2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Engines and model designations are new and the range of body styles is narrower for 2006 in the least-expensive Mercedes-Benz car line. Gone are wagons and coupes. Sedans survive and offer a choice of rear- and all-wheel drive. Models are defined by their engines and by Sport or Luxury designations. Sports include a sport suspension, unique appearance details, and aluminum vs. wood interior trim. The C230 Sport for ‘06 gets a 201-hp V6 in place of a 189-hp supercharged 4-cyl. The C280 Luxury has a 228-hp V6. It replaces the 168-hp C240. The C350 Sport and Luxury have a 268-hp V6. They replace the 215-hp C320. Again topping the line is the C55 with a 362-hp V8. The C280 and C350 Luxury are available with Mercedes’ 4Matic AWD. C230 and C350 Sports are available with a 6-speed manual transmission. All other C-Class cars use an automatic transmission with five or seven speeds, depending on model. Standard are ABS, traction/antiskid control, and curtain side airbags. Rear side airbags are standard for C55, optional otherwise. Options include a navigation system, bi-xenon headlamps, and 60/40 split folding rear seat.
Competition
Consumer Guide® Automotive places each vehicle into one of 17 classes based on size, price, and market position. Premium Compact Cars are similar in size but more expensive than Compact Cars. Premium Compacts have more standard equipment and an upscale image when compared to Compact Cars.

Our Best Buys in the Premium Compact Car class are Acura TSX, Audi A4, and BMW 3-Series. At this time we have no Recommended picks.

New or significantly redesigned models in this class include Audi A3 and Lexus IS.

2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class

The least-expensive cars from Mercedes-Benz come in sedan, wagon, and coupe body styles. Sedans and wagons are available with all-wheel drive vs. the standard rear-wheel drive. C230 versions have a 189-hp supercharged 4-cyl engine; they come in Sports Coupe and Sport Sedan trim. C240 versions have a 168-hp V6 and come as a sedan or wagon. C320 versions have a 215-hp V6 and come in all three body styles and include Sports Coupe and Sport Sedan editions. The high-performance C32 AMG sedan has a supercharged 349-hp V6, sport suspension, and 5-speed automatic transmission. On other C-Class models, a 6-speed manual transmission is standard and a 5-speed automatic is optional, except on the C240 and C320 sedan and wagon, where the automatic is standard. Mercedes’ 4Matic AWD is available for any automatic-transmission C-class sedan or wagon, except the C230 and C32. Sports Coupe and Sport Sedan editions come with sport-tuned suspension, manual transmission, body cladding, and aluminum interior trim. Sport editions and the C32 have 17-inch wheels vs. other models’ 16s. This year, 4Matic and heated front seats add $1200, a $1250 cut vs. 2003. All models are now factory prewired to accept a newly optional dealer-installed satellite radio. And Sports Coupes gain as standard a 3-spoke steering wheel, enlarged chrome exhaust tip, and other sporty appearance features. Every C-Class has ABS, antiskid/traction control, front/rear side airbags, head-protecting curtain side airbags, and Mercedes’ BabySmart child-seat recognition system. Coupes are available with Mercedes’ large Panorama sunroof that teams with a fixed-glass panel over the rear seat; each has a power sunshade. Mercedes’ TeleAid assistance system is standard on the C32, available for other models. A navigation system also is available. Bi-xenon headlamps are a linewide option.