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2017 Mercedes-Benz C-Class

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$39,500

starting MSRP

Key specs

Base trim shown

Sedan

Body style

28

Combined MPG

5

Seating capacity

184.5” x 55.3”

Dimensions

Rear-wheel drive

Drivetrain

Overview

(106 reviews)

7 trims

Starting msrp listed lowest to highest price

Wondering which trim is right for you?

Our 2017 Mercedes-Benz C-Class trim comparison will help you decide.

See also: Find the best Sedans for 2024

2017 Mercedes-Benz C-Class review: Our expert's take

By Aaron Bragman

The previous Mercedes-Benz C-Class coupe, last sold as a 2015 model, wasn’t much to look at. It was nice but it didn’t light any driving enthusiasts’ hearts on fire. It didn’t inspire more than a passing glance as it rolled past and it didn’t get noticed among luxury coupe buyers, either. To listen to Mercedes-Benz marketing people tell it, even they saw it as something of a compromised model: It had no all-wheel-drive option and its styling wasn’t as racy as some competitors.

All that has changed for 2017 with the introduction of the second-generation C-Class coupe, starting with the C300 4Matic trim appearing in showrooms now. Compare 2017 and 2015 model years here.

The new Mercedes-Benz C-Class coupe gets a significant injection of style, technology and performance, as the two-door version follows the four-door, which won our Best of 2015 award. The new coupe is longer and wider than the car it replaces, which pays dividends in ride quality, interior space and handling refinement. From top to bottom, the new C-Class coupe looks and feels like a totally different animal from its predecessor — and a significant leap ahead of luxury coupe competitors. The C-Class is smaller than the similarly-styled E-Class.

Styling and Exterior

It starts with the exterior styling, which is considerably different from the sedan. The strongest resemblance to the four-door is up front, where the headlights and grille look similar, but the coupe gets one horizontal strake versus the sedan’s two. From there rearward, the two look nothing alike; the coupe more closely resembles the S-Class coupe and the AMG GT S coupe.

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class coupe features a character line from the headlights all the way down the shoulder to the taillights, while the sedan’s line stops at the rear doors. The coupe’s roof is lower, with smaller windows all around leading to a small rear window and high taillights that have a distinctly more horizontal attitude than the sedan’s. The C-Class coupe isn’t wedge-shaped — it’s more of a lozenge shape, sloped and tapered at both ends — but it’s dramatic and distinctive in person. There isn’t a bad angle from which to view this car and it turns heads regardless of what color it’s painted.

How It Drives

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class coupe will first appear in C300 guise, featuring a turbocharged, 2.0-liter inline-four-cylinder engine making 241 horsepower and 273 pounds-feet of torque. It’s mated to a seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic transmission that shunts power either to the rear wheels or to all four if you opt for 4Matic all-wheel drive. Mercedes says the combination is good for a zero-to-60-mph time of 5.9 seconds and a rolling, full-throttle run or two makes this seem like a reasonable claim.

Foot to the floor, the car feels quick off the line but not fast — it runs out of steam at higher rpm, tuned as it is for better low- to mid-range response. Around town, however, the combination is dynamite, making the C300 feel sprightly and agile, especially in Sport or Sport Plus mode. Those are two of five Dynamic Select modes that change several aspects of the car’s performance parameters, such as power-steering assist, shift timing, throttle response and more.

One thing the C300 coupe never is? Uncomfortable — even in the sportiest setting, Sport Plus. That mode firms up the optional Airmatic air suspension to its stiffest setting, which isn’t harsh — or, frankly, all that sporty. Ride quality is outstanding with the air suspension; it’s a wholly worthwhile option for $1,190 that brings a big-car feel to the small coupe’s body motions.

The C300 is composed and calm even over broken pavement and frost heaves in Sport+ mode, and even more serene in Comfort mode. The result of that comfort is a body that rolls more than you might expect in corners but this is clearly a grand touring coupe, not a sports car. It never loses sight of its mission, leaving the more extreme sports-coupe abilities to the upcoming C43 AMG and C63 AMG coupes due later this year.

That’s not to say, however, that it’s a marshmallow. The overall impression you get from the C300 is one of big-car sophistication in a compact package. You feel the suspension working, absorbing bumps and making corrections, but little of that work is transmitted to the car’s occupants. The steering is well-boosted but not sloppy or imprecise. One can hustle the C300 coupe through twisty roads with entertaining ease and minimal effort. It’s just that if you want a more athletic experience, you’ll want to wait for the more potent versions coming down the pipeline.

