2022 Mercedes C300 4Matic First Test: Can It Catch the Audi A4 and BMW 330i?

• Quick, but What About BMW, Audi, and Tesla?
• Braking and Figure-Eight Performance
• But Why Is It so Expensive?

mercedes-benz c-class Full Overview

Pros

• More refined powertrain, feels expensive, long driving range.

 

Cons

• Transmission could be smoother, pricey, enormous key fob.

You don’t have to tell us; we know what you’re considering besides the 2022 Mercedes-Benz C300. Because even though more than a dozen sporty luxury sedans start for less than $50,000, the BMW 3 Series, Audi A4, and the Tesla Model 3 get all the attention these days. Mercedes hopes its new 2022 C-Class reenters the conversation relying on more than just brand cachet, thanks to a fresh design, a mild-hybrid engine, a dizzying array of tech options, and a larger back seat. All the extra content comes at a cost, however: The 2022 C300 4Matic we tested weighed just over 4,000 pounds. That’s 300-plus pounds heavier than any of those rivals. So how did it do at the track?

Quick, but What About BMW, Audi, and Tesla?

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class has never been the sportiest car in its segment, and that doesn’t change now. Even done up with the AMG Line with Night package, the feeling we get is sportier, not sporty. That’s fine, as the C-Class must cater to a much wider variety of customers than, for example, the more entertaining Alfa Romeo Giulia and Genesis G70 sedans. The 2022 C300 AMG Line upgrades the brakes and tweaks the steering and suspension for an experience that wasn’t exactly what Road Test Editor Chris Walton expected of a luxury four-door with a three-pointed star in the grille.

“Pretty sporty overall, and more of a driver’s car than I imagined it would be,” Walton said after driving it on the track.

Some of the C300 AMG Line’s sporty feel translates to the street, but the steering lacks the directness of the sporty MotorTrend Car-of-the-Year-winning Giulia and G70. The Benz is more a match for the Audi A4 here, though the A4 outsprints it to 60 mph. Equipped with 4Matic AWD, our 2022 Mercedes C300 test car reached 60 mph in 5.5 seconds, thanks to its 255-hp turbo inline-four and nine-speed automatic transmission. This powertrain is considered a mild hybrid for the way its 48-volt electrical architecture can provide a quick boost of power and torque or turn the engine off when you’re coasting down a gentle hill. The basic tech isn’t unique to Mercedes, but it is the first time we’ve seen it on the C-Class; a six-cylinder mild-hybrid engine was the absolute best part of the E450 4Matic we drove for a year.

As for the Audi, we’ve tested a 261-hp 2022 A4 AWD that hit 60 in 5.2 seconds, swiftly beating both the Benz and a 2020 BMW 330i with xDrive AWD that took 5.5 seconds. Tesla beats all three Germans to 60 mph; the last Model 3 we tested was a RWD model that reached 60 in 5.0 seconds. The real winner here is you. It’s staggering how quick normal cars have become, and we’re impressed that the Mercedes keeps up with this crowd given its as-tested 4,014-pound curb weight.

Braking and Figure-Eight Performance

Panic-braking performance from 60-0 mph is impressive too. The 2022 Mercedes-Benz C300 4Matic came to a stop in 112 feet compared to 111 feet for the Audi, 114 for the BMW, and 128 for the Tesla.

In other words, the braking distance is better than expected, though pedal feel isn’t especially good and initial response is a bit numb. We felt the same way on the street. Making smooth slowdowns more difficult is the nine-speed auto, which occasionally delivers shifts that should be less jerky in everyday driving.

The 2022 Mercedes C300 delivered a solid performance through the MotorTrend figure-eight test, which evaluates braking, acceleration, and handling, as well as the transitions between. The Mercedes finished the course in 26.3 seconds at 0.67 g (average), not far off the Audi A4 (25.9 seconds at 0.70 g average), and just ahead of the BMW 330i (26.6 seconds at 0.66 g average). The 2019 RWD Tesla Model 3 nearly tied the AWD C300 with a time of 26.4 seconds at 0.69 g average. The bottom line here is that at the limit, all these cars are athletic. In the Mercedes, however, we had busy hands on the figure-eight course. It felt like there must be some all-wheel-drive shenanigans going on because the car oscillated between understeer and oversteer all the way around the skidpad.

But Why Is It so Expensive?

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz C300 holds its own on the track and drives well on the street too. The C300 AMG Line version even soaks up most minor road imperfections impressively, though it does pound over larger impacts. We think many buyers will find it worth the $3,050 for the visual updates inside and out, as well as the performance mods. And once you do that, you might as well throw in another $600 for the gorgeous multi-spoke wheels. See where we’re going with this?

This is how a car that carries a $44,600 entry MSRP with rear drive can rise to $62,970 in the spec you see here. Keep in mind that the standard C300 really does have tons of content. Lots of people could be perfectly happy with the base trim, which has popular equipment as standard, including a sunroof, automatic emergency braking with blind-spot monitoring, a power-operated trunk (a regular convenience you’ll appreciate), a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, 11.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system, heated front seats, and more. Don’t forget, the 255-hp C300 lacks a true base engine, unlike the 201-hp A4 that sells for thousands cheaper. So yes, the C-Class has one of the most expensive base prices this side of a Tesla, but there’s a reason for that. It’s not just about features, which is good, because these days you never know which features are available due to parts shortages. As we pointed out in our first-drive review, the car feels built to a high standard.

In any case, 4Matic AWD adds $2,000, real leather is at least $1,620, and any color besides non-metallic white or black tacks on $750 or more. Our test car also has a 360-degree surround-view camera system, acoustic glass for the windshield and front side glass, and so on. The result is $62,970 for our loaded 2022 C300 4Matic test car. It’s pretty, though, isn’t it?

But more than just a pretty face, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class also has a rear seat that rivals the larger E-Class in legroom. For the compact segment, it’s good. Thanks to a large gas tank, the C300 4Matic also boasts a longer driving range than the AWD equivalents from Audi and BMW, as well as every Tesla Model 3. For the most part, the new C-Class gets things right. The car can even warn you of upcoming speed bumps, and the digital gauge cluster has a few interesting visual options. Where we hope for change is in the hard-to-access wireless phone charger and, yes, the car’s big and heavy key fob. Also, perhaps a future infotainment update can make the on-screen HVAC buttons bigger. We’re not sure how to make the touchscreen more usable if you park the car outside in the heat, as it can get quite hot.

We’ll get over it. The C-Class is more aspirational than the now-dated model it replaces. Indeed, the 2022 Mercedes-Benz C300 is absolutely a match for the competition, following the lead of the flagship S-Class in design and tech. No, the C300 doesn’t leave the competition in its dust, but offers enough performance, design, and tech to keep it deeper in the mix than it’s been in years.

Looks good! More details?

Keyword: 2022 Mercedes C300 4Matic First Test: Can It Catch the Audi A4 and BMW 330i?