The 2022 Mercedes-Benz C300 Sedan Is Like A Baby S-Class

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz C300 is an absolute stunner, and it’s easy for those not in the know to mistake it at first glance for it’s much more expensive big brother, the S-Class. Sharing more than a few styling cues with their flagship sedan, the new C-Class exudes luxury inside and out that others in this class just can’t compete with.

Longer and wider than its predecessor, the new-generation C-Class showcases an all-new, cab-backward exterior design. The sporty look is accentuated by the new grille with an open star pattern and power domes on the hood that lend the vehicle an aggressive profile and striking new look. The new headlights, two-piece horizontal taillight design and sleek side profile with a higher shoulder line underscore the character of the C-Class as a modern sport sedan.

At the rear end, the high-quality design of the tail lamps fascinates with an unmistakable day and night appearance. For the first time, the tail lamps have a two-piece design on the C-Class, with the light functions divided between the side wall and trunk lid. Other features producing the sporty, superior appearance include the wide track width and the flush 19-inch AMG multispoke wheels.

In order to streamline the packaging structures, the new Mercedes-Benz C300 sedan is offered in 3 highly-equipped, strategically curated trims: Premium, Exclusive and Pinnacle. Each trim is available on both the C300 and C300 4MATIC Sedan. Our tester was a top-of-the-line C300 4MATIC Sedan in Pinnacle trim, along with a plethora of other options, pushing the sticker price up to $62,270, a considerable jump from the base price of $43,550.

What exactly do you get for all of that money? Virtually every creature comfort and feature you could imagine! Just be aware that everything comes at a price (including the stunning Cirrus Silver Metallic paint [$750] and AMG Power Red/Black Leather upholstery [$1,620]), so choose your options wisely or end up with a severe case of sticker shock.

That said, the Enhanced Ambient Lighting package is unbelievably cool, turning your interior into a nightclub. The Panorama Roof lets a ton of natural light in. And the pricey AMG Line with Night Package really transforms the look of the car inside and out, so it’s a must-have. And the Driver Assistance Package has every safety feature you can imagine to keep you and your passengers safe.

For now, there’s only one engine choice offered, and it’s a new turbocharged 4-cylinder engine with an integrated starter generator and 48-volt mild hybrid technology. With an output of 255 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, the C300 models benefit from an increase of 22 lb-ft of torque compared to the predecessor. The mild hybrid system provides a further 148 lb-ft of torque as well as up to an additional 20 hp for short periods for smooth acceleration and power delivery.

Horsepower and torque numbers are virtually identical to the 2022 BMW 330i that it competes against, and it feels downright peppy around town. Lag is barely noticeable, and the only real downside to the turbocharged 2.0-liter I4 engine is that the exhaust note sounds like an old diesel, it’s not exactly sporty. Such is the price we pay for better gas mileage (23 city/33 hwy).

A 9-speed automatic transmission coupled with the 4MATIC drive system delivers power to all four wheels fast and efficiently, and I found the car to deliver amazing grip in the rain, even with the aggressive Goodyear Eagle F1 summer tires that came on our car.

The interior of the 2022 Mercedes-Benz C300 sedan is a thing of beauty, with a clear focus on technology with its freestanding 12.3″ digital instrument panel and new large 11.9″ central touchscreen multimedia display, along with high-quality materials. Our car looked especially sporty with the red/black leather and carbon fiber as far as the eye can see. Seats were super comfy, lots of luxurious details throughout, really a nice place to call home.

While the 12.3-inch infotainment display is pretty great and smartly designed, the lack of ANY physical buttons was a huge pain point for me. Something as simple as raising or lowering the volume is very cumbersome, and the steering wheel controls are equally bad. Putting a couple of small round knobs at the bottom of the screen would make a world of difference. Also, the wireless CarPlay was a bit flakey, disconnecting quite a bit.

Otherwise, I’m a big fan of the MBUX infotainment system. Our car had Augmented Video for Navigation, and it’s one of the coolest things I’ve used. A camera registers the surroundings in front of the vehicle and moving images are shown on the center display, with direction arrows, traffic signs, and other things superimposed on the video image. Game changer!

Seeing as how the C-Class has been the highest-volume Mercedes-Benz model over the past decade (with over 2.5 million sold), there’s clearly a lot riding on this new generation C-Class. The sports sedan market is as competitive as ever, with a lot of great cars to choose from, like the BMW 330i, Audi A4, Lexus IS 350, Genesis G70, Acura TLX, and others.

All of the aforementioned cars are great in their own right, each catering to a specific niche. The 2022 Mercedes-Benz C300 Sedan focuses on luxury first and foremost, and it delivers that in spades. Sure, there are cars that are slightly faster, handle better, or are cheaper to buy. But if you want a true luxury vehicle in this segment, the Mercedes-Benz C300 is the one to get.

Mercedes-Benz really knocked it out of the park, with the new C-Class poised to redefine the benchmark and take comfort, safety and the overall driver and passenger experience to a completely new level. Needless to say, if you’re in the market for a new car, this one should definitely be on your short list.