2023 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Sedan

　　

2023 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 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.

　　, rating written byBrian WongDirector, Vehicle Testing

　　Jonathan Elfalan has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. As a director of vehicle testing at zzdcar, Jonathan has tested and reviewed thousands of cars and written thousands of car-related articles over the course of his career. Jonathan got his start testing cars for Road & Track magazine as a newly minted mechanical engineer grad from University of California, Irvine, and has also contributed to Motor Trend and the Associated Press. He likes to say he learned to drive a manual transmission in a rear-wheel-drive mid-engine vehicle but often omits it was his family's 1991 Toyota Previa minivan.

　　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 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 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

　　$160/mo  for C-Class C 300

　　C-Class C 300

　　C 300 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 9A) (Most Popular) - $44,850 MSRPC 300 2dr Coupe (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 9A) - $49,550 MSRPC 300 2dr Convertible (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 9A) - $57,250 MSRPC 300 4MATIC 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 9A) - $46,850 MSRPC 300 4MATIC 2dr Coupe AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 9A) - $51,550 MSRPC 300 4MATIC 2dr Convertible AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 9A) - $59,250 MSRPAMG C 43 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 9A) - $59,900 MSRPAMG C 43 2dr Coupe AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 9A) - $62,600 MSRPAMG C 43 2dr Convertible AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 9A) - $69,250 MSRPAMG C 63 S 2dr Coupe (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 9A) - $81,850 MSRPAMG C 63 S 2dr Convertible (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 9A) - $90,000 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.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Good

　　7.9

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.5/10

　　How does the C-Class drive? We tested the C 300, which has a turbocharged mild hybrid four-cylinder engine. The mild hybridization helps smooth out acceleration. Accelerating to 60 mph takes just 5.8 seconds, which is plenty of punch for day-to-day driving. The transmission shifts quickly and unobtrusively, too.

　　Our test car had the benefit of the optional AMG Line sport package, which adds a sport suspension and upgraded brakes and tunes the steering for a more direct and quick response, among other things. All three make this standard C-Class' driving dynamics feel sharp. We are truly impressed with how the C 300 comports itself through turns and how effortless it is to guide it where you want to go.

　　

Comfort

7.5/10

　　How comfortable is the C-Class? We can't say for sure how much the AMG Line sport package compromises comfort, but we did find our C 300 to be less comfortable than many rivals in the small luxury class. The suspension, while not harsh, was definitely busier than we'd like, transmitting a lot of road texture into the cabin. That's good for steering and handling, not so much for ride comfort. The AMG sport seats, while mostly supportive, took some time to adjust for comfort and never really felt just right. They also had a non-perforated upholstery that began to feel swampy after driving for more than an hour.

　　The climate controls are all touchscreen-based with a dedicated spot on the screen. The system has ample cooling capacity, but we felt the need to manually control the fan speed because it didn't seem to blow enough air when left on the auto setting. The greatest strength of the C-Class, at least in terms of comfort, was how quiet the cabin remained. It keeps all manner of sounds outside and you barely hear the engine at startup or idle.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below