2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Mercedes-Benz's previous-generation C-Class cars have been its most successful. As the company's smallest and most affordable U.S.-market entries, they are its natural best-sellers and compete well against "entry luxury" sedans from the likes of BMW, Acura, Audi, Lexus, Infiniti and Cadillac.

Styling

These new 2008 Cs, slightly larger than their predecessors, show "greater emphasis on agility, comfort and safety," Mercedes says. Their evolutionary new look takes cues from the recently introduced large luxury S-Class sedans and advances the design direction Mercedes calls "an edgy interplay of taut lines and wide, rounded surfaces."


The '08 C-Class line offers three models: C300 Sport, C300 Luxury and C350 Sport, all V6-powered. Both C300s are available with a new 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission. New standard equipment includes a power sunroof, eight-way power front seats with lumbar support, two-zone automatic climate control, 17-inch wheels, Bluetooth wireless connectivity and a central multi-function "controller" with a seven-inch display screen. More about that later.


The Sport models wear styling cues similar to those of Mercedes' highest-performance AMG models, including deep front and rear aprons and rocker panel cladding. They also flaunt an iconic three-pointed star in their grilles, a design cue normally found on Mercedes coupes and convertibles. They roll on 17-inch twin-spoke wheels, sport shocks, springs and stabilizer bars for a tauter ride and a half-inch lower ride height than before. Inside their cabins, instead of the Luxury model's traditional four-spoke wheel and burl walnut trim, they have three-spoke steering wheels and aluminum (C300) or black Birdseye maple (C350) trim.

Powertrain and Chassis

These '08 Cs are noticeably more athletic thanks to their revised suspension and steering, and a standard six-speed manual transmission enhances the C300 Sport's appeal to drivers who like to shift for themselves. More important, especially to those intending to operate them in northern climes, is Mercedes' latest 4MATIC all-wheel drive.