Ever since it replaced the beloved old 190, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class has been a perfectly competent entry-level luxury sedan. It's just never really been all that interesting to look at. That's about to change for good. Meet the 2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class, which I think is hands down the best looking C ever made.
As we knew it would when those grainy images dropped way back in October, the new C-Class draws a lot of inspiration from the Mercedes-Benz CLA. At least from where I'm sitting, that's a good thing. I think the CLA looks the tits, but it's had its fair share of critics. Luckily, the C-Class does away with the "melty ass" that everyone sees in favor of design that's more refined without being boring.
In order to "take account of people's increasing average height," as Mercedes puts it, and likely to put some distance between it and the entry-level CLA, the new C-Class is larger than the old one. It's got an 80 mm longer wheelbase, is 40 mm wider and is 95 mm wider overall. They say that means more trunk space and more rear legroom. Best of all, it's 220 pounds lighter than the old car.
That's all well and good, but let's talk engines. Automotive News says that in the U.S. we'll get a C300 with a 2.0-liter turbo four with 235 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque and a C400 with a 3.0-liter turbo V6 offering up 329 hp and 354 pound-feet of torque. No, the model names don't make any sense to me either, but that's the world we live in now. Both will be initially sold only with 4Matic all-wheel drive.
The European market also gets several diesel and diesel hybrid models at launch, but no word on whether those will be brought here.
Because it's a Mercedes, expect it to be loaded down with safety technology you may or may not want, including automatic distance keeping, a Brake Assist System boosts brake force if the driver doesn't apply the brakes, automatic emergency braking, and lane keeping and parking assistance.
Let's see how it fares in that always-crowded field that includes the 3-Series, ATS, Lexus IS and many others. At the very least, it's an improvement over the last one for sure.
The 2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Cranks The Style Way Up