There are automotive consumers out there who consider Mercedes-Benz to be an elitist automaker building cars out of reach to the average buyer.
That’s a double edged for Mercedes. It’s a great global branding identity to be synonymous with quality cars. But, that ID can cut off a huge sector of potential buyers if millions of working professionals think a Benz is out of reach.
So, I imagine the minds behind Mercedes-Benz tossing and turning late at night agonizing over how to bring Merc quality to a wider range of buyers. (I don’t think that really happens. I’m sure Mercedes-Benz executives have very comfortable careers and home lives. I just enjoy coming up with dramatic scenarios to make cars cinematic.)
Still, the need to maintain the elite Mercedes-Benz brand while manufacturing car options reachable by more potential buyers is a legit problem Merc solves with the outstanding, yet comparatively affordable 2015 C-Class. With a starting MSRP around $40,000 and enough trademark precision and technology to quality as a legitimate Mercedes-Benz, the C-Class opens up a new level of Benz performance to more potential buyers.
A week-long test drive offered up a 2015 C300 4MATIC, a 4Matic four door Sedan with AWD and 2.0 liter four cylinder, turbocharged engine. That power plant serves up 241 horsepower and a 0-60 time of 6.1 seconds. If you want more pop and a six cylinder engine, you can step up to the pricier C400.
The car’s performance is polished with a very efficient driving mode selector system switching smoothly from Economy to Comfort, Sport to Sport+. The system immediately responds to the driver’s demands – a philosophy carried through the rest of the car’s design.
Related: 2014 Mazda 3 S Five Door Grand Touring
The driving experience lacks some of the trademark pleasant, reassuring “heaviness” of a Mercedes-Benz. But, the C300 lacks none of the perfect balance and spot on responsiveness a Mercedes-Benz promises. This is not a sample of Mercedes-Benz light. It provides all of the pleasure, excitement, comfort and luxury provided by any model in the line.
The exterior styling turns head and promotes the driver to a level of social status and public importance that is (in my case) thoroughly undeserved. But, I still got to enjoy the fuss. Though it’s a luxury sedan, the lines taper to an aggressive grill dacha reminiscent of a sports ride.
Technology is massively important to the Mercedes-Benz identity, and (depending on trim level) the cabin of a C300 is packed with the automaker’s signature gadgetry. The star of the show is the touch screen extended above the traditional COMAND dial controller Merc uses to select audio functions, control navigation, adapting climate, etc. That dial is still on duty, but the touchscreen serves the same purpose and is much more tacitly satisfying to play with as you drive along.
It can be a wonderful and special thing to get a hold of a new Mercedes-Benz for a manageable price. Thanks to the re-created C300, you have the opportunity to experience that.
