Just got back from our C-Class training for the upcoming release in the USA.
We drove the C300 and four competitors. BMW328, Lexus IS250, Infiniti G35 and the Acura TL. What you quickly learn is just how competitive this segment is. The Mercedes was a great car, but the interior was the weak point as many have suggested. The sport steering wheel is ugly and the retractable Nav screen looks like an afterthought. Comfort and material quality was very good, but I can't say that it is better than anything else. The exterior of the C is very striking. It is conservative but powerful and exudes Mercedes confidence. The beige interior is the nicest and it is a joke that MB will not offer it in the sport versions. Wheels are the best they've offered on the C so far.
The most impressive car at the event was the G35. The interior was brilliant with plenty of quality materials and tasteful design. It had a very good nav system. The engine is a screemer. With a 300hp V6 it was the leader of the pack. The exterior is nice. I loved it. It is much better than the 1st generation G. Fully loaded for $39k, this will give the MB, Audi and BMW fits.
The BMW delivered what you'd expect. Although the interior on the BMW is a little bland it is solid. However it was also the priciest of the bunch by a wide margin. The G35 was over $4,000 less and had better features.
The Lexus had nice features, but the back seat space is the worst of this class and the exterior styling is lacking. It looks too much like a kid's tuner car and not a sophisticated sport sedan. The ventilated seats were the best I had experienced in any car. Much better than what Mercedes offers in the S. You can really feel the cool air circulating around your legs. In fact I beleive the IS was the only competitor to offer this feature in this category.
The Acura TL is the largest of the bunch with diminsions of an E and 5-series. The front wheel drive stinks of course and the interior is a mess of buttons and knobs. The interior doesn't come across as a real contender. For a family this car has the size and price to do well. The comparison would have been better served with an A4.
Overall, the C should place MB squarely in the competitive field. Drivewise it has a quality that none of the other vehicles had. The BMW will out handle it, the G35 will outrun it, but the Mercedes has a delightful feel. Even in the sport trim it handles the imperfections in the road the best while still feeling tight in the corners. Most of these cars will kill you with tire noise, but the Mercedes is very quiet. The C-class is not ahead of the curve, but is a solid effort and we suspect it will be very price competitive. To my pleasure I found out that the C will offer the sunroof, dual power seats, and bluetooth as standard equipment. This will really simplify the ordering guide.
We drove the C300 and four competitors. BMW328, Lexus IS250, Infiniti G35 and the Acura TL. What you quickly learn is just how competitive this segment is. The Mercedes was a great car, but the interior was the weak point as many have suggested. The sport steering wheel is ugly and the retractable Nav screen looks like an afterthought. Comfort and material quality was very good, but I can't say that it is better than anything else. The exterior of the C is very striking. It is conservative but powerful and exudes Mercedes confidence. The beige interior is the nicest and it is a joke that MB will not offer it in the sport versions. Wheels are the best they've offered on the C so far.
The most impressive car at the event was the G35. The interior was brilliant with plenty of quality materials and tasteful design. It had a very good nav system. The engine is a screemer. With a 300hp V6 it was the leader of the pack. The exterior is nice. I loved it. It is much better than the 1st generation G. Fully loaded for $39k, this will give the MB, Audi and BMW fits.
The BMW delivered what you'd expect. Although the interior on the BMW is a little bland it is solid. However it was also the priciest of the bunch by a wide margin. The G35 was over $4,000 less and had better features.
The Lexus had nice features, but the back seat space is the worst of this class and the exterior styling is lacking. It looks too much like a kid's tuner car and not a sophisticated sport sedan. The ventilated seats were the best I had experienced in any car. Much better than what Mercedes offers in the S. You can really feel the cool air circulating around your legs. In fact I beleive the IS was the only competitor to offer this feature in this category.
The Acura TL is the largest of the bunch with diminsions of an E and 5-series. The front wheel drive stinks of course and the interior is a mess of buttons and knobs. The interior doesn't come across as a real contender. For a family this car has the size and price to do well. The comparison would have been better served with an A4.
Overall, the C should place MB squarely in the competitive field. Drivewise it has a quality that none of the other vehicles had. The BMW will out handle it, the G35 will outrun it, but the Mercedes has a delightful feel. Even in the sport trim it handles the imperfections in the road the best while still feeling tight in the corners. Most of these cars will kill you with tire noise, but the Mercedes is very quiet. The C-class is not ahead of the curve, but is a solid effort and we suspect it will be very price competitive. To my pleasure I found out that the C will offer the sunroof, dual power seats, and bluetooth as standard equipment. This will really simplify the ordering guide.
