2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport

Mercedes has always done their best to define luxury in each of the market segments they have decided to enter. They were among the first to attempt to sell a luxury mini-van style vehicle (the R-Class), and also the first to truly take the luxury SUV market to its upper limit (the M-Class). In many respects, they have been successful, and their top of the line S-Class sedan is still the standard by which most other forays into the world of high luxury are judged against.

However, in the entry-level area of the market, Mercedes has at times fallen behind its competitors. While BMW and Audi long ago realized that buyers looking to get into their first German luxury car were also interested in an exciting and sporty driving experience, Mercedes seemed content to toe the line with their comfortable but unexciting C-Class. Lacking the motorsports reputation of the BMW 3-Series and the all-wheel drive panache of the Audi A4, the C-Class hovered about with very little to recommend it or make it stand out. An attempt at revitalizing the brand with the C230 hatchback in the early 2000’s was plagued by quality control issues and negative word of mouth.

For 2008, Mercedes finally completed their first overhaul of the entire C-Class platform in seven years. The result is a much more aggressive and attractive looking vehicle. The 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport represents the first rung in the Mercedes ladder and it does not disappoint. The V6 engine in the C300 makes a respectable 221 horsepower and 228 lb-feet of torque. Mated with a 6-speed manual transmission, this C-Class is actually fun to drive, and is also a marked departure from the previous generations of the vehicle. Part of this fun comes from sport shocks, stabilizers and springs, all of which have been inspired by the ultra-high performance AMG models. The exterior of the C300 Sport is also heavily influenced by AMG, and to good effect – a wider grille, thicker body cladding and more aggressive aerodynamics front and back really give the vehicle a distinctive edge over the non-sport models. 17-inch wheels round out the Sport appearance package.

Inside the 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport are a number of luxury features for which Mercedes has become known. A power sunroof and power front seats are standard equipment on all versions of the C-Class, but the Sport interior gets a three-spoke steering wheel and aluminum or black maple trim. The new C-Class is also a bit longer and wider that the preceding generation, and as such it benefits from increased rear seating space as well as a marginally greater cargo area in the trunk. A navigation system is optional, as is iPod integration for the stereo. Somewhat controversially, many of the toggle switches and buttons which usually found a home on the vehicle’s center dashboard have been replaced by a rotary controller on the console. While Mercedes claims that this makes for more rapid navigation of increasingly complex automotive systems, it is not easy to use while driving, and can be an irritating experience when all one wants to do is change the radio station.

Frustrations aside, the 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport is definitely a much improved vehicle. While it may still lag behind BMW and Audi in terms of raw power and driving experience, the C300 Sport is an addition to the vehicle lineup that fills a sizeable hole for Mercedes. This sedan may be exactly what is needed to help regain the confidence of consumers who were burned by the build quality issues with the previous generation of entry-level automobiles.






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July 7, 2008, 9:02 am