The Mercedes-Benz C-Class has long been synonymous with luxury and sophistication in the compact sedan segment. Recently, while my own vehicle was undergoing some repairs, I had the opportunity to spend some quality time with a brand-new 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300 4MATIC sedan as a loaner. This experience provided a great chance to delve into the details of this popular model and see how it stacks up in real-world driving.
First impressions are important, and the C300 certainly makes a good one. The exterior styling is undeniably handsome. In a market often flooded with cars that struggle to stand out, the C300 manages to exude a refined elegance that is both modern and distinctly Mercedes-Benz. The flowing lines and balanced proportions create a visually appealing silhouette that catches the eye without being overly aggressive.
Stepping inside, the interior of the 2016 C300 elevates the experience further. The cabin is undeniably luxurious, particularly for front passengers. The seats are exceptionally comfortable and offer a vast range of power adjustments, ensuring that drivers of almost any size can find their ideal driving position. Initially, adjusting from an SUV to the lower sedan seating position took a little acclimatization, and the car does encourage a slightly reclined posture. However, after a bit of fine-tuning, a comfortable and commanding driving position was easily achieved. Rear passenger space, however, is a bit more constrained, especially legroom if the front seats are pushed back. The rear center seat is best reserved for occasional use or smaller occupants.
One of the standout features of the test vehicle was the expansive dual sunroof. The front section is impressively large, and while the rear section is smaller, the sheer amount of glass adds a tremendous sense of airiness and light to the cabin. Although the sunroof doesn’t fully retract, opening approximately 80% of the way, it still provides an open-air feel that is truly enjoyable.
Moving to the technological aspects, the media controls in the C300 present a bit of a learning curve. The touchpad interface, common in many contemporary luxury vehicles, feels somewhat less intuitive than traditional rotary dials. While it offers a degree of functionality, a more conventional wheel-based control might be preferred by some for its tactile ease of use while driving.
Furthermore, the infotainment system’s responsiveness felt a touch sluggish, especially when compared to systems in more recent vehicles. Menu transitions and actions exhibited a slight delay, which, while not a major impediment, is noticeable and somewhat detracts from the otherwise premium feel. The absence of dedicated physical buttons for track skipping is another minor ergonomic drawback. Without navigating to the media screen, changing tracks or adjusting volume requires accessing a pop-up menu via the touchpad, adding extra steps to what should be simple actions.
In contrast, the climate controls are thoughtfully designed and aesthetically pleasing. The round air vents are a distinctive design element and contribute to the overall upscale ambiance of the interior. However, the climate control system relies solely on rocker switches, lacking traditional dials for temperature and fan speed. Adjustments are displayed on the central screen, requiring the driver to divert their gaze from the road momentarily to confirm changes.
Under the hood, the 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300 boasts a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 engine, delivering a respectable 241 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. This powertrain proves to be more than adequate for daily driving. While not delivering neck-snapping acceleration, the turbocharger provides a noticeable surge of power once it spools up, pressing occupants comfortably into the plush seats. The C300’s relatively light weight, combined with the 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system, ensures that power is effectively transferred to the road, providing confident and secure acceleration in various conditions.
However, there is a hint of hesitation off the line. The 2.0L engine, before the turbo engages, lacks significant low-end grunt, and the accelerator pedal response in standard modes can feel somewhat soft. Switching to the “Sport” driving modes noticeably sharpens throttle response and mitigates this initial lag, enhancing the driving experience.
The 7-speed automatic transmission in the C300 is programmed with a distinctly different character compared to some other Mercedes-Benz models. It prioritizes rapid gear changes, particularly skipping through lower gears like 2nd, seemingly in an effort to keep the engine within its optimal power band and maintain turbo boost. While this contributes to brisk acceleration, it can occasionally result in slightly abrupt shifts, and the overall smoothness of gear changes is not quite as refined as in some other vehicles.
The auto start/stop feature, increasingly common 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, when making very slow maneuvers, such as creeping forward in traffic or parking, the frequent engine stop-starts can be particularly intrusive. Fortunately, the system can be deactivated via a button, though it annoyingly defaults back to the ‘on’ state every time the car is started.
Another modern feature, the push-button start, also elicits mixed feelings. While convenient, it lacks the definitive tactile feedback of a traditional key, leaving a slight ambiguity as to the car’s ignition status for those accustomed to older systems.
In terms of handling, the 2016 C300 strikes a good balance between agility and comfort. It inspires confidence in corners and feels planted and stable, but it is not designed to be a sharply focused sports sedan. While enjoyable to drive on winding roads, its primary focus remains on providing a comfortable and composed ride. It is a car that excels at relaxed cruising and confident daily driving rather than outright sporty maneuvers.
The C300 features multiple driving modes that tailor the car’s behavior to different preferences and conditions. These modes – Economy, Comfort, Sport, Sport+, and Individual – adjust throttle response, steering feel, shift points, auto start/stop operation, and even climate control settings.
Economy mode prioritizes fuel efficiency. It activates the auto start/stop aggressively, significantly dampens throttle response, and prompts the transmission to upshift as quickly as possible. It also reduces the load on the climate control system to further minimize fuel consumption.
Comfort mode, arguably the default or “normal” setting, provides a balanced driving experience. Throttle response is moderate, steering is light, gear changes are smooth and conventional, auto start/stop is active but less intrusive than in Economy mode, and climate control operates without restrictions.
Sport mode sharpens the driving dynamics noticeably. Throttle response becomes crisp and immediate, steering firms up for enhanced feedback, and the transmission holds lower gears for longer, keeping the engine in its power band. However, auto start/stop remains enabled in this mode.
Sport+ mode represents the most aggressive setting. While it further enhances throttle and steering response, the transmission behavior becomes overly aggressive, resulting in harsh and clunky gear changes, especially under full throttle. For a luxury-oriented sedan like the C300, the Sport+ mode feels somewhat out of character and less refined. Interestingly, Sport+ is the only mode that automatically deactivates the auto start/stop system.
In conclusion, the 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300 4MATIC is a well-rounded and appealing luxury sedan. It offers a handsome design, a genuinely luxurious and comfortable interior, and a capable turbocharged engine. While the infotainment system and some aspects of the transmission tuning could be more refined, and features like auto start/stop and push-button start might not appeal to everyone, the C300 delivers a compelling package overall. If you’re in the market for a luxurious yet relatively compact four-door sedan that blends comfort with a touch of sportiness, the 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300 is certainly worth considering. It’s a car that ultimately leans towards comfortable sophistication, making it a strong contender in its class.
