Reviews - 2016 Mercedes Benz C 300 4matic

The compact premium D-segment is filled with sport/luxury hopefuls, but to most buying into this class there are only ii considerations.

Photograph: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Machine Press

Mercedes-Benz sells more C-Form models than any rival, but that's where things become a chip murky. Arch-rival BMW splits its D-segment sales into three and 4 Series entries, which ways its overall sales are higher.

Here in Canada, 2016 calendar year-to-date numbers as of September are eight,996 for BMW and 7,208 for Mercedes, with Audi trailing respectably with v,623 A4 and A5 deliveries, Lexus managing iv,347 sales of its IS, RC and ES (the latter sized more like an East-segment Eastward-Class and 5 Series fighter yet priced much lower), Acura with 3,125 TLX customers, Infiniti with ii,274 combined Q50 and Q60 buyers, Cadillac with ane,871 ATS Sedan and Coupe sales, Volvo with 1,023 S60 and V60 deliveries, Lincoln with 816 sales of its larger mid-size Lexus ES-fighting MKZ,

Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Car Press

Buick with 693 new Regal owners, and Jaguar finding 196 buyers for its entirely new XE.

Aye, these other brands and models be, most of which are only given a brief glance past iii Series and C-Class true-blue. Like opting for yet some other Rolex Submariner instead of flirting with an Omega Seamaster 300 Titanium, or something more radical similar the Corum Admiral'south Cup Seafender 48 Deep Swoop or Clerc Hydroscaph TI, the ii bestselling luxury car lines deliver exactly what their owners want while holding their value well, making them audio concern choices. Just similar a pampered Rolex, you'll never have a problem reselling a nicely kept, depression mileage C-Class sedan.

The

Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press

C-Course at my disposal was a new 2016 C300 4Matic Sedan, the breadstuff and butter model that outsells every other iteration. While uncomplicated Polar White in colour it was personalized with active LED headlamps, a Sport package that added some nice aero bits and upgraded the stock 17-inch rims to five-spoke 18-inch AMG alloys, an AMG interior bundle, Cranberry Red AMG leather, open-pore Night Ash hardwood trim, and more, resulting in a very special looking Mercedes sedan, the equivalent of a silver-faced Submariner with a ruby red bezel (or anything just black).

The C300, which was thoroughly redesigned just last year, is a handsome four-door with no shortage of sporty visual elements, especially as tested, yet its upright body manner and chunky tail end imbue a certain rigid solidity. This quality image

Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Printing

becomes reality upon opening the door and sliding behind the wheel, with more soft touch surfaces than whatsoever rival. Premium pliable synthetics cover the instrument console including the glove box lid, both sides of the centre stack and lower console, plus all door panels from top to bottom; even the backsides of the seats are made from a soft high-form composite, something rarely seen in this class. No competitor goes so far to coddle its occupants, but of course information technology doesn't terminate at that place. The upper edge of my loaner's instrument console and the unabridged dash meridian was covered in contrast stitched leather, while along with the open-pore hardwood noted earlier were existent aluminum inlays in brushed and satin finishes depending on the trim piece.

Following this theme, many of the buttons, knobs and toggles were aluminized, some fifty-fifty knurled to perfection like the bezel of a finely made spotter, but non a Submariner,

Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Car Press

more like a Breitling for Bentley GMT Light Body B04, which wouldn't be my personal pick for timekeeping, but it's enough rich looking. Come to think of it, the last time I saw automotive metalwork like this was during a recent bulldoze in a Bentley Continental GT, pretty spiffy visitor Mercedes. And so again Stuttgart might take offence to such a comparison, its beautiful new S-Form Coupe arguably up to par with the aforementioned Brit.

My tester came fitted with a sensational sounding Burmester environs audio system upgrade with innovative FrontBass technology, its dual door speakers capped off with cute aluminum grilles, these nicely matching the circular metallic HVAC vents that dot the dash, while all of the door's switchgear, including Mercedes'

Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Machine Press

trademark power seat controls, was aluminized for a peculiarly highbrow premium feel. As noted the door inserts and seats were upholstered in a cute dark cherry-red leather, this being a favourite retrospective reference of '50s and '60s era Mercedes models. It plucks memories of my dad and I pulling up to my Onkel Gleissner'due south firm in North Vancouver and eyeing his cream on red 1959 300SL roadster. I hardly retrieve my uncle today as I merely met him a few times, simply I'll never forget his car. I wouldn't cartel compare the classic 300SL to this C300, even Mercedes PR reps would be offended, but the cherry leather is homage paid to an before era that still has the ability to wow today.

The C300'due south 16-way driver and 14-way forepart rider seats are ideally formed to hamstrings and body, while roominess is not an event forepart or back. The rear seats

Photograph: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Machine Press

are about as comfortable as those up front, and plenty spacious with six to seven inches ahead of my knees when sitting behind the driver's seat that was preset for my five-foot-eight medium build frame, plus enough of room for my feet even with my largest clodhopper Timberland shoes on, plus about three to four inches to a higher place my head and four inches from door console to shoulder and hips. Increasing the feeling of spaciousness is a large dual-pane panoramic drinking glass sunroof overhead, simply those relegated to the rear middle position won't likely intendance much about such niceties as the sizeable centre tunnel makes information technology less than platonic, simply such are the challenges of rear- or all-wheel drivetrains. Information technology's really more of a four-seater with infinite for five in a pinch, a comfortable flip-down centre armrest nicely dividing the two rear seats while adding two pop-out cupholders and a shallow felt-lined compartment. The trunk is large at 480 litres (17.0 cubic anxiety), while

Photograph: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press

the rear seatbacks can be lowered via the optimal 40/20/40 configuration to allow for greater passenger and cargo flexibility.

