2024 Mercedes-Benz C-Class review

Once a top seller, the C-Class is a staple but not a star in the Mercedes-Benz range.

These days the Three-Pointed Star’s mid-size executive sedan plays second fiddle to the GLC and GLE SUVs, and is often neck-and-neck in the sales race with the smaller A-Class range.

For the latest (W206) model launched in Australia in 2022, Mercedes-Benz streamlined the range in line with its agency model rollout. Prices are well up, too.

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz C 300 Sedan remains a pricey option. At $95,900 before on-road costs it’s risen by $5500 in a couple of years – making it over $100,000 on the road before you add optional colours and packages.

It’s aligned with its arch nemesis, the BMW 330i Sedan (from $94,700), but the Benz still needs a few boxes ticked to make it a proper luxury experience with all the available features and tech on offer.

With sedan sales on the decline, and the related GLC 300 SUV another $10,000 dearer than this mid-spec C-Class, is this luxury staple still worth a look?

Despite only mild electrification and increasing competition at this end of the market from mass-market EVs of similar size, the C-Class still has something to offer for the typical Benz buyer.

How much does the Mercedes-Benz C-Class cost?

Prices have slowly crept up since the current-generation C-Class launched in 2022. The range now opens with the C 200 Night Edition from $86,900 plus on-road costs or $89,990 drive-away.

On test we have the C 300 Sedan, which currently is priced from $95,900 before on-road costs. Drive-away, you’re looking at over $100,000 – that’s a lot for a four-cylinder sedan.

Prices exclude on-road costs.

To see how the C-Class lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool.

What is the Mercedes-Benz C-Class like on the inside?

The C-Class impresses has a lot of showroom appeal with its big screens and sweeping dash design. It feels a lot more modern than its predecessor.

Look closer and there’s a lot of fingerprint-prone gloss black surfaces and some harder, scratchier materials used lower down in the cabin, and we’ve had issues with the sliding drawer on the centre console being grabby or squeaky.

Ahead of the driver is Mercedes-Benz’s latest steering wheel with double-decker touch-capacitive spokes and a chunky, perforated Nappa leather rim. Unlike some of the trimmings, this feels really upmarket and futuristic.

The new controls may take a bit of getting used to, though. The funny shape and small control area mean you may not always find these controls to be accurate, and at times it’s just plain annoying.

Adjusting adaptive cruise control requires a diagonal swipe on a curved surface, so I was regularly going up or down by too much or just plain pressing the wrong thing.

Behind the steering wheel is a free-standing 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with a familiar Mercedes look and feel. Being MBUX 2.0 there’s a vast array of layouts and widgets debuted in the S-Class.

As we’ve come to expect, graphics are crisp, refresh rates are slick, and there’s plenty of configurability while also retaining its own personality compared to the digital cockpits from rivals.

Comfort up front is good thanks to the well-bolstered, supportive sports seats that come as standard with electric adjustment (including lumbar). Memory settings are standard in the C 300, too.

I found the footwell to be unusually tight though, with my left foot too large to sit on the foot rest without wedging against the plastic lining. The same thing occurred in the GLC, and even the E-Class in my recent testing.

The pièce de résistance is the stunning 11.9-inch portrait oriented touchscreen infotainment system, which juts out of the centre console as if Mercedes has bonded an iPad to the C-Class’s interior.

Running the MBUX 2.0 interface, the system supports over-the-air (OTA) software updates and even features a fingerprint scanner to unlock – much like we’re used to in smartphones.

The look and feel is familiar, but you get a larger display and integrated climate controls over to the first MBUX. It all works pretty well, and you could spend hours flicking through the menus and settings though it’s far less convoluted than before.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, and the former worked well during our loan if with the odd dropout in known dead spots around Melbourne. Connected services and DAB radio are also included.

Despite the medium size classification, the C-Class and its rivals have never been standout for rear practicality. The new C-Class does offer more room than its predecessor, partly thanks to an additional 25mm of wheelbase.

At 6’1 I fit behind my driving position just fine, but if you want more luxurious accommodation you’re better off looking at the more spacious GLC SUV.

Rear air vents, a fold-down armrest with cupholders, rear map pockets, and bottle holders in the door are standard fare, though it’s disappointing a third zone of climate control isn’t available on non-AMG C-Class models locally.

Kids will be fine back there, particularly if they’re in car seats. There’s ISOFIX anchor points for both outboard seating positions, and top-tether points across all three rear pews.

The C-Class Sedan offers 455 litres of boot capacity, which is the same as the previous model.

Unfortunately the C-Class Estate has been culled from the Australian lineup, meaning if you like the C-Class look and feel but want more space for the family’s luggage you’ll have to get a GLC.

As in the previous model, a chunky rear bumper makes for a fairly high loading lip, but the boot is pretty wide and square.

As the C-Class gets run-flat tyres across the range, there’s no spare wheel under the boot floor. Vehicles fitted with the 19-inch AMG alloy wheels (as tested) get a repair kit which includes an air compressor as well.

To see how the C-Class lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool.

What’s under the bonnet?

The C-Class is four-cylinder only – including AMG models.

To see how the C-Class lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool.

How does the Mercedes-Benz C-Class drive?

It may have hot hatch-rivalling outputs and AMG styling, but the C 300 isn’t really an AMG-lite.

Mercedes-Benz has definitely been going hard on comfort with its recent releases, and the C-Class definitely has more of a mini E- or S-Class vibe about it rather than it trying to go toe-to-toe with the 3 Series.

With 400Nm on tap from 2000rpm and nine ratios to choose from, the C 300 wants to waft along effortlessly rather than have its neck wrung.

