2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Full Review - Consumer Guide Automotive

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.

News

We hear redesigned 2008 C-Class sedans will bow in the second half of calendar '07, followed by updated wagons 6-8 months later. Reports indicate styling is patterned on that of the big new S-Class sedans, with wheelbase and overall length stretched about three inches each. Models and associated powertrains should carry over from '07. A hot rod AMG version will return at some point, likely a C63 with AMG's new 6.2-liter V8 and around 475 hp.

With the redesign on deck, C-Class news for 2007 mostly involves trim and equipment revisions. A sign of the times is E85 "flex fuel" capability for V6 C230 models.

Mercedes is finishing up a compact SUV based on the new C-Class architecture. Sources are uncertain about U.S. sales plans, but we'd guess this so-called X-Class will indeed come in to answer rival BMW's American-built X3. Look for a base 3.5-liter V6, standard AWD and overall length of around 177 inches. A V8 version is likely, perhaps sooner rather than later.

2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Road Test

Pros	Cons

Acceleration (C350 and C55 models)	Fuel economy (C55)

Available AWD

Build quality

Refinement

Consumer Guide® Road Test Ratings

Acceleration

C350 Sport, man.	Class Average
8	6.2

Manual-transmission C350 Sport Sedan only 2006 model made available for test so far. Acceleration smooth, nearly effortless, especially in highway-speed passing. Manual gear-change action lacks positive mechanical feel, and some testers find clutch engagement abrupt in standing starts.

Fuel Economy

C350 Sport, man.	Class Average
6	5.4

Averaged 22.1 mpg in even mix of city/highway driving.

Ride Quality

C350 Sport, man.	Class Average
7	5.9

Firm, but quite compliant despite rather aggressive tire tread on Sport version. Well-controlled over humps, dips.

Steering/Handling/Braking

C350 Sport, man.	Class Average
7	7.2

Lacks the razor's-edge sharpness of top competitors from BMW, Audi. And some testers say rear suspension loses some composure in fast, bumpy turns. Still, precise, natural steering feel, fine balance and minimal body lean in corners makes this sedan worthy of Sport label.

Quietness

C350 Sport, man.	Class Average
7	6.1

Engine never rises above muted whine. Wind rush low, as is bump noise, though some tire hum over coarse pavement.

Controls

C350 Sport, man.	Class Average
7	7

Gauges unobstructed, but some testers say markings too small to easily read at a glance. Slight reach to high-mounted audio, climate controls, and some testers find power window-switch location awkward. Most cabin materials are heavy-weight, with rich grain, though some lighter-weight plastic panels disappoint at this price level.

Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front)

C350 Sport, man.	Class Average
7	6.5

The very tall might want more head room. Outstanding seat comfort, support. Over-the-shoulder visibility compromised by undersized exterior mirrors.

Room/Comfort (rear)

C350 Sport, man.	Class Average
4	3.6

Good toe space, but leg room tight with front seats more than halfway back. Head room a squeeze for 6-footers. Firm, nicely contoured seat.

Cargo Room

C350 Sport, man.	Class Average
4	4.7

Trunk not expansive, but very usable; opt for split folding seatbacks for more versatility. Opening reasonably large, lid-hinge housing a minor intrusion. Cabin storage tight, especially with optional, glove box-mounted CD changer.

Value within Class

C350 Sport, man.	Class Average
6	6.1

A C350 Sport with manual transmission is the only 2006 model made available for test so far, and it's an impressive representative of this outstanding lineup. Like 2005 C-Class models we tested, it's rock solid, impressively refined, and well-engineered. Ride and handling are of high order, and the new 268-hp V6 delivers waves of smooth power. Rear-seat room in these sedans suffers from the car's tidy size, but accommodations are otherwise top-notch. No C-Class need make an apology for being a slightly more-sober alternative to its BMW 3-Series and Audi A4 rivals.

Total Score

C350 Sport, man.	Class Average
63	58.7

Scores for all Premium Compact Cars

Low Score		52
Average Score		58
High Score		65

2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Prices & Equipment

Model Prices

Prices Updated: 06/13/2006

Trim Name	Retail Price	Dealer Invoice	Destination Charge

C230 Sport Sedan, manual	$29,200	$27,156	$775

C280 Luxury Sedan 4-door sedan, automatic	$32,950	$30,644	$775

AWD C280 4Matic Luxury Sedan 4-door sedan, automatic	$34,750	$32,318	$775

C350 Sport Sedan 4-door sedan, manual	$37,550	$34,922	$775

C350 Luxury Sedan 4-door sedan, automatic	$38,150	$35,480	$775

AWD C350 4Matic Luxury Sedan 4-door sedan, automatic	$39,950	$37,154	$775

C55 4-door sedan, automatic	$54,450	$50,638	$775

Price note: C55 adds $1000 Gas-Guzzler Tax.

