2024 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Review, Pricing, and Specs (2024)

Overview

Smaller and sportier than the flagship S-class, the 2024 Mercedes-Benz C-class nonetheless offers a similar experience in a more compact and affordable package. Its deluxe interior is filled with showstoppers, from the premium display screens to the high-end materials that line its seats and door panels. The C300 is also a bit of a sports sedan, with nimble handling and a smooth, powerful turbo four that makes 255 horsepower. It's not perfect, though. The C-class's ride quality and steering feel could both be improved, and rivals such as the BMW 3-series and the Audi A4 offer better road manners. But none of those issues detract much from the overall sense of quality and specialness that the C300 offers. If you're looking to maximize your driving fun, consider the Mercedes-AMG C43 or C63 variants, both of which we review separately.

What's New for 2024?

The C300 sedan gets parking sensors, a wireless smartphone charging pad, and SiriusXM satellite radio as standard for 2024. The coupe and convertible models from last year have been discontinued but are replaced by the new CLE-class, which we review separately.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

The C300 is offered in three trim levels—Premium, Exclusive, and Pinnacle—that bundle popular options together. We think the Exclusive trim is the best value. There are still plenty of a la carte options, too, including a sporty-looking AMG Line package, a panoramic sunroof, and navigation. Adding 4Matic all-wheel drive costs $2000 extra.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

All C-class models are powered by a 255-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder and wear the C300 name badge on their shapely trunk lid. The turbo four is enhanced by a 48-volt hybrid system that can temporarily provide up to 20 extra horsepower. All-wheel drive remains an option, with rear-wheel drive being the standard setup; a nine-speed automatic is the only gearbox offered. In our testing, the all-wheel-drive C300 4Matic hit 60 mph in 5.3 seconds, beating the previous-generation C-class by 0.1 second. Handling is nimble, as expected from a compact sports sedan, but we were disappointed with the lack of steering feel and the flinty ride quality. Braking performance was good; the C300 stopped from 70 mph in just 154 feet, but we'd appreciate a firmer pedal feel.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

The EPA estimates that rear-wheel-drive examples of the C-class should deliver up to 25 mpg city and 36 mpg highway; adding all-wheel drive drops those figures by 2 mpg each, to 24 mpg city and 33 mpg highway. In our 75-mph highway fuel-economy test, the all-wheel-drive C300 4Matic beat its highway rating with a 35-mpg result. For more information about the C-class's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

The C-class comes with a high-tech cabin that mirrors that of the larger S-class flagship. All models come with a digital gauge display, touch-sensitive controls, and a host of amenities. The new model sports a steering wheel that looks like that of the S-class, and Mercedes offers a generous list of standard luxury features such as heated front seats with memory settings, a sunroof, open-pore wood trim, and aluminum accents. Overall, the C-class is about 2.5 inches longer than the outgoing model, and its wheelbase has been stretched by an inch. Mercedes-Benz says that results in more rear-seat legroom, but in reality, the difference is negligible.

Infotainment and Connectivity

A large, 11.9-inch vertically oriented infotainment display sweeps up from the center console and toward a trio of round air vents on the upper dashboard. The touchscreen is tilted slightly toward the driver for easier use while driving and runs the most up-to-date version of Mercedes's MBUX infotainment system— complete with the voice-activated digital assistant, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and online access via a Wi-Fi hotspot. All models also come with a 12.3-inch digital gauge display, a wireless smartphone charging pad, and a fingerprint sensor to authenticate the driver's unique profile for memory settings. A head-up display, an ambient lighting system, and a Burmester surround-sound stereo system are all optional extras.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

Mercedes equips the C-class with a host of standard driver-assistance features, but unfortunately the car's coolest tech, which includes an adaptive cruise-control system that utilizes navigation data to adjust the vehicle's speed for upcoming curves and roundabouts, is still optional. For more information about the C-class's crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:

• Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection
• Available lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist
• Available adaptive cruise control with a lane-centering feature

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

Although rivals such as BMW, Genesis, and Volvo offer three years of complimentary maintenance, Mercedes-Benz omits that benefit from its standard warranty offerings. Otherwise, all new Benzes come with an industry-standard plan that covers most things for up to four years or 50,000 miles.

• Limited warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
• Powertrain warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
• No complimentary scheduled maintenance

More Features and Specs