[fecurtis]

Overall, very very positive. Calling it the best car in Mercedes's line up next to the S-Class. It concludes:

As Ramsey wrote, "The new C-Class is not a sport sedan but it is an exceptionally sporty luxury sedan when it bares its teeth." Even subtly retuned for US audiences, he speaks the truth. We'll add that as a whole, the 3 Series probably does the sport thing a little better on those rare occasions where it's really hustled, but the C-Class is still plenty of fun on a good road, and it's easily preferable in daily driving. The C-Class' demeanor is closer to something like a Cadillac ATS, but more refined, not to mention far more luxurious. It truly is a step above the rest.

Mercedes has finally allowed the C-Class to be the midsize luxury/sport sedan it has always strived to be but never quite accomplished. Pricing is set at $38,400 for the rear-drive C300, $40,400 for the C300 4Matic, and $48,950 for the C400 4Matic, not including $925 for destination. And while that's on the higher end of the pricing spectrum compared to competitors from Audi, BMW and Cadillac, what you're getting with the C-Class is something extra – something that's genuinely more premium. It's one of the best all-around luxury cars you can buy at any price. It's not just the best C-Class ever, it's one of Stuttgart's most fantastically conceived products yet.

http://www.autoblog.com/2014/08/06/2...-drive-review/

Much like with the F30, the reviewers preferred the smaller engine in the C300 than the C400. I remember many reviewers preferred the 328i to the 335i as well. I never crossed shopped the F30 or my previous Infiniti with a Mercedes but if this car were out when I ordered my F30, I'd give it a hard look. It looks like the car takes what Mercedes does best (focusing heavily on luxury first), and cranks it up to 11. Sucks you can only get the C400 in AWD though. Wonder why they did that.

[Crimson92]

MBZ absolutely nailed it.

Blows the F30 out of the water IMO, can't wait for the AMG variant.

[StealYourFace]

I saw it at Detroit this year, really well proportioned car.

[swanson]

Originally Posted by Crimson92

MBZ absolutely nailed it.

Blows the F30 out of the water IMO, can't wait for the AMG variant.

[fecurtis]

If I were to nitpick based on photos alone, the back seats look small. Other than that, a great lookin car.

[drunkenup]

Originally Posted by Crimson92

MBZ absolutely nailed it.

Blows the F30 out of the water IMO, can't wait for the AMG variant.

LOL your response is a complete 180 from what they're saying on the F30 board.

Credit to MBZ on the W205, the 204 nearly did it but this car is definitely an 3 Series beater. Most importantly for me they've now got a proper 35i/3.0T fighter with that new TT V6.

[jzmundy]

Such a handsome car. As mentioned, really looking forward to the AMG variant.

[NickyC]

Massive ignorance here on my part, but does MBZ sell anything with a stick? I have to have a manual or I'm not even interested.

[fecurtis]

Originally Posted by NickyC

Massive ignorance here on my part, but does MBZ sell anything with a stick? I have to have a manual or I'm not even interested.

Nope.

[Meeni]

Like it. Do they make a reasonably priced diesel wagon ?

[ragingclue]

I'm not one to oogle over interiors, but damn.

[Year's_End]

Originally Posted by ragingclue

I'm not one to oogle over interiors, but damn.

Right... so nice.

[chumley]

Originally Posted by Year's_End

Right... so nice.

x100

[tallshortguy]

How much weight does x-drive add on the F30? 200 pound difference for the C-class seems a bit high. Also, RWD I believe is coming later. Interior looks pretty nice, though looks like mercedes went all luxury and moved away from sportiness, good for them though since that's their advantage over bmw and audi. Comparos should be interesting, though I expect the F30 to still win them in enthusiast press.

[ShocknAwe]

Liking Merc quite a bit this generation. Off topic, sorta: Finally got to see a CLA45 AMG the other day in the flesh. Great looking (and sounding) car. Hope BMW steps up next round honestly.

[DieGrüneHölle]

Hands down the best daily driver of the segment. Interior is miles better than the F30 and the ttV6 sounds like a winner.