Be gentle with it and it’s quite a comfortable and pleasant thing to cruise in. Put your foot down harder than there’s strong acceleration, but I’m not sure it feels 6.0s to 100km/h quick.

The ride is pretty cushy as well, especially in its Comfort setting. There’s a nice soft rebound to the suspension and there’s a touch of roll in corners even in its Sport setting.

All the driver controls are light and heavily assisted, which makes mundane daily commutes and manoeuvres much easier but also takes away feel.

It all plays into that Benz focus on comfort and driving refinement – if you don’t want to feel super connected to the car and road thanks to a layer of cushioning, it’ll suit your tastes just fine.

Noise from the 2.0-litre petrol engine is pretty well subdued, and only under hard acceleration do you get a whiff of its gravelly note. It’s not as raucous as some other four-cylinder Mercedes models, but it’s not as sweet as the 330i.

The 48V mild-hybrid system helps the C 300 come to a smooth stop when using idle stop-start and fires the engine up again almost imperceptibly. However, despite the 48V architecture it doesn’t seem to be able to keep the engine off for long when at a standstill, which somewhat defeats the purpose of the larger battery in my opinion.

Our test car wasn’t fitted with the optional Plus Package, and therefore missed out on the full gamut of driver assists available on the C-Class.

Adaptive cruise control worked fine but lacks a traffic jam function in its basic form. Likewise the C 300 will keep you away from lane markings but won’t actively centre you in your lane unless you tick the option box.

Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic assist are handy, as is the standard surround camera system. However it’s pretty disappointing you need to spend more money on a $100,000 car to add assistance features you’ll find on base model Toyotas, Hyundais, and Kias.

The standard LED headlights with auto high-beam are likewise fine, but Mercedes-Benz’s adaptive high-beam tech tied to the optional Digital Light headlights is pretty swish and will help on poorly-lit regional roads.

What do you get?

The C-Class is a sedan-only affair in Australia, with two non-AMG variants offered.

C 200 + C 300 standard equipment:

Exterior

• AMG Line exterior
• Agility Control suspension – lowered
• 19-inch AMG multispoke alloys – bicolour
• Rear privacy glass
• Metallic paint – excl. Manufaktur
• Ambient lighting incl. logo projection
• Exterior mirrors – power adjust, folding, heated
• Keyless-Go – keyless entry, auto boot
• LED headlights
• Adaptive Highbeam Assist
• 360-degree camera
• Tirefit – repair kit
• Tyre pressure monitoring
• Panoramic sliding sunroof

Interior

• AMG Line interior
• Sports front seats
• Anthracite Linestructure Lime Wood trim
• Centre console in high-gloss black
• Ambient lighting plus
• Artico upholstery
• Roof liner in black
• Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
• Electrically adjustable front seats
• Memory Package – front seats
• Heated front seats
• Folding rear seat backrests – 40:20:40 split
• Dual-zone climate control
• MBUX 11.9-inch multimedia system
• MBUX Navigation Premium
• Apple CarPlay, Android Auto – wireless
• DAB+ digital radio
• 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
• Wireless smartphone charger
• Mercedes-Me Connect
• Head-up display
• USB Package

Options

One main option package is available for the C 200 and C 300.

Plus Package: $6900

• Driving Assistance Package Plus
• MBUX Augmented Reality Navigation
• Digital Light – Adaptive headlights
• Burmester 3D surround sound
• Urban Guard vehicle protection
• Heat, noise insulating acoustic glass

Manufaktur paint: $1500

• Patagonia Red Bright Metallic
• Opalite White Bright Metallic

Is the Mercedes-Benz C-Class safe?

The C-Class wears a five-star ANCAP safety rating, based on Euro NCAP testing in 2022.

It scored 91 per cent for adult occupant protection, 90 per cent for child occupant protection, 80 per cent for pedestrian protection, and 84 per cent for safety assist.

Standard safety equipment includes:

• 10 airbags incl. front-centre airbag
• Active Parking Assist
• Adaptive cruise control – Distronic
• Adaptive High Beam Assist – auto high-beam
• AEB with Pedestrian, Cyclist detection
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Lane keep assist
• Parking sensors – front, rear
• Rear cross-traffic assist
• Surround camera system
• Traffic sign assist

Plus Package adds:

• Driving Assistant Package Plus
  • Active Lane Change Assist
  • Adaptive cruise control with stop, go
  • Adaptive High Beam Assist Plus
  • Evasive manoeuvre support
  • Pre-Safe impulse side
  • Route-based speed adaptation

How much does the Mercedes-Benz C-Class cost to run?

Mercedes-Benz covers its range with a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty in Australia.

CarExpert’s Take on the Mercedes-Benz C-Class

There’s something about some of the latest Mercedes-Benz models that leaves me underwhelmed.

I can appreciate the focus on comfort and refinement, as well as the glossy tech inclusions that seem like a natural progression for rusted-on Benz owners looking to spend up from an older model.

What I can’t really get past is the value equation. The fact the C 300 before optional colours and packages is already more than $100,000 drive-away seems exorbitant to me – not long ago this was where the old AMG C 43 sat.

It’s also disappointing the C-Class lacks a full driver assistance package as standard despite costing what it does.

The lack of the Estate wagon body grates, given there will be plenty of people wanting more boot space but unwilling to spend another $10,000 for a GLC.

You also can’t get a non-AMG Line version anymore so every C-Class in Australia looks just about the same.

There’s no proper hybrid option either, despite a C 300e with 100km of EV range being available abroad. When you’re spending this kind of money, customers should be afforded more choice.

Click the images for the full gallery

MORE: Buy a Mercedes-Benz C-Class MORE: Everything Mercedes-Benz C-Class