Latest News
Buy this Ford vs Ferrari GT40 Movie Car2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class: Baby S-Class
What do our experts think of the 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class? We look at powertrain, interior options, trim levels, and more. Find out our thoughts here.
What’s New for the 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?
In a couple of words, almost everything. Mercedes continues to utilize the same 2.0-liter engine from the last C-Class but now it makes more power. Aside from it, the rest of the car has been updated significantly.
2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class – netcarshow.com | Shop 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class on Carsforsale.com
The Breakdown
Eager engine
Luxury materials
High tech features
Fussy infotainment system
Tight cabin for taller adults
Steep control learning curve
Can’t wait for the AMG
2022 Mercedes-Benz Specs
- 255 horsepower from base engine
- 295 lb-ft of torque from base engine
- 3 available trims
- 12.6 cu-ft of cargo capacity
- Cool graphical goodies in the infotainment system
- Standard emergency stop assist
- Four-Year Warranty
2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Powertrain
Mercedes quite clearly aimed for a baby S-Class vibe with the new C 300 but we’re happy to report that they two couldn’t drive more differently. The C 300 is notably more agile in every way. In fact, we’d go so far as to say that it’s almost a sports sedan. The only thing holding it back is a lack of brute force that we expect the upcoming AMG version to address.
Despite that lack of ferocity, the 2022 Mercedes-Benz C 300 is a responsive and engaging car to drive. Under the hood of all C 300s is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with mild hybrid technology. In this case, that means that there’s a small electrical motor integrated into the transmission to help with auto stop/starts and to add a small boost of horsepower whenever needed.
Responding to feedback through the pedals took me almost a full week to really master but once that touch comes they’re both predictable and easy to use. The steering can feel a little light on center but beyond that it’s progressive and communicative.
The C 300 offers a near-perfect blend of highway cruising comfort and back road sharpness. In a straight line the 4Matic (AWD) version will go from 0-60 in just 5.3 seconds which is downright quick for a car far short of 300 horsepower. The available driving modes don’t feel all that different but it’s clear that shift points are changed and that the car is adapting its behavior based on that selection.
2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Fuel Economy & MPG
The rear-wheel drive version of the 2022 C 300 should get up to 25 mpg in the city and 35 on the highway according to the EPA. The AWD version sees those figures drop to 23 and 33 respectively. In terms of combined ratings, the former gets 29 and the latter is rated at 27. In our week with the car we observed 27.7 mpg combined. That’s above average for the class.
Interior, Comfort, & Cargo Space
If the adage that people remember how you make them feel is true then it might also be said that people remember how cars make them feel. We think the cabin of the C 300 will make just about everyone in its target demographic feel pretty special. It’s lavishly appointed with a combination of luxurious soft-touch materials and high-quality hard surfaces. The pinstripe dash in our test vehicle is very similar to an option in the S-Class and the Burmester speaker grilles are finished with a beautiful design flourish too.
The switchgear is especially pleasing to use. For example, the seat adjustment switches on each door panel provide just enough movement to communicate that you’ve activated them, no more, no less. The climate vents provide a very satisfying click as you close them and feel taut and secure as you aim them. At the same time, it’s not all perfect. The Piano black plastics found throughout the cabin look and feel cheaper and they show up fingerprints in a way that you might not believe possible.
Thankfully, that’s a very small gripe in what’s otherwise a great place to spend time. The seats are supportive and highly adjustable, visibility is excellent, and the climate controls work smoothly. Taller folks will struggle to find a seating position that’s both upright AND comfortable and they certainly won’t fit in the back seats either. We recommend reserving that for smaller people and kids for most trips.
2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Entertainment & Tech
The latest version of Mercedes’ MBUX infotainment system is now a part of every C-Class. It consists of a large portrait-oriented 12.3-inch infotainment system and a digital dashboard. Over our week with the car we experienced a mixed bag of both great and disappointing features.
We loved the navigation which came with an augmented reality feature in our test car. To put it simply, it would show a live view of the road ahead with what look like floating directions that move and get closer as you drive up to them. It’s intuitive, easy to use, and hopefully something we’ll see on a lot of future cars.
We also loved touches like the Graphical Goodies setting which will add small visual flourishes and embellishments to the interface from time to time. Voice controls through the system are also very impressive. Not only did it follow every request for navigation immediately but it nailed most other commands too with regard to climate, phone calls, and more.
Sadly, the infotainment system itself requires far too many touch inputs and they’re not highly accurate. Volume is controlled by a slider both on the steering wheel and the main screen and that’s fine but it’s also hard to fine-tune or to be subtle with. In addition, we found that many times, the system would completely miss our inputs or simply be a second or so delayed in communicating that it did catch a touch or a swipe. A real volume knob and real physical buttons wouldn’t feel like a downgrade to us on a future C-Class.
Safety Features
Neither the NHTSA nor the IIHS has yet to release any testing data on the 2022 Mercedes-Benz C 300. Despite that, we expect it to do well as it was a Top Safety Pick+ according to the IIHS in 2021. On top of that, it comes with a lot of advanced driver assistance technology as standard equipment. Blind-spot monitoring, forward collision mitigation, drowsy driver alert, emergency stop assist, and more are all standard features. Adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and an automated parking system are available in an optional package.
2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Trims & Pricing
Premium – $44,600
The C 300 comes with RWD but all trims can be had with AWD, what Mercedes calls 4Matic for a small upcharge. This base trim also gets a sunroof, 18-inch wheels, a hands-free trunk lid, dual-zone automatic climate control, a digital instrument panel, faux leather upholstery, ambient lighting, a Wi-Fi hotspot, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and a 12.3-inch infotainment system.
Buyers can add a driver assistance package on top of any trim which adds evasive steering assist, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot intervention, lane-departure warning, and more. Individual options, like a heated steering wheel, ventilated leather upholstery, and adaptive headlights are available as well.
Exclusive – $46,850
The mid-tier Exclusive trim adds a Burmester audio system, a wireless charging pad, streaming music services, and a 360-degree camera system to aid with parking.
Pinnacle – $48,550
The top trim gets a heads-up display, the augmented reality graphics mentioned above, and integrated navigation.
Warranties
Every 2022 Mercedes-Benz C 300 comes with a limited warranty and a powertrain warranty that covers the first four years or 50,000 miles of its life. No complimentary maintenance is offered. That’s not as good as some competitors like BMW.
What we think
2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class – netcarshow.com | Shop 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class on Carsforsale.com
The C-Class used to be the entry level car that Mercedes built to grow the brand. Now, it’s a bonafide baby S-Class with the comfort, technology, and luxury to stand up to that moniker. It’s also priced to be highly competitive with the rest of its segment and it’s by far the best driving small luxury sedan save for the motorsports-branded offshoots available. Karl Benz would be proud.
Most Popular