Pricing Key: Retail prices listed with each report are set by the vehicle's manufacturer. These figures appear on each car's federally mandated window sticker. Most price lists also include dealer-invoice prices. Dealer-invoice prices are what the dealer pays the manufacturer for the car and its factory-installed options. The destination charge is not included in the suggested-retail or dealer-invoice price and must be added to the cost of the vehicle. Car companies change prices frequently throughout the year. If the prices published do not match those on the vehicle's window sticker, the manufacturer has probably altered the price recently.

NA = price note available, NC = no charge.

Rebates and Incentives

There are no rebates or incentives at this time.

Consumer Guide®'s Rebates and Incentives represent a summary of national manufacturer programs available. Regional restrictions may apply, and offerings may vary by model. For a complete list of Rebate & Incentive programs click here.

Standard Equipment

C230

Powertrain

2.5-liter V6 engine, 6-speed manual transmission, traction control.

Safety

Dual front airbags, front side airbags, curtain side airbags, front-seat active head restraints, antilock 4-wheel disc brakes, brake assist, antiskid system, daytime running lights, emergency inside trunklid release.

Comfort and Convenience Features

Power steering, tilt/telescope leather-wrapped steering wheel w/radio controls, cruise control, air conditioning w/dual-zone automatic climate controls, interior air filter, vinyl/leather upholstery, power-height-adjustable front bucket seats, center console, cupholders, aluminum interior trim, heated power mirrors w/turn signals, power windows, power door locks, remote keyless entry, AM/FM/weatherband/CD player, digital clock, tachometer, trip computer, map lights, rear defogger, heated intermittent wipers, illuminated visor mirrors, automatic headlights, floormats.

Appearance and Miscellaneous

Theft-deterrent system, front and rear fog lights, sport suspension, 225/45ZR17 front tires, 245/40ZR17 rear tires, alloy wheels.

C280 adds to C230:

Powertrain

3.0-liter V6 engine, 7-speed automatic transmission w/manual-shift capability.

Comfort and Convenience Features

Cloth/leather upholstery, wood interior trim.

Appearance and Miscellaneous

Deletes: aluminum interior trim, sport suspension.

205/55HR16 tires, AWD adds: all-wheel drive, 5-speed automatic transmission w/manual-shift capability, heated front seats.

C350 adds to C280:

Powertrain

3.5-liter V6 engine, 6-speed manual transmission (Sport).

Comfort and Convenience Features

Power tilt/telescope steering wheel, 10-way power front seats, memory system (driver seat, mirrors, steering wheel), passenger-side mirror tilt-down back-up aid, aluminum interior trim (Sport).

Appearance and Miscellaneous

Sport suspension (Sport), 225/45ZR17 front and 245/40ZR17 rear tires (Sport), AWD adds: all-wheel drive, 5-speed automatic transmission w/manual-shift capability, heated front seats.

C55 adds to C350:

Powertrain

5.4-liter V8 engine, 5-speed automatic transmission w/manual-shift capability.

Safety

Rear side airbags, uprated brakes.

Comfort and Convenience Features

Tele Aid assistance system, leather upholstery, heated front seats, split folding rear seat, power sunroof, Harman/Kardon sound system, automatic day/night driver-side and rearview mirrors.

Appearance and Miscellaneous

Performance suspension, 225/40ZR18 front tires, 245/35ZR18 rear tires.

Optional Equipment

Major Packages	Retail Price	Invoice Price
Entertainment Pkg.
C230, C280, C350	$970	$902
Harman/Kardon sound system, glovebox-mounted 6-disc CD changer.

Sunroof Pkg.
C230, C280, C350	$1,790	$1,665
Power sunroof, rain-sensing wipers, universal garage door opener, automatic day/night driver-side and rearview mirrors, power rear sunshade. NA C55.

Premium Pkg.
C55	$925	$860
Glovebox-mounted 6-disc CD changer, rain-sensing wipers, power rear sunshade.

Powertrain
7-speed automatic transmission w/manual-shift capability
C230, C350 Sport	$1,390	$1,293


Safety
Rear side airbags
C230, C280, C350	$385	$358
Std. C55.

Comfort and Convenience Features
Tele Aid assistance system
C230, C280, C350	$820	$763
Std. C55.

