The 2005 Mercedes C-Class presents a daunting array of choices, comprising five four-door sedans, two hatchback coupes, and a wagon. The class includes four different engines and either a six-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission, depending on the model. All come standard with rear-wheel drive, but all-wheel-drive is optional on two of the sedans and the wagon.
The least-expensive C-Class models are the sport coupes, or two-door hatchbacks. The C230 Kompressor ($25,850) is powered by a 1.8-liter dual-overhead-cam 16-valve four-cylinder engine pumped up to 189 horsepower by a supercharger (the Kompressor). The C320 coupe ($29,250) comes with a 215-horsepower, 3.2-liter V6 and amenity upgrades, including leather-faced seats and a ten-way power seat for the driver. For 2005, the coupes come with a redesigned six-speed manual transmission with greatly improved shift action. Standard equipment includes one-touch power windows, automatic climate control, 17-inch alloy wheels and high-performance tires. The C-Class coupe's sporty ambience is enhanced by a three-spoke multifunction sport steering wheel with raised thumb-grips, leather-covered sport shift knob, rubber-studded aluminum pedals, body-colored door handles and aluminum door sills.
The most familiar C-Class models are the sedans. Most popular among those is the C240 sedan ($32,650), powered by a 168-horsepower 2.6-liter V6 with three valves per cylinder and a standard five-speed Touch Shift automatic transmission with manual shift mode. C240 is well-equipped, with leather seat inserts, front seats with power height and backrest adjustment, power windows, cruise control, a seven-speaker audio system with weatherband, laurel-wood trim, and 16-inch aluminum wheels with all-season tires. The C320 sedan ($37,950) upgrades to the 215-horsepower 3.2-liter version of the V6 and a higher level of luxury amenities, including dual-zone automatic climate control, a Bose 10-speaker stereo, reading lamps, 10-way power front seats with memory and a power-adjustable steering column.
The C240 wagon ($34,150) is the identical counterpart to the C240 sedan. (The C320 wagon has been dropped for 2005). This is the smallest wagon Mercedes has offered in the United States, and it successfully combines sporty styling with good cargo room or accommodations for a big dog (with the optional dog fence, of course).
All-wheel drive ($1,200), which Mercedes confusingly calls 4MATIC, is available on the C320 sedan and on the C240 sedan and wagon. This fulltime system comes packaged with heated front seats and is priced much lower than it is with other Mercedes models. We consider it a valuable asset in the rainy Northwest or for the harsh winters of the Midwest and Northeast.
The C-Class sport sedans have firmer suspensions, lower ride height and more powerful brakes than the standard models. The C230 Kompressor sedan ($29,250) is powered by the same supercharged inline-4 as the C230 coupe, while the C320 sport sedan ($37,350) uses the 3.2-liter V6. The sport sedans have the thick, three-spoke steering wheel and other sporty interior tweaks used in the C-Class coupes, along with thickly bolstered front sport seats and aluminum interior trim. For 2005, the sport sedans come standard with the improved six-speed manual transmission and aggressive lower body cladding previously reserved for expensive AMG models.
Speaking of which, the C55 AMG sedan is new for 2005. Powered by a hand-built 5.5-liter 376-horsepower V8 (as opposed to the supercharged V6 that came in the 2004 C32), this is the hottest hot rod in the C-Class family, traveling from 0-60 mph in an exotic-grade 4.9 seconds. The C55's SpeedShift five-speed automatic, brakes and suspension are improved to match its prodigious horsepower. Price is pending at this time, but the C55 is intended to be rare, and its retail price is expected to be in mid-$50,000 range.
Every C-Class offers a number of options priced individually or in groups. The Sunroof Package adds a power sunroof, auto-dimming mirrors, rain-sensing wipers, and a universal garage-door opener to the sedans ($1,790), coupes ($1,390), and wagon ($1,660). Individually priced options include an automatic transmission for sport coupes and sport sedans ($1,390), CD changer ($420), Tele Aid emergency communications hardware ($820).
Advanced safety technology is a key component of the Mercedes brand, and every C-Class is equipped with world-class safety features. Among them: an Electronic Stability Program (ESP) designed to control skidding by selectively applying brakes at one or more of the wheels to help keep the car on the driver's intended path. The C-Class has side-impact airbags for front and rear passengers as well as curtain-style head-protection airbags for front and rear passengers.