motor

In the United States, the Mercedes-Benz C Class is the smallest vehicle offered by the luxury German automaker, but it is not what you would call an entry-level model. (In Canada, Mercedes offers the smaller B Class as its entry-level model). However, even as the company’s smallest offering, it packs plenty of power and features in and, like all Mercedes models, offers a drive that is among the best in the business.

The C300 has a starting price of $33,600, which is not bad considering what you get for that amount of coin. Despite this being the low-end of the Mercedes lineup, you still get every feature you would expect in a luxury car like Bluetooth, a six-disc and iPod-ready stereo, leather seats, an optional navigation system, power everything, dashboard data system, dual-zone climate control, and HID headlights. For the C300 4Matic, however, you have to add $3,500 to the price tag before you even look at options.

But that price also includes an upgrade to a 7-speed automatic transmission instead of the standard 6-speed manual gearbox. Our 4Matic tester also added the Premium 1 Package that included heated seats, rain-sensing wipers, SIRIUS Satellite Radio and auto-dimming mirrors. That package adds $2,300 to the price, bringing the total damage to $40,595. Still, with all those features wrapped in a nice package, it certainly makes the C300 an attractive option.

And under that good-looking sheet metal lies a little beast raring to get going. The C300 is powered by a 228-horsepower, 3.0-liter V6 engine that easily propels the sports sedan to highway speed and delivers a quick response when a little extra acceleration is called for to pass slower vehicles. The optional 7-speed gearbox on our tester was silky smooth, something we’ve come to expect testing other vehicles from the automaker.

What is also nice is that you can set the transmission to sport if you want even better response time. The handling on the C300 is also excellent, thanks to the multilink sports suspension. According to Mercedes, the suspension helps improve the driving experience by automatically varying the damping at each wheel as needed. Other modifications to the suspension ensure optimum response to vibration and enhancing the C300’s predictability when driven hard, according to the automaker. We’ll have to take them at their word on that one, since that is one thing we didn’t do. But for what we needed it for, the C300 was a pleasure to drive.

The C300’s design is in line with its power and agility. It features an aggressive exterior styling that is dominated by the large front chrome grille with the oversize Mercedes-Benz star as the centerpiece. It’s a look we really like from Mercedes-Benz, so we’re happy to see it on the C300.

The exterior is also highlighted by a front apron with mesh air intakes, a pair of sculpted, under-door rocker panels and a deep rear apron. Another nice touch are the newly streamlined side mirrors with integrated turn indicators, a sleek look that completes the vehicle’s flowing lines that run from the front grille to the rear, and is capped by polished-chrome tips on the exhaust pipes.