15 Minutes in the All-New 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class...Better Than BMW or Lexus?

Who put the MB logo onto a buick?

Don't insult Buick -- the Buick Lucerne with the DOHC Cadillac Northstar V8 is the best value on the planet.

That was until Saturn introduces the V8 Vectra.

yes......... and soon the best in class C63 AMG... i can't wait

way too much plastic...and no interior wood for c300 sport...

looks kind of cheap on the inside.

mclarensmps: Then what do you prefer in a luxury car?

Aluminum trim looks cheap, and that is about it for other types of inlays in the car.

Carbon fiber. If done well, it looks very, very good.

Yeah, I thought about that right after I posted that comment. However, carbon fiber inlays are usually used in sporty cars.

Interesting. I don't like carbon fiber at all. It looks cheap to me. It would be a deal breaker in any car for me. I like wood. What I don't like is the dark stained wood that looks like plastic. Just because a car is a sport model doesn't mean it can't look luxurious on the interior.

What about a nice piano black finish instead of wood for luxury? Or if piano white strikes your fancy...wonder how marble would look. Any thoughts?

I love the Piano black finish!!! :)

The carbon fiber Audi uses for the S4/RS4, S6 and S8 is simply stunning. It's probably the best I've ever seen. However, I agree that it's usually not done well.

I prefer matte wood to polished myself. The Range Rover sets a good example, but the 7 Series doesn't have the best matte finish...

Marble. Hmm. I can't imagine what car that would be in, but I could see it looking very good in the A8, because it has such expansive trim pieces. You could choose which style marble you want, like the countertops in the house. Interesting concept. Only problem? It would cost a few thousand dollars.

Agreed. The C-Class center console looks really cheap. Compare that to the Caddy CTS interior.

However, the Merc CL class actually offers marble and granite interior accents - however it is a $12,000 option in Europe...

ding ding ding....correct answer!

You could have just copied the whole thing... This guy clearly has never owned a Mercedes or he would have already known many of the things he didnt like about it.

Mercedes does not use the same interior specifications on the A, B and C-Classes as they do on the E, SL, CL, and S-Classes, and it is clearly evident.

cawimmer is gun-ho on trying to convince us all here that the interior "feels better than it looks." Let's all hope that that part at least has some truth to it, even though initial reviews from most have basically just summed up the interior as "cheap."

I have driven both. We received our 1st Mercedes C300 Sport about 3 weeks ago. I have driven both. Compared to the old C-class, their is no comparison. This one is much more refined and powerful. In comparison to the BMW 3-series, no comparison. BMW blows it away. The BMW is more nimble, faster, better value....

"The C-Class interior isn't cheap. It's actually right on par with the Audi A4, except it doesn't present itself that way visually."

I don't know if you're right. However, if it doesn't "present" itself, it SHOULD. How does Audi manage to create an interior that looks AND feels expensive? Why can't Mercedes do it? They have with their high-end models, but not this.

The new Accord interior puts this to shame.

Am I the only one who thinks those panel gaps are enormous? I feel like I'm taking crazy pills.

Better quality than POS Infiniti, Lexus and Audi. Fact

Better than Lexus, yeah. Better than BMW, no.

I have seen the MB c class here in Denmark as a taxi, and the interior sucks. It is so cheap that even the BMW 3 series (e9x)looks like nice quality. I dont like it to much plastic and the cheap one.

Cawimmer, my Hero! :)

cawimmer, you work for Mercedes. I can't take your opinion seriously.

FYI, the 3 Series is very comfortable. It's also a performance sedan, though. Why do you think it's so popular? It's the perfect balance of comfort and performance. You can drive it every day but still be satisfied.

Mercedes-Benz should've gone farther. The C-Class is just an also ran at this point. There's the new G, the IS350 and the upcoming A4 playing the same way- but all three have pushed the envelope more than the new C. Its interior is nice "enough." It's fast "enough." The handling is good "enough." But it should be more than enough. To beat BMW, you have to go beyond. They just have not.

I like the look of the new C-Class, but I believe the writer is pointing out that the interior seems cheap when compared to the Lexus. To me, the Mercedes interior does not look cheap, but I will wait a couple of weeks to sit in one and judge for myself.

MB is really falling behind. They need to really up their game otherwise BMW and Lexus are going to steal the show!

Lexus already owns the luxury market here and in Europe.

ok. im a huge mercedes fan and im not impressed by the interior. it's not BAD by any means but it's just not the best. however let's be fair. this isn't the s-class were talking about. bmw makes the 3 series so good because they HAVE TOO. it's their bread and butter. everyone is trying to take bmw's spot in this segment. they have been on top here forever. (this is considered mercedes value line.) i don't think that mercedes is really worried about the c class. will it sell probably like hot cakes. is it the best probably not. but then again it doesn't have to be. move up a class and mercedes e and bmw 5 dominate that segment. move up to the premium luxury segment and mercedes is king of the hill. WHEN YOU THINK MERCEDES YOU THINK S-CLASS. WHEN YOU THINK BMW U THINK 3 SERIES. thats just the way it is.

Wasn't the new C-class put through 21 million test killometres? The most for any MB car ever? Hardly lazy...

Mercedes doesn't give the C350 more power because they have an AMG model. Making the C350 with like 300+hp will steal sales away from the AMG model and no one would care to buy it. Still even with 268hp it gets a 5.5sec. 0-60 (Car and Driver) which is that far behind the BMW 335i and Lexus IS350.

Mercedes doesn't give the C350 more power because they have an AMG model. Making the C350 with like 300+hp will steal sales away from the AMG model and no one would care to buy it. Still even with 268hp it gets a 5.5sec. 0-60 (Car and Driver) which is that far behind the BMW 335i and Lexus IS350.

Mercedes doesn't give the C350 more power because they have an AMG model. Making the C350 with like 300+hp will steal sales away from the AMG model and no one would care to buy it. Still even with 268hp it gets a 5.5sec. 0-60 (Car and Driver) which is not that far behind the BMW 335i and Lexus IS350.

Mercedes doesn't give the C350 more power because they have an AMG model. Making the C350 with like 300+hp will steal sales away from the AMG model and no one would care to buy it. Still even with 268hp it gets a 5.5sec. 0-60 (Car and Driver) which is not that far behind the BMW 335i and Lexus IS350.

New C-Clas has class no question, but in the sport model i don't know i look at my wifes 07 c230 sport with a nice AMG package and custom wheels and to me that is a much sporty looking and driving car. But the new C Class is very nice and has a more E- Class feel but the C230 seems more BMW like to us?

as a potential car buyer, i have to say if it doesnt look good in the pictures, i cant be bothered to go touch it and say "ah yah, its actually made of good materials." im not touching the dash when im driving, but i am looking at it and theres an awful lot of shameful use of chrome. and what is with the pre-aged plastic in the c300? thats a nasty brown color.

i do, however, like the headlight switch. i can only hope its made of magnesium, but probably plastic.

btw, you should all look at the new accords interior. thats the way entry level luxury cars should look like. ashame that acura doesnt get it either.