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2008 Mercedes-Benz C Class Quality Review

July 22, 2008

COMFORT AND QUALITY | 7 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

Nicely padded surfaces and upscale trim are appropriate to the price
ConsumerGuide

Well-crafted interior is a bit austere and not very spacious
Edmunds

The trunk of the new car has swelled to a vast 17 cubic feet
Car and Driver

As an entry-level luxury sedan, sacrifices must be made somewhere on the 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class when compared to its bigger brothers, and comfort is the area where these compromises are most noticeable. However, for the C-Class from Mercedes-Benz, 2008 brings some decided improvements over the outgoing model.

The 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class has seatbelts for five, but the chances of fitting five adults in comfort are slim. The front seats of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class draw praise from reviewers, with ConsumerGuide writing that the "seats are supportive and comfortable" and claiming that "even taller folks should find adequate headroom and legroom." Cars.com agrees, adding that "it's easy to find a comfortable driving position," thanks to a front cabin that "doesn't have the cramped feel of the 3 Series sedan." The rear seats of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class are a different story, however, as reviews read by TheCarConnection.com find them to be both uncomfortable and cramped. Edmunds feels that, although the interior is larger, it is simply "not very spacious" in the rear, and Cars.com adds that the "three-place rear seat is on the smallish side, with limited legroom and headroom."

Aside from some complaints about the rear seating in the 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class, the storage space is adequate, especially in the trunk. ConsumerGuide feels that although "the trunk is narrow," the overall "area is quite deep and nicely trimmed." Edmunds states that "trunk capacity is 12.4 cubic feet, which can be expanded with the optional split-folding rear seats." However, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class loses points when it comes to cabin functionality, as ConsumerGuide reviewers noticed "interior storage is adequate at best with a somewhat skimpy center console, two open console cupholders, and a decent-sized glovebox."

Despite the entry-level status of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class within Mercedes-Benz's 2008 lineup, the typical Mercedes-Benz build quality is on display throughout the C-Class. Edmunds judges the interior of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class to be "beautifully crafted," and overall they feel that the car sports "excellent build quality." Other reviewers tend to agree, with ConsumerGuide raving about the "nicely padded surfaces and upscale trim" and Kelley Blue Book mentioning the "tasteful wood inlays" that "surround the cabin."

One of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class's greatest luxury features is its quietness. Reviewers praise the "level of serene isolation" that ConsumerGuide feels "few in the class can provide." Edmunds also uses the term, writing that the C300 Luxury offers a "more serene driving environment" than the Sport version, which is to be expected, given the "quieter exhaust system."

Conclusion

The 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class offers exceptional build quality and a quiet ride, but comfort on longer drives or in the backseat remains an issue.

COMFORT AND QUALITY | 7 out of 10Expert Quotes:Nicely padded surfaces and upscale trim are appropriate to the priceConsumerGuideWell-crafted interior is a bit austere and not very spaciousEdmundsThe trunk of the new car has swelled to a vast 17 cubic feetCar and Driver As an entry-level luxury sedan, sacrifices must be made somewhere on the 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class when compared to its bigger brothers, and comfort is the area where these compromises are most noticeable. However, for the C-Class from Mercedes-Benz, 2008 brings some decided improvements over the outgoing model. The 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class has seatbelts for five, but the chances of fitting five adults in comfort are slim. The front seats of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class draw praise from reviewers, with ConsumerGuide writing that the "seats are supportive and comfortable" and claiming that "even taller folks should find adequate headroom and legroom." Cars.com agrees, adding that "it's easy to find a comfortable driving position," thanks to a front cabin that "doesn't have the cramped feel of the 3 Series sedan." The rear seats of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class are a different story, however, as reviews read by TheCarConnection.com find them to be both uncomfortable and cramped. Edmunds feels that, although the interior is larger, it is simply "not very spacious" in the rear, and Cars.com adds that the "three-place rear seat is on the smallish side, with limited legroom and headroom." Aside from some complaints about the rear seating in the 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class, the storage space is adequate, especially in the trunk. ConsumerGuide feels that although "the trunk is narrow," the overall "area is quite deep and nicely trimmed." Edmunds states that "trunk capacity is 12.4 cubic feet, which can be expanded with the optional split-folding rear seats." However, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class loses points when it comes to cabin functionality, as ConsumerGuide reviewers noticed "interior storage is adequate at best with a somewhat skimpy center console, two open console cupholders, and a decent-sized glovebox." Despite the entry-level status of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class within Mercedes-Benz's 2008 lineup, the typical Mercedes-Benz build quality is on display throughout the C-Class. Edmunds judges the interior of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class to be "beautifully crafted," and overall they feel that the car sports "excellent build quality." Other reviewers tend to agree, with ConsumerGuide raving about the "nicely padded surfaces and upscale trim" and Kelley Blue Book mentioning the "tasteful wood inlays" that "surround the cabin." One of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class's greatest luxury features is its quietness. Reviewers praise the "level of serene isolation" that ConsumerGuide feels "few in the class can provide." Edmunds also uses the term, writing that the C300 Luxury offers a "more serene driving environment" than the Sport version, which is to be expected, given the "quieter exhaust system." ConclusionThe 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class offers exceptional build quality and a quiet ride, but comfort on longer drives or in the backseat remains an issue.  2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C-CLASS STYLING | [8 out of 10] Autoblog: "Reminiscent of a 5/8 scale version of the new S-Class" Edmunds: "Cabin can come off as a little austere and a bit bland" Car and Driver: "Undeniably handsome in any crowd" ForbesAutos: "Bigger than the model it replaces in ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

The 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class is a game-changer, as it takes a more pronounced turn toward edgier performance-oriented rivals like the 3-Series and G35 without forgetting about its luxury base. The result is two different model lines--Luxury and Sport--that appeal to different types of buyers. The Sport, however, provides handling prowess that's nearly as satisfying as the 3-Series and G35, although its steering isn't as sharp as the Infiniti's. Meanwhile, with an expanded list of standard conveniences, the base Luxury model trumps the base Lexus IS model with a better, more balanced driving experience and a quiet interior that allows more generous front seating. The Audi A4 offers an especially frugal yet peppy base engine, a turbocharged four-cylinder in its 2.0T model, for those seeking better fuel economy, but its dated design is due to be replaced for 2009.

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See the Mercedes-Benz C Class in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997

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