The 2020 Mercedes-Benz C-Class stands out from its peers in many ways, from fit and finish to drivetrain and chassis performance. The compact sedan, which also comes as a two-door coupe or cabriolet, has a distinctive elegance in a sea of origami knockoffs. The base C300 might even be more compelling than BMW’s bread and butter 3-series, the car that defined the sports sedan segment.

mercedes c-class coupe
The C-Class also comes as a two-door coupe with a sloping roofline. Mercedes-Benz

Within the Mercedes hierarchy, the C-Class sits above the small CLA-class and below the medium and large E- and S-classes. As one of Mercedes’ entry-level vehicles, it was formerly the smallest model in the lineup until the A-Class debuted in 2019. 

The C300 sedan can be loaded with options that will bloat its cost near $60,000, which is rather expensive for the segment. Armed with only critical safety, tech and luxury ingredients, however, a reasonably-equipped C-Class sedan should cost no more than about $48,000. Still expensive, but not insane for the segment.

The other body styles demand a higher premium. The coupe variant, which features a fixed panoramic sunroof, costs $46,945 before any options. Those who prefer the droptop version will shell out $54,945, but the convertible’s top lowers in only 20 seconds in speeds up to 31 mph and for added open-air luxury, an “air scarf” feature blows warm air on passengers’ neck and shoulders.

Regardless of trim and body style, the C-Class’ interior defines the luxury experience. The dash and center console are inspired by the company’s sports cars, and the build materials are several grades better than previous models. The overall feel is similar to what Mercedes offers in its top tier S-Class, and perhaps better than Audi’s finest. It certainly leaves other premium compacts in the dust.

The rear of the C-Class offers 32 inches of legroom, which is tight, but taller adults will find comfort in the cutouts in the front seatbacks. Mercedes-Benz

Adults fit nicely in the back of the sedan for short periods without being kneecapped thanks to generous cutouts in the front seatbacks. Longer road trips might get uncomfortable. The driver and front-seat passenger get 42 inches of legroom.

A standard 7.0-inch touchscreen juts out of the dash top to manage all infotainment duties. It uses a rotary controller for the COMAND infotainment system, which is among the best and most intuitive in the business. A 10.25-inch touchscreen, new for 2020, is optional and comes with a touchpad on the center hand rest where users can swipe letters or commands as well as scroll the dial before clicking to make selections for audio, navigation, phone, trip computer and other applications. The interface is intuitive and the movements are logical. Visually, the display is top-notch, and there’s no overuse of kitschy, video-game graphics. 

The base C 300 is reasonably equipped with a handsome wood-trim interior and high-tech amenities including an available 10.25-inch touchscreen that integrates with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Mercedes-Benz

Seat controls are high and prominent on the door panels, rather than on the seats’ sides themselves. This is a better placement for two reasons. First, humans are visual creatures and it helps to see our tools. Second, seat-mounted power controls are often buried too low, too far back or too close to a closed-door.

Mercedes has a long and deep safety research history, and the C-Class earns a top-tier Five-Star rating from National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration. It has also received the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s best safety rating (“Good”), plus a “Superior” rating for crash prevention.

Active safety systems are optional, like automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning and lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection and cross-traffic alert. For 2020, blind-spot monitoring is now standard across the board. While they are some of the best advanced driver-assistance systems in the industry, they should be standard on a luxury brand car.

 The C-Class is configured with a rear-wheel drivetrain but is available in all-wheel-drive with five selectable drive modes that adapt shifting, steering and throttle response to driving preferences. Mercedes-Benz

The C300 strikes a good balance between performance and economy, using a 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder turbocharged engine good for 241 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. It’s mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission that performs superbly under all conditions. The C300 zips to 60 mph in just 5.8 seconds. 

The C-Class’ body structure itself feels as solid as the Rock of Gibraltar. And with the sporty AMG suspension, the C300 becomes the sports sedan that standard BMWs used to be. The C300 proves that massive power and a rock-hard suspension is not necessary to have fun driving through twisty roads. It’s among the most well-rounded sedans on the market today.