2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Trims and Specs

To get a real luxury feel out of the 2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class C300 Luxury sedan, owners will need to upgrade to such options a leather upholstery, heated front seats, and a panorama sunroof. Still, the luxury sedan's standard feature list offers plenty of amenities, including eight-way power-adjustable front seats, burl walnut trim, a leather-trimmed steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control, Bluetooth wireless technology, a power tilt/sliding glass sunroof, and an eight-speaker audio system with an in-dash CD player. New features include two pelvic airbags, which mount in the front seat cushions. Also on the standard feature list, MB Tex upholstery takes the place of leather seating. Outside, a classic Mercedes-Benz grille with the iconic Mercedes-Benz star hood ornament distinguishes the C300 Luxury trim from the Sport trim, which features a different grille. Other standard exterior features include heated power exterior mirrors, halogen headlights, front foglights, and dual chrome exhaust tips.

A 3.0-liter V6 engine, generating 228 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque, powers the rear-wheel-drive C300 Luxury. The V6 links to a seven-speed automatic transmission with the Touch Shift manual-shift feature, as well as a driver-selectable Comfort Mode setting, which provides less aggressive acceleration and improves control on slippery surfaces. Fuel economy numbers for the V6 check in at 17/25 city/highway mpg. An agility control system, which comes as standard equipment, automatically adjusts damping at each wheel to improve handling, stability, and ride comfort. Other standard features include antilock brakes and an Electronic Stability Program. The '09 C300 Luxury trim rides on 17-inch five-spoke wheels with all-season performance tires.

The Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport receives a number of new features for 2009, including two new pelvic airbags, which mount in the front seat cushions, and a sportier instrument cluster. The C300 Sport rides on a lowered sport suspension and comes standard with heated power exterior mirrors, halogen headlights, front foglights, and chrome exhaust tips. Owners can add an optional Sport Bodystyle package, which includes a sport front air dam with mesh air intakes, side skirts, and a rear apron. Inside, standard features include MB-Tex upholstery, a leather-trimmed steering wheel and shift knob, Bluetooth wireless technology, eight-way power-adjustable front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, electronic cruise control, and an eight-speaker audio system with an in-dash CD player.

A 228-hp, 3.0-liter V6 engine powers the 2009 C300 Sport, driving it from 0 to 60 in 7.1 seconds. The engine links to a six-speed manual transmission with a short-throw shifter and posts fuel economy numbers of 18/26 mpg. The C300 Sport comes standard with agility control, which improves handling, stability, and ride comfort by automatically adjusting damping at each wheel as needed. The system also reduces vibration in the cabin, ensuring a smooth ride, according to Mercedes. Other standard performance- and safety-related features include antilock brakes with brake assist, which aids drivers when stopping in emergency situations, and an Electronic Stability Program. The '09 C300 Sport rides on 17-inch twin seven-spoke wheels with all-season performance tires.

Owners who require the additional stability and traction provided by an all-wheel-drive system can opt for the 2009 Mercedes-Benz C300 4MATIC Luxury trim, which comes equipped with Mercedes' 4MATIC intelligent all-wheel-drive system. By distributing power to the wheel or wheels with the best grip on the road, the system ensures optimal traction and stability in slippery or wet road conditions. The C300 4MATIC Luxury also features an agility control system, which automatically adjusts damping at each wheel as needed to improve handling, stability, and ride comfort. The C300 4MATIC Luxury trim's 3.0-liter V6 engine generates 228 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque, and drives the rear-wheel-drive sedan from 0 to 60 in 7.1 seconds. The V6 posts fuel economy numbers of 18/25 mpg.

Outside, a classic Mercedes-Benz grille with the traditional star hood ornament perched on top distinguishes the C300 Luxury from the Sport trim, which displays a different grille with a centered star hood ornament. Other exterior features include heated power exterior mirrors, halogen headlights, front foglights, and dual chrome exhaust tips. Inside, the C300 4MATIC Luxury comes equipped with such standard features as eight-way power-adjustable front seats, burl walnut trim, a leather-trimmed steering wheel, a power tilt/sliding glass sunroof, dual-zone automatic climate control, Bluetooth wireless technology, and an eight-speaker audio system with an in-dash CD player. New safety features include two pelvic airbags, which mount in the front seat cushions, as well as antilock brakes and an Electronic Stability Program. The '09 C300 4MATIC Luxury trim rides on 17-inch five-spoke wheels with all-season performance tires.

