Fine stitching, buffed metal, and lovely paneling are the price of entry in the $30,000 to $60,000 luxury segment; the $39,325 Mercedes-Benz C-class vaults itself above its pricing peers with astonishing functional and aesthetic details.
For example, it’s common practice to attach seat controls to the bottom cushion to reduce door-panel clutter and simplify wiring runs. Mercedes’ switchgear—so elegant it deserves a plinth at the Museum of Modern Art—is sited prominently on the door, where it’s easy to see and operate. The controls for windows, locks, side mirrors, and trunk access are on the door, too, canted slightly to provide laser sightlines.
The C-class’s tach and speedometer resemble NASA surplus items. The headlamp switch is so smart, no off position is even offered. Savvy buyers skip the cost of leather because the standard vinyl trim has such a satisfying feel. Moving the transmission selector to the steering column cleared console space for the navigation and audio controls. Rather than make you hang an arm in the air to operate a touch screen, Mercedes places the COMAND knob right where your hand falls and offers a touchpad to simplify navigation entries.
The C-class doesn’t just look similar to more-expensive Benzes, it feels like a six-figure car. Michael Brueger, former Car and Driver road warrior and Mercedes-Benz senior sales associate, reports that customers have noticed. “Every C-class owner’s first impression is that they’ve died and gone to S-class heaven,” he says. “The excellence they notice operating the new C300’s controls and stroking its trim is essentially the same as in our $150,000 flagship.”
- 2015 Mercedes-Benz C400 4MATIC: An S-class, with a Lowercase ‘S’
- How We’d Spec It: The Pebble Beach–iest Mercedes 2015 C-class Sedan
- Mercedes-Benz C-class Research: Full Pricing, Specs, Reviews, and More
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