This week I bring you the 2019 Mercedes-Benz C 300 Cabriolet, a beautiful sportster that went through a light freshening for the 2018 model year. By Mercedes standards, this is the entry-level model, but as you’ll see, there is much to love about this luxury car.
Under the hood, the C 300 has a 2-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that is putting out 250-horses and 273-pound feet of torque. It is hooked to a 9-speed automatic with paddle shifters and my review vehicle is the 4MATIC, which means it is full-time all-wheel drive, but it also comes rear-wheel drive only.
The exterior looks of the C 300 are stunning, especially with the 19” AMG wheels, but I find the convertible top to be extremely impressive. Most soft tops have visible bows on the exterior, but this one is smooth and tight, and it is 3-layers thick for sound reduction and long-term wear. It will go up and down in 21 seconds at speeds up to 31-miles per hour.
There is a surprising amount of trunk space for a retractable convertible top, and a built-in partition shows you how much cargo you can load when you lower the top. The thickness of the top provides a lot of interior quietness.
Like most Benz models, the C 300 has an exceptional interior with attractive stitching and this one has gray oak wood across the dash and around the center console. As soon as you open the door, you’ll see this is technically a 4-seater convertible, however, the foot and legroom in the rear is fairly limited, and, you could put a couple of kids back there. Mercedes makes it easy to get in with electric sliding front seats.
As you sit behind the multi-function steering wheel with controls, you see an extremely vivid 12.3” gauge cluster. Right in front of you are the gauges and driver info center, then high in the middle of the dash on a separate standalone screen, is the 10.25” COMAND infotainment screen. This is where you operate the navigation, entertainment systems, the phone, the Bluetooth, and the vehicle and system settings.
All systems can be operated from a fixed mouse, or there is a more traditional round knob below it on the center console. The mouse can even be used as a scratchpad for operations like entering an address for the navigation system. Whether you use the knob or the mouse, there is a bit of a learning curve before it becomes intuitive.
Also on the console you can change the Dynamic Select settings from Eco to Comfort to Sport and finally my favorite, Sport Plus, or choose individual. All 5 settings change the C 300 dramatically.
The beautiful bolstered seats are comfortable, they are heated and cooled, and have 14 adjustments for your comfort. The headrests are power going up and down, and will blow warm air on your neck for cool days with the top down.
The standard equipment list is long, but big items include: keyless entry, pushbutton start, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and one of the better rear cameras I have seen.
It has the start/stop system, but it can be disabled. It also has brake hold, which allows you to take your foot off the brake when you stop. When you touch the accelerator, the brakes release.
One cool thing is the car reads speed limit signs and replicates them on the head-up display. When using the adaptive cruise control, if the speed limit drops or rises, it adjusts your speed accordingly.
This particular car has just over $15,000 in options. The major options include: the Premium package which gives you wireless cell charging, and an upgraded Burmeister sound system.
The AMG package gives you aluminum pedals and the beautiful 5-spoke wheels, Sport Steering, aluminum pedals, and Mercedes brakes calipers.
My tester has the Driver Assist package, which is the adaptive cruise control, lane change assist, emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, and active reverse braking.
Other options include: the leather seats, park assist package, 64-color ambient lighting, and the Mojave silver paint.
This roadster handles and rides unbelievably well, and is whisper quiet inside-especially for a convertible. It is extremely safe and full of technology. It even has a pop-up roll bar in the event of rollover. LED lights are standard in the front and rear of the C 300.
I had a fear it would be sluggish with the 4-cylinder, but it actually performs well, especially in sport plus mode.
This car is rated at 21 miles per gallon in town, 29 on the highway, and 24 overall.
Total MSRP on my tester the way it is equipped is $70,075. If you are thinking about a fun to drive luxury ragtop and don’t want to spend one hundred grand, this one should be on your list.