[The Automotive Enthusiast]

Originally Posted by Crimson92

MBZ absolutely nailed it.

Blows the F30 out of the water IMO, can't wait for the AMG variant.

Neither can I.

[The Automotive Enthusiast]

Autoblog says:

One commendable part of the C-Class experience is its Direct Steer system, a speed-sensitive assist design that incorporates a variable ratio depending on steering input. Unlike some other adaptive systems, the C-Class' setup never feels overly synthetic or lacking in feedback. Sure, you can tell that there's something sort of mechanical and unnatural happening, but it's not intrusive. In fact, we'd go so far to say that the C has some of the crispest, most rewarding steering in the class. Anyone who came away disappointed by the electronic power-assisted helm in the BMW 3 Series would do well to try this setup.

I'm excited!

[jkrig]

Originally Posted by tallshortguy

How much weight does x-drive add on the F30? 200 pound difference for the C-class seems a bit high. Also, RWD I believe is coming later. Interior looks pretty nice, though looks like mercedes went all luxury and moved away from sportiness, good for them though since that's their advantage over bmw and audi. Comparos should be interesting, though I expect the F30 to still win them in enthusiast press.

Its about the same for the F30, rwd weighs in just over 3500...and the x-drive comes in 3700 and change.....

[TheBingoBalls]

If more reviews are like this in favour of the C-Class, I have to start to believe that BMW really dropped the ball with the F30. It seems like everybody in this class has improved (IS, C-Class, A4 still TBD but I expect an improvement given Audi's recent track record) and even the ATS came out with a hit while BMW remained stagnant and in come cases even regressed from the E90.

Everybody has their opinion on what and how a BMW should feel like. If a BMW can only feel like a BMW when it's at the limit, that's a disappointment to me. Only having experience with various E46's and E90's, it didn't matter which trim you got, a 323i, 330i or 335i, you knew properly weighted steering, great feedback and a stiff yet compliant ride was a certainty. With the F30, it seems you have to do/add more to make it feel as it should.

Well done Mercedes. For luxury, Mercedes has everyone beat in this segment hands down and from the reviews, it seems like Mercedes has the F30 beat in steering. I never considered a C-Class because it lacked everything that mattered to me that the 3-Series delivered, I can't ignore the C-Class this time around.

[fecurtis]

Originally Posted by TheBingoBalls

If more reviews are like this in favour of the C-Class, I have to start to believe that BMW really dropped the ball with the F30. It seems like everybody in this class has improved (IS, C-Class, A4 still TBD but I expect an improvement given Audi's recent track record) and even the ATS came out with a hit while BMW remained stagnant and in come cases even regressed from the E90.

Everybody has their opinion on what and how a BMW should feel like. If a BMW can only feel like a BMW when it's at the limit, that's a disappointment to me. Only having experience with various E46's and E90's, it didn't matter which trim you got, a 323i, 330i or 335i, you knew properly weighted steering, great feedback and a stiff yet compliant ride was a certainty. With the F30, it seems you have to do/add more to make it feel as it should.

Well done Mercedes. For luxury, Mercedes has everyone beat in this segment hands down and from the reviews, it seems like Mercedes has the F30 beat in steering. I never considered a C-Class because it lacked everything that mattered to me that the 3-Series delivered, I can't ignore the C-Class this time around.

To be fair, I've read other reviews where people weren't a fan of the steering. But the complaints were the same for any EPS set up. It's just one of those technologies that'll have to get better with time.

While, as stated, the C-Class never has bothered to compete with BMW in terms of sportiness, that interior will definitely steal sales from BMW from those who want just luxury.

[danniexi]

looks to be a much more mature design compared to its predecessors. hell i glanced at the photo and it looked like an E-class (with an S-class rear). good looking, a bit boring, but not offensive at all.

that interior is so damn gorgeous. much better than the Audi/BMW offerings.

i was dead set on the F80 M3 as my next car, but the upcoming C63 might sway me.