The 2024 Mercedes-Benz C300 is the entry level for the luxury sedan series, but doesn’t skimp on posh appeal or technology.

There are many options in the luxury sport sedan market. Most are bent more towards sports than luxury, but some do a very good job of finding middle ground. Mercedes-Benz has mastered that target for years. The C300 is the entry-level model that proves that.

Most of the options competing against the 2024 C300 are more expensive and less luxurious when compared. The C300 is classy, well-balanced, and engaging. It’s not as quick or as curve-loving as some of the other options in the market, but it’s definitely easy to have as a daily driver.

We like the 2024 Mercedes-Benz C300 for all of those reasons. Mercedes didn’t skimp on technology with the C300 or the posh luxury its buyers are used to having. This is a great sedan and well worth putting on the short list for buyers.

The Audi A4 is a smart-looking, well-balanced sedan. It’s more expensive than the C300, but comes with a six-cylinder engine with about 100 more horsepower. It’s a strong option by comparison, but has lower fuel economy and less interior luxury when compared closely. Choice will mostly come down to those two points.

The 3 Series is the benchmark most other luxury sports sedans are measured against. It’s pricier than the Mercedes-Benz option, but has similar output and fuel efficiency when compared apples-to-apples. The new 3 Series design is also less polarizing, making it a truly tough choice to make between the C300 and BMW.

The Tesla Model 3 is the best-selling sedan in the luxury market right now. It’s all-electric, of course, which may be an automatic “no” from some shoppers. It’s also less luxurious and far more technology-dependent than the C300.

Base price aside, most buyers getting into the C300 are going to spend about $50,000 plus delivery costs. The 4Matic all-wheel drive model is a near must for most buyers and the C300 Exclusive comes pretty well-equipped in the convenience and luxury areas. We feel that’s where most Mercedes-Benz C300 buyers are going to find themselves happy.

The table below shows the most common trim levels and how much they will run you.

With the C300 getting a complete generational upgrade in 2023, the changes for 2024 are minimal. A new AMG C63 performance model for the C-Class came this year as one of only two major announcements.

The other announcement was the discontinuation of the C300’s coupe and convertible models. The Mercedes-Benz C-Class is now sedan-only. The two-door and convertible will instead be found on the Mercedes-Benz CLE model, which is a slightly smaller platform from the C-Class.

All 2024 Mercedes-Benz C-Class cars have a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The C300 outputs 255 horsepower and includes a mild hybrid system to improve fuel economy and reduce turbocharger lag. A nine-speed automatic transmission drives the rear wheels and that mild hybrid system can boost power output by 20 horsepower when it engages. 4Matic models add all-wheel drive to the C300.

With this setup, especially the 4Matic option, the 2024 C300 is a wonderful drive partner. It’s smooth, quick on the uptake, and feels controlled thanks to the large number of gears in the transmission that keep RPM at that “just right” spot. The C300 isn’t as sporty as its AMG variants, of course, but it’s a smooth operator with plenty of confidence in itself.

It’s in the curves and twists that the 2024 Mercedes-Benz C300 begins to feel less capable. Because it doesn’t have anything but simple tuning to keep its wheels to the ground, it doesn’t feel as stable in hard turns and curvy movements. It’s not slippery or dangerous, but it’s not sporty either. It feels kind of… Well, normal. In a world of competitive sports sedans, especially in the luxury markets, this feels a little off-putting.

In everyday driving situations, though, the 2024 C300 is a great drive. It’s comfortable, luxurious, and smart.

Only one of the two crash testing bodies in North America has tested the C300 for safety. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has not ranked the 2024 or 2023 model year C-Class for safety.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), however, has given this current-generation C-Class its top-most rating of “Top Safety Pick+”. That rating means it achieved the best scores possible in all crash and emergency safety systems testing.

Most reliability ratings outlets give the 2024 C300 an average reliability expectation score. This is about the norm for most Mercedes-made vehicles, so we feel confident in going with “Average” as a score here.

RepairPal gives the 2024 Mercedes-Benz C300 the highest reliability score, raking it 13 of 31 for luxury midsize options. Consumer Reports gives it a slightly lower score, putting it nearly in the middle amongst its peers.

It’s worth upgrading to the mid-tier Exclusive option for its well-balanced value and accoutrement. Some might also want the 4Matic all-wheel drive option, which does add balance to the C300’s drive quality as well as all-weather readiness.

Stand-alone options like ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, added USB ports, and so forth are dependent on the buyer’s needs and climate. The Driver Assistant Package is a nice upgrade, but a bit pricey. We think it should be standard equipment on the upper trims of the C300.

At first glance, the warranty on the Mercedes-Benz C300 seems pretty good. It’s a year longer than most competitors for the basic, but the powertrain and rust warranties are a year shorter than the average. So it all kind of washes out.

• Basic: 4 years / 50k miles
• PowerTrain: 4 years / 50k miles
• Rust: 4 years / 50k miles
• Warranties are not transferable
• If buying used look at our best extended warranties

Because the C300 was completely redesigned in 2023 for this generation, finding used models of this version of the car is going to be rare. We’d suggest buying new in order to keep the warranty intact. Used models are not likely to have a manufacturer warranty attached.

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