Along with the items already mentioned my C300 4Matic tester also included the Premium and Premium Plus packages, the erstwhile including the just noted panoramic sunroof, a fill-in camera (which was upgraded further with an optional 360-degree surround photographic camera), navigation, MB Apps, and more, while the latter adds proximity-sensing keyless access, illuminated doorsill scuff plates, ambient lighting, a garage door opener, satellite radio, and parking sensors with cocky-parking capability. The LED headlight upgrade noted earlier also includes automobile high beams, while the same Sport package also adds sport brakes and a peculiarly tuned suspension.

The

Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Printing

just equipment group that wasn't included was the Intelligent Bulldoze package that adds a host of active prophylactic and autonomous driving features such as Distronic Plus adaptive cruise command with steering assist, Pre-Condom Plus monitoring with rear-stop standoff alert and mitigation, BAS (brake aid) Plus with rear cross-traffic alert, Active Blind Spot Help, Agile Lane Keeping Help, and autonomous emergency braking, well-nigh everything needed for a self-driving machine. Additional standalone options can include a caput-up display unit, heatable steering cycle, rear window sunshades, and a powered rear shade, while my loaner was upgraded with a powered torso chapeau.

Standard features with the $43,800 base C300 4Matic that were grandfathered up to my

Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press

tester included heatable power-folding side mirrors, an electromechanical parking brake, pushbutton ignition, rain-sensing wipers, dual-zone automatic climate control, a Nappa leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel, a colour multi-information display, a big state-of-the-art high-definition tablet-mode infotainment display with superb graphics, rich colours, full functionality and piece of cake usability that'south modulated via 1 of the slickest touch on-sensitive and knurled metal dial-type controllers in the industry, consummate with smartphone-style adequacy that allows gestural inputs such as pinch and swipe plus tap and click, etcetera. The only negative is the exclusion of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, an oversight that probably won't plow anyone off the car completely, but should cause the C's diehard faithful to question why.

The

Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press

standard safety suite includes all the usual active and passive systems every bit well every bit Attention Aid, Collision Prevention Assistance Plus, regular Pre-Prophylactic and Blind Spot Assist, adaptive braking with a hold part, and runflat tires, which is enough to earn information technology both IIHS Tiptop Safety Pick Plus and NHTSA five-star condition. These base features, as well every bit all of my C300 4Matic tester's extras, including some lesser items not mentioned, raised its base price to just over $58k, which nonetheless seems reasonable when considering how fully featured and impressively finished it was, not to mention how brilliantly it drives.

Ask whatsoever German luxury auto owner why they prefer their brand and it will often come downwardly to driving dynamics. The C-Class simply delivers at a higher level than most peers, with a wonderful balance of ride comfort and handling prowess. I'thousand non going to go and so far every bit to say the C300 is equally capable through the corners every bit the equivalent

Photograph: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press

3 Series, which many consider the quintessential sports sedan, but information technology comes very close while delivering a more than comfortable driving experience overall. What's more, the C300'southward two.0-litre twin-turbo iv-cylinder feels more powerful than BMW'south mid-grade four and is, the 328i making a single horsepower less albeit defective a significant 15 lb-ft of torque when compared side-by-side with its chief competitor, the C300's engine putting out 241 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. Its 4Matic all-cycle bulldoze makes sure the wheels with the best grip become more twist, the outcome being a spirited launch off the line and good positive shifts from its standard 7G-Tronic vii-speed automatic.

Those shifts get energized when Sport or Sport+ mode is called, Eco and Comfort more suited to a relaxed driving style. These not only alter the transmission

Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press

shift points, but also throttle response and the break setup, whereas a fifth Individual mode lets you design a Dynamic Select mode that's all y'all ain, fifty-fifty allowing pure transmission shifting via the gear lever or steering wheel paddles if DIY is more your style. As is now becoming the norm with German cars an auto start/stop system shuts downwards the engine when it would otherwise be idling, thus saving fuel and reducing emissions. It helps the C300 4Matic eke out a very reasonable 10.one L/100km city, 7.8 highway and 8.nine combined rating, which simply happens to be identical to the 328i xDrive's estimated city/highway number despite the Merc'south performance advantage.

The C300 4Matic's electro-mechanical steering is highly reactive yet rock steady at

Photograph: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press

speed with very lilliputian deadness at heart. Information technology also gives commendable feedback, as does the entire multi-link pause, just like I mentioned before the little Merc is equally much near operation as comfort, the C300 being my outset choice in the D-segment for a high-speed long distance prowl.

I have to acknowledge that Mercedes' C-Form would be my first choice for a lot of reasons, and this from a 4-times past BMW 3 Series possessor. The C has long been competitive with the three from a performance perspective and the motorcar's styling is now much more dramatic inside and out, while information technology'southward a class above all comers in interior quality, something I'one thousand a stickler well-nigh.

So if y'all're ever wondering why there are so many C-Class sedans running around, don't call up for a 2d their drivers take only bought into Mercedes' slickly marketed three-pointed star brand paradigm, because the current car is easily i of the best, if not the all-time in its form. Do yourself a favour and drive a new C300 4Matic.
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Source: https://www.thecarmagazine.com/2016/10/26/2016-mercedes-benz-c300-4matic-sedan-road-test-review/

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