2025 Mercedes-Benz C-Class

The C-Class is a best-selling sedan for Mercedes-Benz. In the C 300 versions, the company emphasizes a blend of comfort and technology that’s typical for cars wearing the 3-pointed star — even evoking the famous flagship S-Class at times. This current generation is still fresh, having debuted for the 2022 model year. In our opinion, both the interior and exterior designs are effective and stylish, adding to the overall sense of occasion that happens in virtually every drive in a C-Class.

We’ve logged hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of compact luxury cars, including the Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

The MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) infotainment system is updated and now includes 5G connectivity. A center airbag also becomes standard. New Nappa leather upholstery color choices are Black and Sienna Brown. The Manufaktur personalization program brings Alpine Grey onto its list of exterior paint choices. And buyers may choose simulated leather — aka MB-Tex — to wrap their steering wheel instead of real leather. We like the non-animal angle here and have found MB-Tex to be both convincing and hard-wearing.

Both rear-drive (RWD) and all-wheel-drive (AWD) versions sell relatively well. We suggest spending a bit more for the extra safety features of the Driver Assistance package, and maybe the Exclusive trim if the budget allows.

Rival cars worth considering — in ascending order of price — are the Lexus IS, Genesis G70, Acura TLX, BMW 3 Series, and Audi A5. The C-Class starts a little above the 3 Series.

Before buying a new C-Class luxury sedan, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should be paying. Resale values are robust, level with strong contenders like the TLX and IS, and definitely better than the A5 and 3 Series. Recouping more money when selling a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on the next one.

The most affordable new C-Class, the C 300, enjoys 255 horsepower from its turbocharged engine and can sprint from standstill to 60 mph in six seconds. That’s pleasantly peppy. The C 300 has exactly the same amount of power as the BMW 330i, yet the machine from Munich hits 60 mph in 5.6 seconds, or 5.4 with the added traction of all-wheel drive.

Stable at speed, comfortable over cobblestones, with compact dimensions that make the C-Class easy to drive around the city, this luxury sedan handles all situations with a quiet competence. The only thing we weren’t so enamored with was the soft feel of the brake pedal, although the car still came to an effective halt all the same.

Fuel Economy

The rear-drive C 300 achieves 29 mpg in a combination of city and highway driving. With all-wheel drive, it returns 27 mpg combined. To compare, the BMW 330i manages 31 mpg combined, or 29 mpg combined when all-wheel drive is in the picture.

We’ve found the C-Class to be comfortable in both rows. The front has a pleasant cocooning effect, while the rear is spacious enough for a compact luxury sedan. Within the constraints of size and price, the C-Class has a history of providing some traits that are part of the glorious S-Class experience, including a wide choice of interior color schemes.

This approach continues with the current generation, sporting a generously sized 11.9-inch touchscreen, along with a 12.3-inch digital driver information display. Even the air vents and speaker grilles wouldn’t look out of place in the bigger Benz. Every C-Class also gains a fingerprint reader to upload each user’s specific profiles.

Just a couple of little not-so-complimentary observations. The pursuit of cutting down on controls means operating some functions with tiny touchpads on the steering wheel. They’re a bit fiddly, and applying the right amount of pressure involves a learning curve. Some of the more out-of-the-way places have a few cheaper plastics. And cargo space of 12.6 cubic feet is not as commodious as the 17 cubic feet in the BMW 3 Series. But it’s no worse than the rest of the class.

Just as the interior of the C-Class evokes the plushness of the large S-Class flagship sedan, the exterior design also does its best to remind everyone of its premium credentials with sleek lines, LED lighting, and that famed 3-pointed star in the center of the grille.

With a nod to its more youthful audience, though, the C-Class also offers more than just the typical grays and blacks we see everywhere, like a metallic blue and a deep red.

11.9-inch touchscreen
This tablet-like display conveys various kinds of information like navigation, cabin temperature, and phone functions — all in crisp detail. It controls an excellent infotainment system that comes with wireless charging and wireless phone integration as standard.

Biometric fingerprint scanner
This is cool and standard. In our opinion, an extra layer of security is always a good thing.

All-wheel drive
Great to have in tricky conditions, as well as helping to get the power down in the dry, all-wheel drive is one of the most popular options among C-Class buyers.

Burmester audio
Coming in at the mid-level Exclusive trim, this is yet another of the great pleasures to be had when driving a Mercedes-Benz and among the best car surround-sound systems we’ve heard.

Driver Assistance package
To be honest, we’d prefer some features in this optional bundle to be among the standard equipment. But we definitely recommend spending the extra $1,950 to gain features like adaptive cruise control, Active Blind Spot Assist, and evasive steering assistance.

Augmented video
Sometimes navigation instructions aren’t always as clear as we would like when there’s only a split-second in which to make a move. This optional feature superimposes arrows on the screen (or head-up display) to make life easier. It looks cool, too.

The C 300 employs a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine making a respectable 255 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. It’s enhanced by a mild hybrid system that helps the engine achieve its maximum output quickly and efficiently, while also making the fuel-saving stop/restart function nice and smooth. A 9-speed automatic transmission sends that power to either the rear wheels in standard form, or the optional 4Matic all-wheel-drive system.

Anyone seeking more power in a new C-Class should check out the AMG models, which we cover in a separate review.

4-Year/50,000-Mile Warranty

The new-vehicle warranty offered by Mercedes-Benz lasts four years or 50,000 miles, whichever happens first. This applies to the drivetrain as well. Most European luxury car companies have these same terms. Mercedes-Benz doesn’t offer any free scheduled maintenance.

Safety Ratings

This latest generation of C-Class has been named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the agency’s second-highest accolade. Standard safety features include forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and automatic brake drying.