![]() All-wheel drive is a valuable asset for the rainy Pacific Northwest and for the harsh winters of the Midwest and Northeast. The C240 and C320 sedans and wagons are available with optional 4MATIC all-wheel drive ($1200), which includes heated seats. ![]() The C240 ($33,780) and C320 ($39,130) wagons are the smallest wagons Mercedes has ever imported into the United States, yet they successfully combine sporty styling and good cargo room, perfect for that big dog (though we recommend a dog fence for safety). The wagons are identical counterparts to these sedans. C320 comes standard a higher level of luxury amenities, including dual-zone automatic climate control, a Bose 10-speaker stereo, reading lamps, 10-way power front seats with memory, and a power-adjustable steering column. The C320 sedan ($37,630) is powered by a 215-horsepower 3.2-liter version of the same V6. C240 is well-equipped, with leather seat inserts, front seats with power height and backrest adjustment, a manual tilt-and-telescope steering column, power windows, cruise control, a seven-speaker audio system with weatherband, laurel-wood trim and 16-inch aluminum wheels with all-season tires. The C240 sedan ($32,280) is powered by a 168-horsepower 2.6-liter V6 with three valves per cylinder and a standard five-speed Touch Shift automatic transmission with manual shift mode. The best-selling C-Class models, and perhaps the most familiar, are the mainstream sedans. All-wheel-drive is optional on two of the sedans and the wagons. All nine have rear-wheel drive, one of four different engines, and either a standard six-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission, depending on the model. Model LineupĪt last count, the nine variants that make up the Mercedes C-Class included five four-door sedans, two wagons, and two hatchback coupes. But if you want Mercedes-Benz engineering, design strengths and mystique in a solid, mainstream sedan, it doesn’t get anymore accessible than the C-Class, and the C320 sedan represents the best of this. If it’s a sports sedan you seek, you might still consider Audi or BMW. Comparably equipped C-Class sedans are priced slightly higher than BMW’s 3 Series and substantially higher than Audi’s A4 models. While this is Mercedes’ least expensive line in the United States, you’ll still pay a premium for the three-pointed star. Every model, starting with the less-expensive coupes, comes standard with a full-complement of airbags and Mercedes’ Electronic Stability Program skid-control system. The C-Class has good bones, with exterior styling inspired by the big, luxurious S-Class, technology shared with the E-Class, and an interior design all its own. On the standard sedans and wagons, the 4MATIC all-wheel-drive has been packaged with heated seats for a savings of $1,250 compared to 2003. The sport coupes benefit from similar interior changes, and now come standard with 17-inch alloy wheels and high-performance tires. The sport sedans get a healthy dose of performance and styling updates, including a lower ride height, upgraded brakes, a short-throw shifter and unique interior features to further distinguish them from the standard sedans. The pinnacle of the C-Class line, at least from a performance standpoint, is the limited-production C32 AMG sedan ($51,200).įor 2004, Mercedes has focused improvements on the sportier models. Meanwhile, the price-leading C230 sport coupe continues to attract first-time Mercedes buyers with its sportiness, practicality, features and that three-pointed star on the grille. Inside, it looks and, for the most part, feels like a Mercedes-Benz, with firm, supportive seats and mostly high-quality materials. It’s a pleasure to drive, with its smooth, powerful engine, responsive automatic transmission and classic Mercedes balance of ride quality and handling. The C-Class starts at less than $27,000 for C230 coupe, but the line is perhaps best represented by the C320 sedan ($37,630). The Mercedes-Benz C-Class cars offer the Benz experience for the price of a Toyota Camry, which is why they are the company’s best-selling line.
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