Now in its fourth-generation under the C-Class nameplate, Mercedes‘ D-segment compact executive sedan is facing more competition than ever.
Even so, sales numbers for the W205 C-Class remain solid across the board. Last year it was the third-best selling German premium saloon in its class as far as the United States was concerned, but those numbers don’t tell the whole story, seeing as how Audi and BMW tend to add up their A4/A5 and 3-Series/4-Series metrics.
Anyway, the point is people are still buying the C-Class like it’s nobody’s business and, after its 2018 update, it’s easy to understand why. The minor exterior changes, new engines and larger infotainment display all add up to a better product. However, things move quickly in this industry and what was great in 2018 or even last year, doesn’t necessarily apply now.
Read: 2022 Mercedes C-Class Shows Its Familiar, But All-New Face
So here are four reasons why you might want to reconsider before you put the W205 C-Class on your shortlist if you’re planning on buying a brand new premium sports sedan.
#1. Some newer rivals have more modern interiors
Aside from its main display having grown a bit (now at 10.25 inches) and the addition of an optional 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, the interior design of the C-Class is pretty much the same as before. It doesn’t have the same MBUX interface as newer models, so the floating screen is no match for what you’d find inside the latest BMW 3-Series or the updated Jaguar XE, which now has a stunning cabin. We could even throw the Volvo S60 in there, which may not be as popular, but unlike the W205 C-Class, has a much fresher design.
#2. It’s not the highest-quality car in its class
Since we’re talking about interior design, let’s talk about quality too, because this has been a bit of an issue for previous-gen Mercs like the C-Class, the old A-Class, the GLC and a few others.
You can argue that there are more scratchy plastics inside the W205 than you’d normally expect from a premium saloon. It’s not bad, don’t get me wrong, but its cabin just doesn’t feel as robust as that of the Audi A4 for example, not to mention the G20 BMW 3-Series, which represents a major step up for the segment.
#3. It hasn’t been “Sensually Purified”
The W205 C-Class is still brandishing Mercedes‘ old design language, which to be fair nobody’s complaining about, but buying a new car should be about getting the very latest in designs and technology. Right now, you’ve got the smaller, and more affordable, second-gen CLA looking more fresh than the C-Class – and that’s not exactly ideal.
You can easily salvage the situation by opting for an AMG kit, but unless you do that, you’ll end up with an entry- or near-entry level C-Class that doesn’t look as sharp as the 3er, S60, XE facelift, or even the new Genesis G70.
#4. All-new W206 C-Class coming next year
This is the biggest reason why you should stave off buying a 2020 C-Class, and it ties in with the “design argument” from before.
The next-gen W206 model appears to look like a baby S-Class, based on spy images and this leak from last month. It will also feature an all-new interior with a large free-standing digital instrument cluster and console-sized infotainment display – same setup as the S-Class.
We can’t speak about build quality just yet, but it’s likely that the new C-Class’ interior will be the most advanced in its segment at the time it debuts, which is way ahead of an all-new Audi A4.
Bonus round
While we can spend all day debating why there’s little point in buying a 4-door or wagon variant of the C-Class at this moment in time, the same can’t be said about the Coupe/Cabrio variants, simply because they’re styled so differently and their designs have been so well received. Besides, their customer base is different too, and this type of purchase is very much an emotional, rather than a reasonable, one.
Does this mean you should put the C-Class off your list? Well, it depends. Starting at $41,400, the entry-level C 300 is pricier than the BMW 330i sedan ($41,250) and the Audi A4 40 TFSI quattro ($40,145). What’s more, a brand new model is expected, probably in 2021. So, with that in mind, you might want to haggle over the price if you decide to go with a C-Class.
