The Impressive Mercedes Benz C300

By Jim Platt

Mercedes has been plagued by reliability issues lately, but the company hopes to gain back consumer trust with its new C Series, and especially the new Mercedes-Benz C300. There's no denying that Mercedes-Benz customers are a picky lot, expecting perfect performance and design. But perfection is unattainable even for Mercedes-Benz, and recent reports by J.D. Powers listed Mercedes vehicles as far less reliable than their price tags might indicate.

To add insult to injury, Consumer Reports also recently listed many Mercedes-Benz models as the "least reliable in their category." In an attempt to control the public relations damage these reports have caused, Mercedes-Benz has introduced the C Series with an aggressive marketing campaign, designed to reestablish trust in the Mercedes brand.

Perhaps you've seen the commercials, touting, "because we promised you a Mercedes-Benz, that's why." But many experts are wondering what exactly it means to be a Mercedes-Benz in this day and age. There is no denying that the company's pedigree is distinguished, but the real question is, have recent corporate changes diluted the quality of the Mercedes-Benz reputation?

So along comes the new C Series, and it's hyper-aggressive ad campaign to ensure us that, yes, a Mercedes-Benz is still a Mercedes-Benz. And as the "flagship" vehicle of the new C Series, the Mercedes-Benz C300 Series has a lot riding on it. But will the C300 be enough to restore the Mercedes-Benz name and reputation with luxury car buyers? First reports are good, indicating that the C Series is a return to true form for the German automaker, and among the finest Mercedes vehicles ever produced.

The C300 looks decidedly Mercedes-Benz like, with a formal style, not unlike that of the S Series. With a slightly lowered top, and sporting a tasteful amount of chrome, the C300 is aesthetically impressive. But appearances aren't everything, so let's take a look under the hood...

The C300 features a 3.0 L V-6 engine, producing 228 hp. A six speed manual transmission is standard, though an automatic option is of course available. Zero to 60 acceleration takes just seven seconds, providing the performance Mercedes-Benz customers have come to expect.

But when all is said and done, the Mercedes-Benz C 300 is a luxury car. The interior is spacious and plush, with excellent sight lines and ergonomically designed leather seats and panel features.

Safety features are also abundant, including side air bags, all-wheel-drive, and front and rear collision monitors. Overall the C300 feels solid and handles well through the turns, even at high speeds. With 17 inch Continental tires, the dynamics of the car feel right, and the power steering is comfortable yet firm.

With BMW and Lexus or breathing down Mercedes neck, and a barrage of recent unfavorable reviews, the C300 was under a great deal of pressure to meet and exceed expectations. Overall, the car manages this feat effortlessly, and it appears Mercedes has returned to its roots with the C300, producing a high performance luxury car that competes well with any vehicle in its class and price range.

If they keep up this level of quality, Mercedes will quickly gain back some of the trust it may have lost in recent years. So before you buy that new Lexus or BMW, be sure to test drive the new Mercedes-Benz C300.