The C300 benefits from decent fuel economy, achieving a rating of 23/29/25 mpg city/highway/combined with all-wheel drive. That’s about even with the Cadillac ATS 2.0T AWD’s 22/30/25 mpg despite the Caddy having an extra gear. It’s better than the six-cylinder Lexus RC 300 AWD coupe’s 19/26/21 mpg but it’s soundly bested by the highway mileage of the BMW 428i xDrive, which is rated 22/34/26 mpg. The Bimmer features one more gear in its transmission than the Benz and while that doesn’t seem to help the lighter Cadillac, it does indeed help the BMW.

Interior

Inside, the C300 coupe is extremely impressive, just like its sedan sibling. I tested two versions, both of which featured optional full leather upholstery. Just like the C-Class sedan, the coupe’s interior appointments blow away competitors, feeling a price class or two above the one in which it plays.

Other coupes, such as the BMW 4 Series, Lexus RC, Cadillac ATS, Infiniti Q60 and Audi A5, feel like premium vehicles, but the C300 can feel like a true luxury car. Like the C-Class sedan, the coupe qualifies as a baby S-Class. There isn’t a single part or panel in the interior that isn’t padded, nicely trimmed, real metal, glossy wood or piano black lacquer. The optional colored leather, in either brown or red, truly sets off the interior against the dark charcoal trim. The only potential interior issue may be how some taller folks fit; if you’re long of torso, your head will brush against the low ceiling, which is made lower by the presence of a standard moonroof. This isn’t generally a problem in taller sedans but it’s not uncommon in the compact coupe class.

Front-seat comfort is top-notch but the rear seats are cramped and confined in height, width and legroom. The swoopy styling and short windows that make the C300 coupe such a looker on the outside not only serve to create some blind spots to the rear and sides of the coupe, they also envelope backseat passengers in a cave of dark plastic trim. Like any compact luxury coupe bought more for style than practicality, the backseat is best left for emergencies and children.

Electronics and Ergonomics

Every switch and knob in the coupe moves with a precision and heft that makes it feel expensive. All the controls are within easy reach, including the selector knob for the multimedia system, which resides in the center console. The C300 coupe features Mercedes’ Comand system; unfortunately, neither Apple CarPlay nor Android Auto are available yet, and they aren’t likely to appear for at least a year and a half, Mercedes says.

Cargo and Storage

Being a compact coupe, trunk space isn’t this car’s forté, but the C300 features a competitive amount at 10.5 cubic feet. That’s just about even with the 10.4 cubic feet featured in the Cadillac ATS and Lexus RC coupes. It’s also expandable, thanks to a split, folding backseat. The Benz falls well short of rival BMW, however, which lists the 4 Series’ trunk space at a rather suspect 15.7 cubic feet. Given that measuring cargo capacity is something of a pseudo-science among automakers, suffice it to say that the C300 coupe is no better or worse in this department than its rivals.

Safety

As of publication, the 2017 Mercedes-Benz C300 coupe was too new to have been crash-tested. Should test results be published, they’ll appear here.

In a departure from previous years (and even other current Mercedes), the new C300 coupe features standard forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking. In keeping with German luxury car tradition, however, just about every other electronic safety feature remains optional, such as adaptive cruise control, lane departure prevention, blind spot warning, a 360-degree overview camera with park assist sensors, and more. See the C300’s standard equipment here.

Value in Its Class

The starting price for the new C300 coupe is $43,575 including destination, or $45,575 for the all-wheel-drive 4Matic model, though you’ll never find one in stock for those relatively low prices. Add optional items that have become necessities, such as keyless access, a backup camera and the adjustable suspension, and you’re looking at the mid-$50,000 range, maxing out north of $60,000. The as-tested price for the lovely Brilliant Blue coupe I drove came to $56,355, including items like the Premium 2 Package (including blind spot warning, satellite radio, navigation, power-folding mirrors, a power trunk and adjustable ambient lighting), an air suspension, a Sport Package with more aggressive styling, perforated brake rotors and a flat-bottom steering wheel.

Every luxury brand worth its salt has a compact coupe, so choosing among competitors isn’t easy. The one that’s most often on shopping lists is the BMW 428i, which is available with rear- or all-wheel drive. The BMW also features a turbocharged, 2.0-liter engine and all the same kinds of electronic bells and whistles as the C300 but its baseline mission is more sporty than the Mercedes-Benz, which is more a luxury tourer than a sports coupe.

