For those who would prefer to drive a consistently newer vehicle or prefer lower monthly payments, leasing remains a cost-effective choice. This scenario assumes that the vehicle above is only driven for three years. It will be under warranty for the first four years and we’ve assumed that maintenance and repairs will be the same as above for the first six years and rise to $1,500/year for the final three years of ownership. We’ve assumed that maintenance will cost an average of $750/year and (after the warranty is up) repairs will cost another $500/year. Both leased vehicles will be under warranty for the full six years. Because the car is covered by the warranty for the entire period, there are no repair costs in either scenario. There are also performance-oriented AMG versions of the C-Class. Other options include heated and ventilated front seats, a panoramic roof, and performance-oriented suspension and brakes. The Airmatic package adds an air suspension with multiple suspension tuning modes. We’ve added the Premium package (which includes LED headlamps and taillamps, Burmerster premium surround sound, Sirius XM radio and KEYLESS-GO), the Multimedia package (which includes a rearview camera, COMMAND hard-drive navigation, voice control, and three years of Sirius XM traffic service) and the Driver Assistance package (which includes DISTRONIC PLUS, BAS PLUS, PRE-SAFE PLUS, active blind spot assist and active lane keeping assist, and a rearview camera).
The equipment included on the optional sport package like the firmer suspension and brake upgrades probably also help in making this C300 feel, well, sportier. Like so many modern cars the C300 is powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, due to its balance of performance and economy. This keeps engine speed lower, which has benefits like reduced fuel usage and engine noise, but it can leave the car in the wrong gear if you need to accelerate immediately. It can regulate your speed based on directions in the navigation system. In the case of our 2015 Mercedes-Benz C300 it was a little too stiff; even in comfort mode, the rear was a little twitchy on uneven surfaces -- it remained beautifully planted on higher speed curves, but on washboard roads at moderate speeds, the back end was jittery, almost as if the rear tires were overinflated. Its 2.0-liter turbo-4 shuttles power to the rear or all four wheels through a slick 9-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. Optional driver assistance features include adaptive headlights, automatic high-beam headlights, rear cross traffic alert, a surround-view parking camera system, automatic parking assist, front and rear parking sensors, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, and a head-up display.
Convertible models get the AirCap system, which minimizes wind turbulence with the top down, as standard. The back side of the C-Class in its form and design “licked” headlights, spoiler on the trunk lid and the pipes of the exhaust system, reminiscent of an older model in the family. It lacks the crackly AMG exhaust note and the high-revving frenzy, but pulls with a decent head of luxury-car steam. That keeps the car flat even in very tight corners, which runs a bit counter to the usual luxury-car idiom. Compared to BMW’s own 2.0-liter turbocharged I4 in the 328i, the Mercedes unit feels a bit more refined. Turn-in response is quick and feels more composed through bends and in corners, producing a more entertaining drive. Handling is aided by responsive, if not especially quick steering and a supple ride with the base coil springs. There certainly wasn’t a problem in the power department, though, with 329 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque available from the turbocharged V6 making the C400 downright quick off the line. DIGITAL EDITOR ANDREW STOY: My takeaway after two days of driving the new Mercedes-Benz C-class at the launch event a few months ago was that the four-cylinder C300 is the athlete while the V6 C400 is the luxury cruiser.
The C300 gets the luxury part right, and while the A4 is slightly behind in smoothness and refinement of the powertrain, it more than makes up for it with the sporting character it also offers. The C-Class becomes more cost effective to buy than to lease after about five years for clients who don’t mind driving an older car. Mercedes-Benz typically offers a high residual value on its leases and more than half of Cartelligent clients choose to lease rather than buy their new Mercedes-Benz. That’s nearly $20K in options, but they do make a difference adding both better technology and a more luxurious interior. People who buy a Mercedes usually appreciate a little more luxury, which is exactly what the C-class brings to the segment. The decision to buy or lease depends on a number of factors, including how long the vehicle will be driven. See Which car brands do people lease or buy? We’ll look at three different scenarios at three years, six years and nine years to see how the situation changes with time. In this final scenario, the buyer either buys a new car and sells it nine years later or leases three new cars in succession for three years each.
