Mother Proof's view

When I was a little girl, I rode in the backseat of my parents’ car and looked out the window, often commenting, “That car is just like Daddy’s car, but it’s blue.” As I got older, I could name just about every car on the road: “Dad, look, that’s a Firebird.” Obviously, the distinct styling of each car and my own interest was driving (no pun intended) my rockin’ car-naming skillz.

Today, that little girl might be a bit confused by the new C300 and C350 offerings from Mercedes. The manufacturer has created two separate looks for two different types of buyer. The difference is most apparent on the front of the vehicle. First, the traditional Mercedes look is identifiable by the iconic star hood ornament plainly visible at the center of the sloping hood; this is the C-Class Luxury model. The more aggressive and muscular-looking C-Class Sport model features the Mercedes star integrated into the grille. More subtle differences in styling include unique side molding and wheels for each model. Not exactly the stuff most of my girlfriends take note of, but a little car enthusiast in the backseat might notice the variation. After a recent – albeit brief – preview of the new C-Class, my personal preference leaned toward the look of the Sport model.

I enjoyed driving both versions of the C-Class, whose luxury appointments made me feel like a rock star – specifically a safe, comfortable rock star. As expected, things like a power sunroof, power folding mirrors and integrated Bluetooth are all standard.

Notable to families, some of the safety highlights of the C-Class include a standard electronic stability system, active head restraints that move forward nearly 2 inches to protect front-seat passengers from whiplash, and adaptive braking that can tell the difference between a regular stop and a panic stop. An interesting aspect of the adaptive braking feature is that it will dry the brakes when the windshield wipers have been activated. Now that’s luxury.

Although I didn’t have my children with me in beautiful Portland, Ore., for this test drive, I did sit in the rear seat to get an idea of how comfortable my kiddamaroos might be back there. Legroom was a little tight for my statuesque 5-foot-4 frame, but with a little grace from the front-seat passengers, I think even my nearly-6-foot-tall teenager would be content. The kids would love the flip-up control and navigation screen – I can hear “Do it again, Mama” ringing in my ears already. The optional panoramic roof might also prove to be a kid favorite. One especially intriguing note about this car is that its accessory lineup includes a series of car seats specifically designed to fit in it, which is the norm in Europe but virtually unheard of stateside.

Stay tuned; we’re looking forward to reviewing the Mercedes C-Class with our kids in tow. Who knows – maybe one of them will be so inspired by its design they’ll start shouting out car models from the backseat?

*For more information on the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and its safety features, visit Cars.com. With questions or comments regarding this review, write to editor@Motherproof.com.

LET’S TALK NUMBERS

Latch Connectors: 2

Seating Capacity (includes driver): 5

IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT COUNT

Storage Compartments (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Fair

Cargo/Trunk Space (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Ample

SENSE AND STYLE

Family Friendly (Not Really, Fair, Great, Excellent): Great

Fun Factor (None, Some, Good Times, Groove On): Good Times

Specs

Mercedes-Benz C300, C350

Base price: $31,200 – $36,500

Price as tested: n/a

Engine: 228-hp, 3.0-liter V-6 or 268-hp, 3.5-liter V-6

Fuel: 20-21/28-29 mpg

Length: 182.3″

Width: 69.7″

Ground Clearance: n/a

Turning Radius: 17.8′

Cargo space: 17.6 cu. ft.

NHTSA Crash-Test Ratings

Frontal Impact

Driver’s side: n/a

Passenger’s side: n/a

Side Impact

Front occupant: n/a

Rear occupant: n/a

Rollover resistance: n/a