The Americans have offered up the sweet-handling Cadillac ATS 2.0T AWD coupe, which beats the Mercedes-Benz in terms of power and torque and is more a rival for the BMW when it comes to handling prowess. But an interior that can’t hold a candle to the C300’s tactile quality and luxurious appointments keeps it behind the curve.

The same can be said for the Lexus RC 300, which is the lowest trim model that can be had with all-wheel drive (the RC 200t, with its turbocharged, 2.0-liter engine, is rear-drive only). It features styling that’s most kindly described as “polarizing” and a multimedia system controller that’s most accurately described as “garbage.” Its 3.5-liter V-6 makes less torque than any of the turbocharged four-cylinders mentioned above and it’s more than 250 pounds heavier than the Benz, to boot.

All these coupes start in the low-to-mid $40,000 range and go significantly higher when you start loading on options (compare them for yourself here). The biggest difference between the Mercedes-Benz C300 coupe and competitors that cost just about the same, though, is that the Mercedes actually feels like it’s worth that much money.

Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.

Photo of Aaron Bragman
Detroit Bureau Chief Aaron Bragman has had over 25 years of experience in the auto industry as a journalist, analyst, purchasing agent and program manager. Bragman grew up around his father’s classic Triumph sports cars (which were all sold and gone when he turned 16, much to his frustration) and comes from a Detroit family where cars put food on tables as much as smiles on faces. Today, he’s a member of the Automotive Press Association and the Midwest Automotive Media Association. His pronouns are he/him, but his adjectives are fat/sassy. Email Aaron Bragman

Consumer reviews

(106 reviews)
Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 4.7
  • Interior 4.7
  • Performance 4.7
  • Value 4.5
  • Exterior 4.8
  • Reliability 4.7
Write a review

Most recent consumer reviews

Trunk malfunctioning

While getting groceries out of my car, My trunk came down on my head (C-300, 2017). Sometimes trunk opens after I lock the car. This is dangerous. What is the problem?

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 4.0
  • Interior 4.0
  • Performance 4.0
  • Value 4.0
  • Exterior 4.0
  • Reliability 4.0
  • Purchased a Used car
  • Used for Commuting
  • Does recommend this car
11 people out of 12 found this review helpful. Did you?
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Headliner comes off

Headliner inside the vehicle started coming off at about 36K miles (multiple owners complained of this issue online and Mercedes has done nothing about it). Inside is small and very difficult for big size people to fit in seat or access car in and out. Is great in gas and the look outside is awesome but the cheap quality of the interior leaves you wondering if this car is Mercedes quality. They can definitely do better

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 3.0
  • Interior 1.0
  • Performance 4.0
  • Value 3.0
  • Exterior 5.0
  • Reliability 4.0
  • Purchased a Used car
  • Used for Commuting
  • Does not recommend this car
21 people out of 25 found this review helpful. Did you?
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Comfortable

Comfortable vehicle. Gas mileage is good and I use premium. No major issues thus far and anything that has happened like battery was covered under warranty.

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 4.0
  • Interior 4.0
  • Performance 4.0
  • Value 3.0
  • Exterior 3.0
  • Reliability 4.0
  • Purchased a Used car
  • Used for Commuting
  • Does recommend this car
18 people out of 20 found this review helpful. Did you?
Yes No
See all 106 consumer reviews

Safety

Based on the 2017 Mercedes-Benz C-Class base trim.
Combined side rating front seat
5
Combined side rating rear seat
5
Frontal barrier crash rating driver
5
Frontal barrier crash rating passenger
4
Overall frontal barrier crash rating
4
Overall rating
5
Overall side crash rating
5
Risk of rollover
11.0%
Rollover rating
4
Side barrier rating
5
Side barrier rating driver
5
Side barrier rating passenger rear seat
5
Side pole rating driver front seat
5

Warranty

New car and Certified Pre-Owned programs by Mercedes-Benz
New car program benefits
Bumper-to-bumper
48 months/50,000 miles
Corrosion
48 months/50,000 miles
Powertrain
48 months/50,000 miles
Roadside assistance
48 months/50,000 miles
Certified Pre-Owned program benefits
Maximum age/mileage
6 years old or less/less than 75,000 miles
Basic warranty terms
1 year/unlimited miles
Powertrain
1 year/unlimited miles
Dealer certification required
164-point inspection
Roadside assistance
Yes
View all cpo program details

Have questions about warranties or CPO programs?

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