2023 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe

　　

2023 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe Review

byBrian WongSenior Reviews Editor

　　Brian Wong has worked in the automotive industry since 2010, writing over 1,000 car-related articles and testing and reviewing hundreds of vehicles over the course of career. Brian is a senior reviews editor at zzdcar and has also contributed to Cars.com, Motor Authority and Green Car Reports. Brian has also been featured on MotorWeek as an expert for several car comparisons. He loves convertibles (the smaller the better) and hates paying for parking, so Los Angeles is both the right and wrong city for him.

　　The 2023 Mercedes-Benz C-Class welcomes a new addition to the lineup this year: the high-performance AMG C 43, which adds a dash of excitement to the C 300's focus on comfort and luxury. The changes for the new C 43, like the C 300, only apply to the sedan. Mercedes will continue to sell the coupe and convertible versions of the C-Class for the 2023 model year, but the two-doors are still based on the fourth-generation C-Class rather than the fifth-generation sedan.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2023 Mercedes-Benz C-Class C 300 2dr Coupe (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 9A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$181/mo  for C-Class C 300

　　C-Class C 300

　　C 300 2dr Coupe (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 9A) (Most Popular) - $49,550 MSRPC 300 4MATIC 2dr Coupe AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 9A) - $51,550 MSRPAMG C 43 2dr Coupe AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 9A) - $62,600 MSRPAMG C 63 S 2dr Coupe (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 9A) - $81,850 MSRP

　　vs

　　$165/mo

　　Avg. Midsize Car

　　The new AMG C 43 sedan drops two cylinders, giving it a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder instead of the V6 found in the previous model. It also gets a mild hybrid system like the C 300, but the emphasis here is on performance and not efficiency. Total system output is 402 horsepower and 369 lb-feet of torque, with the starter-generator motor able to kick in a boost of 13 extra horsepower on demand. It sprints from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.6 seconds. All-wheel drive is standard along with a nine-speed automatic transmission.

　　Instead of a variable torque ratio, the AWD system always sends 31% of its power to the front wheels and 69% to the rear, giving it a sporty feel that has a rear-drive bias. It also comes with upgraded Michelin Pilot Sport 4S summer tires for added grip and a stiffer suspension that decreases comfort but ups the C 43's agility.

　　Inside, it gets the same technology upgrades and cabin updates that we enjoyed in the C 300. Our rating for the C-Class is based on the C 300, which will be the volume model for the sedan. Check out what our editors thought about the C 300 in greater detail below.

　　

Which C-Class does zzdcar recommend?

We recommend the C 300 for most folks since the AMG C 43 is much more expensive, though it does offer a different level of performance. We'd also suggest augmenting the C 300 with the Driver Assistance package, as it comes with a solid set of driver aids that will make the two-door easier and safer to live with. For car enthusiasts, there's a strong argument to be made for getting the C 63 S. The 2023 model year is the last year the car will be V8-powered. After that, Mercedes is switching to a less visceral high-performance four-cylinder hybrid powertrain.

　　

Mercedes-Benz C-Class models

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz C-Class continues to offer coupe and convertible (Cabriolet) body styles for one more year, though the two-door variants don't get the same redesign the sedan received last year so they still have the interior and styling of the last-generation C-Class. Mercedes offers the coupe and convertible as the C 300, C 300 4Matic, AMG C 43 and AMG C 63 S. The C300 and C 63 S are rear-wheel-drive, and the C 300 4Matic and AMG C 43 are all-wheel-drive. Regardless of engine, a nine-speed automatic is the only transmission available.

　　C 300 and C 300 4Matic

　　The base C 300 and C 300 4Matic are virtually identical; the only difference is that the former features rear-wheel drive and the latter is equipped with all-wheel drive. Standard features include:

　　Turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (255 horsepower, 273 lb-ft of torque) Adaptive LED headlights (swivel as you turn the steering wheel for better illumination in curves) Sunroof (coupe only) Power trunklid Keyless entry and ignition Digital gauge cluster Dual-zone automatic climate control Power-adjustable front seats Driver's seat memory settings Neck heater (Cabriolet only) Heated front seats Simulated leather upholstery 10.25-inch central infotainment display Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity Premium package (Cabriolet only, see below) Forward collision warning with automatic braking (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios) Blind-spot warning (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change) Adaptive high-beam assist (selectively blocks a portion of the high beams for oncoming traffic)The C 300 is available with a wide range of option packages and stand-alone options. These include:

　　AMG Line package Aerodynamic body kit Chrome starburst-pattern grille Rear spoiler Sport-tuned suspension Sport seats Premium package Ambient interior lighting 13-speaker Burmester premium audio system Satellite radio Night Edition package Premium package AMG Line package Black-painted exterior accents Black grille Imitation suede seat inserts Multimedia package Navigation system Touchpad controller Parking Assistance package Rear cross-traffic warning (alerts you if a vehicle behind you is about to cross your vehicle's path while you're in reverse) Parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible in front of or behind the vehicle when parking) 360-degree camera system (gives you a top-down view of the C-Class and its surroundings for tight parking situations) Driver Assistance package Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the vehicle and the car in front; can also react to traffic signs and set speed) Lane departure mitigation (warns you of a lane departure when a turn signal isn't used and can automatically steer to maintain lane position) Lane keeping system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane) Evasive steering assistance (enhances the forward collision mitigation system with steering-based collision avoidance) Blind-spot intervention (automatically steers the car back into its lane if you try to change lanes while a car is in the vehicle's blind spot) Panoramic sunroof Heated steering wheel Ventilated front seats Leather upholstery Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line onto the windshield) Wireless charging padAMG C 43

　　The AMG C 43 turns up the performance wick with a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 (385 hp, 384 lb-ft) and all-wheel drive. Other additions include:

　　Premium package Aerodynamic body kit Sport-tuned suspension with adaptive dampers Upgraded brakes Sport exhaust Sport steering wheel Imitation suede seat insertsThe AMG C 43 is available with all of the C 300's options and packages. You can also opt for:

　　Performance exhaust Configurable steering wheel controls AMG Track Pace software applicationAMG C 63 S

　　The high-performance AMG C 63 is powered by a turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 (503 hp, 516 lb-ft). On top of AMG C 43 content, it adds:

　　Electronic rear limited-slip differential Performance exhaust Additional driving modes Unique grille Dynamic engine mounts Additional traction modes Configurable steering wheel controlsA similar set of options and packages is also available for the C 63 S. Exclusive for the C 63 S are carbon-ceramic front brakes and AMG performance front seats.

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