Mercedes-Benz's 2009 C-Class C300 4MATIC Sport comes equipped with Mercedes' 4MATIC intelligent all-wheel-drive system, which helps ensure optimal traction and stability in slippery or wet road conditions by distributing power to the wheel or wheels with the best grip. In addition, the C300 4MATIC Sport rides on a lowered sport suspension, ensuring an aggressive driving experience, and includes an agility control system, which improves handling, stability, and ride comfort by automatically adjusting damping at each wheel as needed. Power for the rear-wheel-drive C300 4MATIC Sport comes in the form of a 3.0-liter V6 engine, which generates 228 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque. The V6 links to a seven-speed automatic transmission with the Touch Shift manual-shift feature, and posts fuel economy numbers of 17/25 city/highway mpg.

Inside, standard features for the '09 C300 4MATIC Sport include MB-Tex upholstery, a leather-trimmed steering wheel and shift knob, dual-zone automatic climate control, eight-way power-adjustable front seats, and an eight-speaker audio system with an in-dash CD player. Options include leather upholstery, a panorama sunroof, and aluminum trim on the center console and doors. Outside, standard features include heated power exterior mirrors, halogen headlights, front foglights, and chrome exhaust tips. For a sportier look, owners can add an optional Sport Bodystyle package, which includes a sport front air dam with mesh air intakes, side skirts, and rear apron. Other standard features include antilock brakes and an Electronic Stability Program. The '09 C300 4MATIC Sport rides on 17-inch twin seven-spoke wheels with all-season performance tires.

The 2009 Mercedes-Benz C350 Sport sedan comes equipped with a 3.5-liter, double-overhead-cam V6 powerplant, which produces 268 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. The V6, which incorporates continually variable timing for quick response, propels the C350 from 0 to 60 in 6.1 seconds. The engine links to a seven-speed automatic transmission with Touch Shift, which enables drivers to shift manually. The C350 rides on firmer coil springs and shock absorbers, compared to the C300 trims, which provide more precise handling and a more aggressive stance. The C350 rides on a lowered sport suspension and also comes equipped with wider 17-inch wheels in the rear (8.5 inches wide vs. 7.5 inches in the front) to improve control when accelerating and negotiating tight turns. In addition, an agility control system improves handling, stability, and ride comfort by automatically adjusting damping at each wheel as needed.

Standard interior features for the C350 Sport include a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat with memory, an eight-way power-adjustable passenger seat, heated front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, dual-zone climate control, and black bird's-eye maple wood trim. MB-Tex upholstery comes standard, while leather seating remains an option. Other standard features include a power tilt/sliding glass sunroof, Bluetooth wireless technology, and an eight-speaker audio system with an in-dash CD player and a 5-inch color display with flip-up cover. New features for 2009 include a sportier instrument cluster and two new pelvic airbags, which mount in the front seat cushions. Other safety- and performance-related features include window curtain airbags, antilock brakes, and an Electronic Stability Program. Standard exterior features include heated power exterior mirrors, halogen headlights, front foglights, and chrome exhaust tips.

Reviewers seem to agree on a few things about the 2009 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG: Its 6.2-liter, 451-hp hand-built V8 has enough power to push a driver firmly back into an exceptionally bolstered seat, and its steering and adjustable transmission will give that driver complete and enjoyable control over a car the maker claims can get from 0 to 60 in 4.3 seconds. Its 12-speaker, 320-watt Harman Kardon stereo sounds incredible. And its 12/19 mpg rating takes some of the luster off its under-$60,000 base price and seems poorly timed.

While the C-Class serves as Mercedes' entry-level luxury sedan line-up, the C63 AMG is the top of the heap in that class and far from entry level in pricing, gadgetry, and driving dynamics. Adding a little bling to the front and rear fascia, dashboard, exhaust tips, and wheels of Mercedes' smallest American sedan only hints at the additional capabilities of AMG's single-builder-signed engine under the hood, three-mode seven-speed automatic transmission, sport-tuned suspension, and speed-sensitive steering. The C63 AMG may look a lot like a C300, but it doesn't sound, feel, or perform like one.

Mercedes-Benz and its ad agency have developed an iPhone application that provides a taste of the C63 AMG's speed, sound, and looks via video and photos. The application is free and requires iPhone OS 2.1 software.