Recently, while my own car was undergoing repairs, I had the opportunity to drive a loaner vehicle – a brand-new 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300 4MATIC sedan. This experience provided a firsthand look at what this luxury compact sedan offers, and it’s safe to say the C300 made a strong impression.
Exterior Design: Handsome and Modern
The first thing that strikes you about the Mercedes-Benz C300 2016 is its appealing design. In a market where many cars struggle to stand out aesthetically, the C300 manages to be genuinely handsome. It possesses a modern and sophisticated look that is both elegant and sporty, a balance that Mercedes-Benz often achieves effectively.
Interior Comfort and Space: Front-Seat Luxury, Rear-Seat Compromises
Stepping inside, the interior of the C300 is undeniably luxurious and comfortable, especially for those in the front seats. The seats offer a vast range of power adjustments, ensuring that almost any driver can find their ideal driving position. Initially, adjusting from an SUV to the lower sedan seating position took a little acclimatization, and the seat’s default “lean back” posture wasn’t my preference. However, after some fine-tuning, a comfortable and upright driving position was easily achievable.
However, the rear passenger space is less generous. Legroom in the back is somewhat limited, particularly if the front seats are pushed back to accommodate taller occupants. The rear center seat is also best reserved for occasional use or smaller passengers, lacking the comfort for adults on longer journeys.
Adding to the sense of spaciousness, the C300 features a large dual sunroof. The front section is expansive, and while the rear section is smaller, it still contributes to a bright and airy cabin. Although the sunroof doesn’t fully retract, opening approximately 80% of the way, it’s still a very welcome feature.
[](Mercedes-Benz C300 2016 Touchpad Control for Infotainment System)
Technology and Infotainment: A Mixed Bag
Navigating the media controls in the C300 requires a period of adjustment. The touchpad interface, a feature becoming increasingly common in luxury vehicles, is present here. While offering a modern approach, it’s debatable whether it’s an improvement over traditional control wheels. Personally, a rotary wheel feels more intuitive and less distracting while driving.
Furthermore, the infotainment system’s responsiveness felt somewhat sluggish, especially when compared to older Mercedes-Benz models. Menu transitions and actions seemed to have a slight delay, reminiscent of a computer struggling with graphics processing.
Another minor ergonomic drawback is the absence of dedicated next/back track buttons. If you’re not actively on the media screen, changing tracks or adjusting volume requires navigating through menus, adding unnecessary steps to simple tasks.
[](Mercedes-Benz C300 2016 Climate Control Vents and Buttons)
Climate Control: Stylish and Functional
In contrast to the infotainment, the climate controls are well-designed and aesthetically pleasing. The round air vents are a standout design element, adding a touch of classic elegance to the interior. The climate controls utilize rocker switches instead of dials, requiring a glance at the central screen to confirm temperature or fan speed adjustments. While visually clean, physical dials might offer quicker, tactile adjustments.
Engine and Performance: Turbocharged Power and Agile Handling
Under the hood, this particular Mercedes-Benz C300 2016 is equipped with a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 cylinder engine. This engine produces a respectable 241 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. These figures translate to more than adequate performance for daily driving. While not delivering neck-snapping acceleration, once the turbocharger engages, the C300 provides a noticeable surge of power, pressing you comfortably into those plush seats.
The car’s relatively light weight combined with the available power results in brisk acceleration and confident highway merging. The 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system ensures excellent traction, effectively putting the power down, even in less-than-ideal conditions.
However, there is a slight hesitation off the line. The 2.0L engine lacks significant low-end torque before the turbocharger spools up. This, coupled with a somewhat soft accelerator pedal feel in Comfort mode, can make initial acceleration feel a bit underwhelming. Switching to “Sport” mode noticeably sharpens throttle response and mitigates this issue.
The 7-speed automatic transmission, while the same unit as in some older models, is programmed differently in the C300. It shifts gears more rapidly, particularly skipping 2nd gear in many situations. This programming seems geared towards keeping the engine in its power band and maintaining turbo boost. However, this can occasionally result in slightly abrupt gear changes and a less smooth overall driving experience compared to transmissions tuned for smoother transitions.
The auto start/stop system, now commonplace in modern vehicles, is present in the C300. While the engine restarts quickly, the accompanying shudder through the car is noticeable and can become tiresome in stop-and-go traffic. Furthermore, in slow maneuvering situations like parking, the frequent engine stop-starts can be particularly irritating. Thankfully, the system can be deactivated, although it defaults back to “on” with each restart of the vehicle.
The push-button start system, while modern, doesn’t entirely replace the tactile reassurance of a traditional key ignition. There’s a certain ambiguity about the car’s “on” or “off” state compared to the definitive action of turning a key.
Handling in the C300 is excellent, striking a balance between confident cornering and comfortable cruising. It’s not a dedicated sports sedan, lacking the “toss-able” nature of lighter, more focused sports cars. However, it inspires confidence in corners and offers a degree of driving fun. Ultimately, the C300 leans towards comfort and luxury, which aligns with its intended purpose.
Driving Modes: Customizing Your Ride
The 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300 offers a range of driving modes, extending beyond the typical “economy” and “sport” settings. These include:
- Economy
- Comfort
- Sport
- Sport+
- Individual (customizable settings)
Each mode adjusts several parameters: throttle response, steering feel, transmission shift points, auto start/stop engagement, and climate control settings.
Economy mode prioritizes fuel efficiency. It activates auto start/stop aggressively, significantly mutes throttle response, and prompts the transmission to upshift as early as possible. It also reduces the load on the climate control system, mainly the air conditioning, to further conserve fuel.
Comfort mode, effectively the “normal” mode, provides a balanced driving experience. Throttle response is light, steering is moderately weighted, gear shifts are normal, auto start/stop is active but less intrusive than in Economy mode, and climate control operates without restrictions.
Sport mode sharpens the driving dynamics. Throttle response becomes noticeably more immediate, steering firms up, and the transmission holds lower gears for longer, keeping the engine in its power band. Auto start/stop remains enabled, and climate control is unchanged.
Sport+ mode intensifies the Sport settings further. While throttle response and steering are enhanced, the transmission behavior becomes overly aggressive. Gear changes, especially under full throttle, can be abrupt and clunky, detracting from the refined driving experience expected in a Mercedes-Benz. For a luxury sedan like the C300, the extreme nature of Sport+ mode feels somewhat out of place. Interestingly, Sport+ is the only mode that automatically deactivates the auto start/stop system, although it can be manually disabled in any mode.
Conclusion
Overall, the 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300 is a thoroughly enjoyable and well-rounded luxury sedan. While the transmission tuning and auto start/stop system might not be to everyone’s taste, the C300 excels in delivering a comfortable, luxurious, and engaging driving experience. If you are in the market for a relatively compact luxury 4-door sedan that offers a blend of sophistication and driving enjoyment, the Mercedes-Benz C300 2016 is certainly a compelling option and a car you could do far worse than choosing.
