Mercedes-Benz C300 RWD & AWD Review

Patrick_y delivers a comprehensive review of the Mercedes-Benz C300 RWD Sport and C300 4-Matic AWD, offering an in-depth comparison to its primary rival, the BMW 328i. Having driven both variants over 3000 miles, Patrick provides detailed insights into the C-Class's reinvented design, performance, and interior features, specifically addressing whether it meets the discerning standards of a PuristSPro member.

Mercedes-Benz has reinvented the C Class!

In this article, I review both the latest rear wheel drive and all wheel drive variants of the US-Market C300 and share my sentiments for PuristSPro. Racking up over 3000 miles, accomplished over a few weekends, I tested the vehicle in almost every driving situation except for snow. With critical eyes, ears, and hands, we bring you an exclusive review of the Mercedes-Benz C300 where no detail is overlooked. Comparisons to the BMW 328i (my favorite car in this class) will be made throughout. 

Every seven years, Mercedes-Benz comes out with a new iteration of the C-Class.  The C-Class, its highest volume model (a title that formerly belonged to the E-Class) is in a highly competitive market segment that includes the Audi A4, the BMW 3 series, and the upcoming Jaguar XE. The C is a great car, safe, reliable, practical, and a car that meets most people’s needs. But will it meet a PuristS needs? This article will address that question, and reveal how this car stacks up to its main rival, the benchmark BMW 3 series, another vehicle I have extensive experience driving. 

I’ve driven both rear-wheel-drive (RWD) and all-wheel-drive (AWD) models. Considering I live in California and both cars were driven where snow is rare in the major cities, this review doesn’t touch the issue of traction in snowy conditions. The worst weather these cars experienced was some rain in Monterey, and that was in the AWD variant. 

Exterior Design

The latest Mercedes-Benz C Class is an ultra-modern and curvaceous design that is a significant departure from the design of the W204 chassis sold as the 2008 model to the 2014 model years.  It’s design has feminine curves yet strong creases on the side of the cars.  Compared to the more masculine and (in my opinion) slightly Swedish looking BMW 3-series, the C300 looks bigger and more upscale, even when in reality they’re very similar in size and are in the same class segment.

Exterior Headlamps and vehicular light signatures are all the rage these days.  Originally started by BMW in 2001 with their "corona rings", Audi and Mercedes-Benz have quickly adopted lighting signatures of their own. The C-Class has headlamps that come in three variants; halogen (standard), optional LED mainbeam, and optional LED main and high beams with active swiveling. I drove only variants with the halogen and LED mainbeams. I did not get to experience the active swiveling LED headlamp.

BMW 3-Series models usually come with halogen or optional active-swiveling Bi-Xenon headlamps, while LED lamps are optionally available on the 4-series and th US market M3. Headlamp functionality is very good on the latest C-Class; the LEDs especially have a nice beam pattern and a very eye-pleasing design which reduces eye strain for the driver. The halogens are a bit antiquated, their beam pattern is fine but the color temperature of the light seemed to strain my eyes during long-duration night-time driving.  All PuristS should definitely take advantage of Xenon or LED headlamp technology.  There are also two different tail lamp variations, one for the halogen headlamp model, and one for both LED headlamp variants.

Interior Design

The interior design of the C-Class really stands out in its class.  Upon entering, you’re greeted with a beautiful waterfall center console with wood trim. The console features  three binnacle air outlets that are almost Bentley-esque.  All the materials have a high quality feel to them. This interior definitely surpasses the interior of the BMW 3-series in both design and materials. 

Cabin lighting design is accomplished with LEDs ensconced within jewel-like covers cut in an “emerald” pattern.  The interior ambiance lighting is even more apparent at night with lit door handles, lit footwells. Even the sunglass cubby on the ceiling console has two tiny LED lights.  This translates to a very soothing drive after dusk and a transcendent ambiance that is rarely achieved by any car including those that cost significantly more. This level of interior ambient lighting exceeds any other vehicle in this class, including the BMW 3-series and cars in a much higher class such as the BMW 5-series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class. 

Audio systems are very important to me. I spend a large amount of time in the car and it’s generally the only time I listen to music outside of the concert hall.  As an individual who has extensive experience with hi-fi audio equipment (my favorite speakers are YG Acoustics and Acapella speakers) I have an excellent ear for high quality sound systems.  The C-Class comes with two sound systems, the optional Burmester or the standard audio system. While the standard audio system is well designed with a good sound stage and able to deliver clear and crisp audio, it’s barely passable on music with bass, drum, and baritone notes. 

