New Mercedes C300 is one honest wagon
Whether it’s another driver snagging the final parking spot in front of you at Costco on a Saturday, or biting into a chocolate chip cookie before realizing you’re out of milk, life is unfair. Just ask the mighty station wagon.
It’s a puzzling predicament, really. This type of car is regarded as a near-perfect blend of SUV-like practicality and car-like driving dynamics. Yet, more often than not, they get a bad rap, usually for styling.
It’s a weak argument, especially after taking so much as a passing glance at the 2018 Mercedes-Benz C300 Wagon. It’s a genuinely attractive package and the horizontal LED tail lights, stretched-out roofline and optional AMG package work especially well with the car’s stance.
The C300 does, from certain angles, come across as a smaller E-Class wagon, but that’s hardly a knock, because E is far from ugly.
Powertrains, on the other hand, tell a different story. It’s arguably the C300 wagon’s weakest point.
The only way to have the longroofed C is with Mercedes’ ubiquitous gasoline 2.0-L turbo-four.
With 241 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque at your disposal, it’s not as though the C300 Wagon is lacking. But pretty much everything else out there has a 2.0L turbo-four.
Mercedes quotes a zero-to-100 km/h sprint of 6.1 seconds, a touch slower than the slightly lighter C300 sedan, but quicker than the slightly heavier GLC 300.
There’s a certain smoothness to how the turbo-four works with the nine-speed automatic, though with Mercedes’ standard Dynamic Select configured correctly, the duo can certainly be pushed around with gusto.
Of the five driving modes, Eco maximizes efficiency and dulls the C300 wagon almost to a fault, while Sport and Sport+ allow for more spirited drives.
Individual lets you mix-and-match various settings, but do yourself a favour and just leave it in Comfort.
The C300 rides quite well, both around town and at speed. Wind and road noise are minimal, and it soaks up bumps and rough pavement with ease.
Inside, the C300 wagon is nowhere near as opulent as an S-Class, or even an E-Class, for that matter. Still, it’s deserving of the MercedesBenz moniker, and given the wagon’s $46,000 starting price, it’s well appointed.
The instrumentation — pleasantly enough, a set of analogue gauges with a digital display nestled in the middle — is clear, but those wanting a wagon and Mercedes’ 12.3-inch display would have to move up to the E-Class.
Mercedes’ COMAND infotainment system is smart: a rotary dial and touchpad control the sharp, seven-inch display. There’s a learning curve to it, but it’s easily mastered. And if you somehow don’t, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both supported.
The C300 Wagon can accommodate 490 L with the rear seats up, and 1,510 L with the seats stowed.
As tested, the C300 wagon fetched $56,865, thanks to more than $10,000 in options.
Value, as you may notice, isn’t exactly the C-Class wagon’s strong suit. Neither is variety, given a turbo-four is the only available powertrain. Not only that, the GLC is a touch more practical, slightly less expensive, and comes with more variety in terms of equipment and powertrains.
So, the question is: Why bother with the wagon?
It’s simple, really. The C300 wagon is a comfortable and quiet luxury car that’s just as spacious
as its closest, plus-sized crossover counterpart.
The long-roofed C300 is arguably the most honest car Mercedes offers today, but most customers won’t see that. They’ll automatically dismiss it simply because it isn’t a crossover.
Surprising? Hardly. Life isn’t fair.