benz C-Class remains on the higher-priced spectrum of this segment, but we think its features and status justify the premium.

The C-Class drives with a similar stateliness as its E-Class and S-Class brothers, but in smaller, nimbler form. While comfort and quiet are a priority, the C-Class is willing to hustle. In fact, the 2019 C-Class is respectably quick. Thanks to its bump in horsepower — from 241 to 255 — the freshened C300 does 0-60 mph in just 5.7 seconds. In addition to being fleet, the C-Class is also remarkably stable and smooth. In our testing on the autobahns of Germany, the 2019 Mercedes C-Class happily cruised along at 100 mph, and continued higher to its governed speed limit about 30 mph beyond that. We also like this use of Mercedes’ 9-speed automatic transmission, which is smoother than those we’ve experienced in other vehicles. The C-Class also comes standard with a drive-mode selector, which enables you to optimize the car for comfort, sporty driving or higher efficiency. And it works. Changing settings changes the nature of the car, from the higher degree of dynamism associated with its BMW 3 Series archrival to the steady-state relaxed cruising of, well, a Mercedes-Benz. The C300 coupe feels slightly sportier than the sedan, while the Cabriolet isn’t quite as rigid, no surprise given it doesn’t have the additional structure as the standard roof.

The 5-passenger cabin of the C-Class sedan really is a special place, easily making it one of our Favorite Features of this car (see above). It really does feel like an S-Class but in smaller form. The C-Class is available with an attractive array of wood and aluminum finishes, and a relatively clutter-free layout that manages to still feel elegant. Central to the de-cluttering is a simple rotary dial, plus an optional touch pad that responds to gestural inputs, swipes and handwriting. New for 2019 are the options of a 10.25-inch high-res display and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster that can be configured to your liking. Pragmatically, rear-seat legroom can be tight for taller passengers, and note that coupe and convertible models trade the sedan’s 3-passenger bench for a pair of more sculpted seats.

The C-Class’s interior isn’t its only correlation to the flagship S-Class. Like that high-end luxury car, the C-Class is curvy, bold and beautiful. Thanks to its smaller proportions, you could say it’s even more purposeful, and easily more maneuverable in confined places. The 2-door versions of the C-Class, in the form of the coupe and soft-top cabriolet, have their own sense of style, with the coupe looking particularly strong. Along with new bumpers and standard LED headlights and taillights that came as part of the C-Class’s 2019 refresh, we dig the diamond grille you get if you opt for an AMG-line variant. The treatment adds a visual pop and makes this smaller luxury car appear far pricier.

THAT INTERIOR
From heated and ventilated seats to a fragrance system and a rear-window sunshade, the 2019 Mercedes-Benz C-Class has an interior that is opulent for this class. High-end features such as these derive from the roughly $100,000 S-Class in an impressive example of the automotive trickle-down effect.

BURMESTER AUDIO SYSTEM
You may never have heard of this high-end German audio brand, but once your ears experience the sound, they’ll never forget it. This 13-speaker, 590-watt audio system is an aural delight, and even its stainless-steel speaker housings please the senses. At $850, it’s a steal.

As should be expected from a German luxury car, even a base Mercedes-Benz C300 includes plenty of features, technology and safety systems to complement its badge appeal. Among the standard features are power front seats, dual-zone climate control, a sunroof, power-folding mirrors, and a brake-hold feature that can give your foot a break at stoplights. The included infotainment bundles a 7-inch high-res display and central rotary controller, AM/FM/HD Radio, dual USB audio ports, and Bluetooth streaming. For 2019, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard. Standard safety systems include an automatic emergency braking system and another system that monitors for driver drowsiness. C-Class convertibles come with the nifty Airscarf neck-level heating system and heated front seats.

Whether you want in-car Wi-Fi, a power rear sunshade, a hands-free trunk, or the ability to check on your car via a phone with the Mercedes me service, there are plenty of ways to upgrade the 2019 Mercedes C-Class. If you want real leather instead of the faux MB-Tex upholstery, that is extra. Other options include heated and ventilated front seats, a panoramic roof, and performance-oriented suspension and brakes. The Multimedia Package adds navigation, the larger central display, and the new Car-to-X Communication system that will allow the C-Class to communicate with other cars as the technology is rolled out in the future. The Driver Assistance Package adds recommendable features like lane-keeping system, blind-spot monitoring, and semi-autonomous driving features like adaptive cruise control and steering assist, in which the car will steer itself in some settings. In the "just cool" column are that in-cabin fragrance system with your choice of fragrances, a head-up windshield display, and a system that helps you parallel park. All-wheel drive can be had on all models in lieu of the standard rear-wheel drive.

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. Torque remains the same at a robust 273 lb-ft. Rear-wheel drive (RWD) is standard, and all-wheel drive (AWD), which Mercedes calls 4Matic, is optional. All models use a 9-speed automatic transmission. At the moment, there isn’t a C-Class hybrid, but we expect one to return in the future. Still, at up to 34 mpg, even a standard C-Class is impressively efficient. Note that the C-Class is fitted with a stop/start system that cuts engine power at idle. If you’re like us and have qualms with the engine shutting down and abruptly restarting, know that the system can be disabled. Also note that, if you want a higher-powered C-Class, that can be found to some intense degrees (to the tune of over 500 horsepower) in the Mercedes-AMG variants.

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4
255 horsepower @ 5,800-6,100 rpm
273 lb-ft of torque @ 1,800-4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 23/34 mpg (RWD, sedan),  22/33 mpg (AWD, sedan), 22/31 mpg (RWD & AWD, coupe), 21/29 mpg (RWD & AWD convertible)