In the end the standard system lacks width and breadth, especially in the bass department. In contrast, the Burmester system is overly bass-happy. It has a user-selectable dual mode “normal” or “surround” sound stage but both seem too extreme. In surround mode the music is too high at your head level and in normal mode it sounds like the music is coming from your feet. The Burmester is the better choice. Its specifications include 13 speakers, 9 channels, and 590 watts of power bu in my opinion it’s not a truly superlative system. Nevertheless, the Burmester system is very good for this segment.  I haven’t driven the current BMW 3-series with optional Harman Kardon system.  The standard system in the 3-series is better than the standard system than the C-Class.

User Interface design and user experience is one of the hottest concerns among automakers and in Silicon Valley. UI/UX determines if and how our electronics work with us. It's desirable to have maximum control using limited buttons and input methods, and to have commonly used functions that are simple, accessible, and logical. Mercedes-Benz's COMAND system is relatively easy to use and fairly extensive in its capabilities. The Voice Activation system is also very easy to use and addresses to the navigation can be dictated naturally.  The BMW has iDrive -- a similarly capable system, but with a slightly different left/right layered approach where the Mercedes has a top/down layer approach. The Mercedes-Benz and BMW systems both behave well, compute the routes reasonably quickly, and are intuitive to work with. 

Ride and Feel

I enjoyed driving the C300 in both 4Matic (AWD) guise and in RWD Sport guises. The AWD and RWD models have different suspensions and the suspension is significantly firmer than the standard BMW 328i suspension. Both AWD and RWD Sport have a small amount of well controlled body lean, but it's more than the BMW 328i exhibits. The BMW has a much more supple and softer suspension. Note that all the 320i, 328i examples I’ve driven with and without AWD were significantly softer than the C300.  Despite this, the 328i felt more stable on the road than the firmer-sprung C300. Steering on the C300 4-Matic AWD is noticeably more vague than the C300 Sport RWD. 

 The Powertrain 

The Mercedes-Benz C300 variants have a responsive powertrain.  Mercedes-Benz vehicles of the past have been known to have a slower transmission shift than normal, but the C300 has an unusually fast transmission shift that’s incredibly smooth. The engine has a healthy 241 hp and 273 lb/ft of torque; response is good, but not as good as a naturally aspirated engine. Compared to the BMW, the BMW has 240 hp and 258 lb/ft of torque, but the BMW feels faster and pulls harder than the Mercedes-Benz.  Acceleration times are 5.8 seconds for 0-60 mph for the BMW 328i and 6.2 seconds for the Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport RWD. 

 Conclusion

Ultimately, the Mercedes-Benz C300 has a greater emphasis towards design and luxury than the BMWs, and is definitely the class leader for interior design in this segment.  The C300's interior is calm and soothing, while the exterior is elegant and grown-up. The BMW 328i pays less emphasis to design with a plainer interior and a more chiseled exterior, but is just such a wonderful car to drive that I almost want to become an Uber driver just so I can drive one all the time. But I suspect that Uber passengers will like the ambiance of the Mercedes-Benz C300 more than the BMW 328i. 

The low beam is an LED lamp.  Not halogen nor xenon. 

The turn signals are almost jewel-like.

This vehicle has the optional headlamps, which means the rear lamps have this design.

Even the tail lamps remind other people that you're driving a Mercedes-Benz. 

The interior lamps are LEDs and they look like an emerald-cut diamond. 

The Burmester sound system features speakers that look like shower heads.

Exceptional Ambient lighting in this vehicle.

The rear seat cushions are designed for short people who have short legs.

The screen is large and shows traffic as well as street names when zoomed in. 

There is a touchpad where you can draw letters.

The Burmester stereo system is very good for this class of car.

The interior cabin lights are jeweled LED lights.

The cupholders have night time mood lighting.

Substantial trunk space can easily swallow your road or mountain bike.

This is the RWD Sport Model with standard headlamps.

Sport Models get bigger brakes with fixed calipers.

This is the standard tail lamp design.

The center console is entirely covered in wood and it appears to be a waterfall of black oil. Notice the flat bottomed steering wheel.

A view of the car at night.  Lots of ambient light.  Very soothing interior. 

The BMW 328i is a great vehicle.  I can't say which one is better, but I'd be happy to live with either!