COMAND navigation system
C230, C280, C350, C55	$2,210	$2,055


Full leather upholstery
C230, C280, C350	$1,500	$1,395
Std. C55.

Power driver seat
C230, C280	$600	$558
10-way power driver seat, power tilt/telescope steering wheel, driver-seat and mirror memory.

Heated front seats
C230, C280, C350	$680	$632
Std. AWD, C55.

Split folding rear seat
C230, C280, C350	$290	$270
Std. C55.

Wood interior trim
C55	$775	$721


Glovebox-mounted 6-disc CD changer
C230, C280, C350	$420	$391
NA C55.

Satellite radio
C230, C280, C350, C55	$500	$465
Requires monthly fee after 6th month.

Wireless cell phone kit
C230, C280, C350, C55	$765	$711
Integrated cell phone. Does not include handset/cradle.

Appearance and Miscellaneous
Special paint
C230, C280, C350, C55	$680	$632


Lighting Pkg.
C230, C280, C350, C55	$790	$735
Bi-xenon headlights w/washers.

2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Specs & Safety

Vehicle Dimensions

Specification	Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4-door sedan

Wheelbase, in.	106.9

Overall Length, in.	178.4

Overall Width, in.	68.0

Overall Height, in.	55.6

Curb Weight, lbs.	3405

Cargo Volume, cu. ft.	12.2

Standard Payload, lbs.	--

Fuel Capacity, gals.	16.4

Seating Capacity	5

Front Head Room, in.	38.9

Max. Front Leg Room, in.	41.7

Rear Head Room, in.	37.3

Max. Rear Leg Room, in.	33.0

Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.

Engines

	dohc V6	dohc V6	dohc V6	sohc V8

Size, liters/cu. in.	2.5 /152	3.0 /183	3.5 /214	5.4 /332

Horsepower @ rpm.	201 @ 6200	228 @ 6000	268 @ 6000	362 @ 5750

Torque (lb-ft) @ rpm.	181 @ 2700	221 @ 2700	258 @ 2400	376 @ 4000

Availability	Standard	Standard	Standard	Standard

EPA City / highway mpg

6-speed manual	21/29	--/--	20/26	--/--

5-speed automatic	--/--	19/26	19/24	17/23

7-speed automatic	21/30	21/28	20/29	--/--

Engine Key: l/cu in. = liters/cubic inches; ohv = overhead valve; ohc = overhead camshaft; dohc = dual overhead camshaft; I = inline cylinders; H = horizonally opposed cylinders; V = cylinders in a V configuration; W = cylinders in a W configuration; rpm = revolutions per minute; CVT = continuously variable (automatic) transmission; NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.

Safety Features

Antilock Brakes

Traction Control

Antiskid System

Front Side Airbags

Curtain Side Airbags

Rear Side Airbags

NHTSA Crash-Test Results

Test	Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4-door sedan

Front Impact, Driver	4

Front Impact, Passenger	4

Rollover Resistance	4

Side Impact, Driver	5

Side Impact, Rear Passenger	5

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests a vehicle's worthiness in front- and side-impact collisions and rates its resistance to rollovers. Front-impact crash-test numbers indicate the chance of serious injury: 5 = 10% or less; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-35%; 2 = 35-45%; 1 = More than 45%. Side-impact crash-test numbers indicate: 5 = 5% or less; 4 = 6-10%; 3 = 11-20%; 2 = 21-25%; 1 = More than 26%. Rollover resistance numbers indicate the chance for rollover when the vehicle leaves the roadway: 5 = Less than 10%; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-30%; 2 = 30-40%; 1 = More than 40%.

Manufacturer's Warranty

Class	Years/Miles	Comments

Powertrain	None/--	--

Bumper-to-bumper	4/50,000	--

Corrosion	4/50,000	--

Free roadside assistance	--/--	Unlimited

Free scheduled maintenance	None/--	--

Manufacturers may periodically offer additional coverage as a purchase incentive. There offers are not reflected on this chart. The federal government requires two other warranties. The Exhaust Emission Warranty covers corrosion-related parts for 2 years/24,000 miles, plus 8 years/80,000 miles on the catalytic converter and any on-board diagnostic device. The Passenger Restraint Warranty covers seat belts and airbags for 5 years/50,000 miles.

Built in: Germany

Drivewheels: all-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive

< 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Photos

Also in the 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Review:

Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Mercedes-Benz C-Class Road Test

Mercedes-Benz C-Class Prices & Equipment

Mercedes-Benz C-Class Specs & Safety

Mercedes-Benz C-Class Photos

Mercedes-Benz C-Class Full Review

All Mercedes-Benz C-Class

All Mercedes-Benzs