2018 Mercedes-Benz C-Class

The C-Class isn't a single model but rather an umbrella description, with buyers able to select from three body styles - traditional sedan, sophisticated coupe, and stylish cabriolet with an insulated multilayer cloth top - and up to six driveline options, ranging from a thoroughly effective 241-horsepower turbo inline-four (available with both rear- and all-wheel-drive) to a thoroughly excessive 503-horsepower, twin-turbo V8 in the C63 AMG. Options range from the functional (head-up display, $990) to the indulgent (the glorious 13-speaker Burmester sound system, $850) to the debatably tasteful (the increasingly popular illuminated three-pointed star in the grille, $450 if you insist) and, as expected, usually tend toward the expensive end of things.

In line with that, any Mercedes is more about personal satisfaction than basic transportation; the question of value here is a bit different than the typical angling for a minimum bottom line. The C-Class deserves some quality-of-life flourishes (and benefits from a few options to match up to the standard equipment of its rivals, which often include such niceties as leather upholstery).

So with that in mind, a well-rounded high-value case for the C-Class:

• Model: 2018 Mercedes-Benz C300 sedan
• Engine: 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder
• Output: 241 hp / 273 lb-ft
• Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
• Drivetrain: Rear-wheel drive
• MPG: 24 City/33 Hwy
• Options: Leather seating package (includes memory for driver's seat settings; $1,950), Premium package (keyless entry and starting, blind-spot monitors, SiriusXM satellite radio; $1,250) heated front seats ($580), smartphone integration (Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility; $350)
• Base Price: $41,245 (including $995 destination charge)
• Best Value Price: $45,375

The C-Class may be one Mercedes' smaller Mercedes offerings, but its capabilities fully live up to the identity and traditions of the name. Acceleration is smooth and strong, brakes are up to the demands of Autobahn usage, and the body structure retains the proverbial Mercedes bank-vault solidity. What has changed is the handling feel; the current Cs are pleasantly lightfooted compared to prior generations and are now as responsive and lively as the class leaders without tipping over into twitchiness - although ride quality is also noticeably tighter, as well.

All of this gets accelerated (literally) when the letters AMG are added to the model designation. The C43 is powered by a tuned version of the corporate 3-liter turbocharged V6, sending assertive levels of drive to all four wheels. Then there's the C63 and C63 S, which are nothing less than improbably refined high-tech muscle cars; a massive wave of turbo V8 force is funneled through a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox to wide rear tires, while a suitably upgraded chassis keeps everything firmly under the complete control expected from a Mercedes.

That sense of heritage brings with it one notable compromise on the performance front: as is normal for Mercedes products, no C-Class model is available with a manual transmission. Mercedes automatics are consistently excellent, but drivers who still prefer the heightened engagement and control of a stick and three pedals face a tough call. On the other side of performance considerations, the effects of the C350e's hybrid arrangement are minimal to the point of being disappointing.

The C-Class's cabin is an exercise in effective upscale design - logical without being cold, luxurious without being excessive. The dashboard and center console present an array of attractive shapes and high-quality materials; the AMG models (and the AMG package for the C300) add a few more stylish metallic accents. The positioning of the large multifunction display may be a bit inelegant, but on balance it's also well up and in the driver's line of sight.

On the outside the C-Class - like its larger E and S siblings - thankfully refuses to play along with the visually irritating creases-on-creases trend, instead favoring a blend of clean character lines and organic curves brought together by taut tailoring.

The fusion of upscale luxury and massive power in the C63 and C63S puts refined decadence on top of refined decadence. The turbo V8-powered sister ships don't aim to be street-legal race cars like the BMW M3 and M4; instead, they follow in the footsteps of legendary predecessors like the 300SEL 6.3 and 500E, presenting a civilized and hugely gratifying solution to real-world considerations and preferences.

The C350e plug-in hybrid feels like something between an unenthusiastic gesture towards regulations and a missed opportunity. The electric-power effect barely registers: unimpressive range on battery, a tendency for the gas engine to constantly step in, a marginal overall effect on fuel economy. It's fair to expect more from a company with a reputation for serious engineering.

Do you appreciate intelligent design and solid construction, gravitate towards dignified styling statements and driving characteristics, and find it unnecessary to chase fleeting or garish trends? The C-Class is one of the better choices in a busy and competitive compact-luxury-sedan market, especially for drivers who favor classic elegance over edginess.

Do you plan to regularly have stylish passengers in the rear seat and their upscale luggage in the trunk? Access is moderately graceful (sedan) to awkward (coupe and convertible) and once back there occupants will find room is on the short side compared to the competition. Trunk space is also under the class average: around twelve cubic feet for the sedan, less than nine for the convertible.

The C-Class may be a bit less spacious and bit more expensive than most of its rivals, but you get what you pay for in terms of design, engineering, drivability, and overall quality. That three-pointed star still carries a lot of cultural weight and certain expectations; the car itself has the substance to fully back it up.