For Long Road Trips, Mercedes-Benz C-Class Gets a B-Plus

CARS.COM — Cars.com’s 2015 Mercedes-Benz C300 4Matic sedan got quite a workout in the waning days of our year of ownership of the long-term tester. Earlier this fall, Copy Editor Jennifer Burklow and I separately took the C-Class on a pair of road trips that totaled nearly 1,600 miles combined. Looking back at our long hours in the driver’s seat, both of us had a generally positive experience in the C-Class – but we also had our issues with it.

Related: More News About Our Long-Term Test Cars

Burklow and her husband took a 700-mile tour of Illinois, starting in the western suburbs of Chicago and heading to the Mississippi River to drive part of the Great River Road; from there they traveled to Springfield to see the Abraham Lincoln sites and then returned home. My wife and I drove to the western Pennsylvania town of New Castle, about 50 miles northwest of Pittsburgh, to visit family; we embarked on the 860-mile round-trip trek from our downtown Chicago home, and took Interstate 80 nearly the entire way.

Although all parties concerned are seasoned road-trippers, this was the first time for both Burklow and me taking such a lengthy trip in a luxury vehicle. The Burklows’ personal rides are a 2004 GMC Safari van and a 2014 Kia Sportage crossover, while my other car is the Chicago Transit Authority.

Comfort

The Burklows found the sedan to be somewhat cramped, but appreciated the adjustability of the power seats despite finding the MB-Tex imitation leather seats on the firm side.

“We ended our daily drives stiff and achy,” Burklow said. “However, as the driver I appreciated the adjustable driver’s seat cushion bottom — I extended it to its full length to give my long legs the extra thigh support I often don’t get in other vehicles.”

My wife and I also had challenges with the seats, not so much with the seats themselves but with the seating position. Neither of us could quite seem to find an adjustment that worked for either of us; about halfway through the first leg of the trip, my knees were already feeling stress like they were bending in the wrong direction.

Cargo Space

With 12.6 cubic feet of trunk space, the C-Class provided decent cargo room for both couples. The Burklows tend to overpack, however, so they ended up stowing some of their stuff in the backseat. For my wife and I, on a mere weekend jaunt despite the distance covered, trunk space was plentiful for our two midsize suitcases, a backpack and a weekend bag.

Comand

For both the Burklows and the Schmitzes, Mercedes’ Comand multimedia system defined the term counterintuitive. We all found it to be complicated compared with other multimedia systems in non-luxury vehicles, whether pairing our smartphones or attempting to use navigation. The latter proved so difficult to use that both parties quickly defaulted to using r phones for guidance to destinations.

Burklow consulted the owner’s manual to try to solve her problems, but with no better luck and frustratingly ironic results. “Often I was referred to the digital operator’s manual – meaning I had to use the Comand system to find what I was looking for,” she said.

On the other hand, we both found the 8.4-inch display clear and easy to decipher at a glance. Meanwhile, climate control and radio functions were simple enough to use – and thank goodness for that, as I was able to sing along with Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart” (including the big, swelling mid-song instrumental part) not once, but twice at full volume for my inexplicably unappreciative audience of one.

Driving Experience

Where actual driving is concerned, to quote Han Solo in reference to the Millennium Falcon, “she’s got it where it counts, kid.” The turbocharged four-cylinder puts its 241 horsepower to immediate use from a stop, and lets you pull confidently onto the highway from the travel oasis or sneak back into the pack after stopping for a toll. Ample passing power at speed also comes in handy when you’re about to get stuck behind a slow truck as a long line of faster-moving cars bears down in the left lane, threatening to trap you there for the foreseeable future.

Burklow also noted that the sedan soaked up road imperfections, and despite some wind infiltration at higher speeds, kept engine noise at bay.

Safety Equipment

Burklow appreciated the safety equipment, notably the backup camera, auto-dimming driver-side and rearview mirrors, and the blind spot warning system, which helped counter the C300’s thick C-pillars.

Although I felt perfectly alert to continue driving safely, I found Mercedes’ Attention Assist function a source of entertainment that, if nothing else, forced me to concentrate more closely on my driving. According to Mercedes, if the system detects early signs of driver fatigue, the driver will be urged to take a rest. Attention Assist makes its determination based on a profile of the driver’s driving style, recorded in the first few minutes of a trip using a highly sensitive sensor that measures steering movements and steering speed. The later it got on our overnight outbound trip the more I was being gently prompted by Mercedes’ Attention Assist function that I seemed drowsy and that perhaps it was a good time to pull over and grab a cup of coffee. (Seriously, it’s like a little passive-aggressive digital spouse right there in your instrument cluster.)

Range, Fuel Economy

The C-Class’ range and fuel economy also impressed. With the 18-gallon tank full it’s possible to drive about 575 miles before filling up. The Burklows managed a combined mpg rating of 32.1 for their trip, while the EPA rates the C300 at 27 mpg combined.