2005 Mercedes-Benz C320 Luxury Sedan

The Mercedes-Benz C320 four-door sedan with 4Matic all-wheel-drive received a redesign for 2005. New features included sleeker styling, updated heatlights and taillings, a new grille with three horizontal chrome bars instead of four, and new alloy wheels. Interior upgrades included a new dash, seats, and trim, as well as an upgraded six-speaker audio system with a CD player (a welcome replacement for the cassette players of previous years).

The 4Matic all-wheel-drive system provided a bit more traction, as well as improved handling and stability, when compared to the standard C320 sedan.

The C320 4Matic Sedan was powered by a 3.2-liter V6 engine that produced 215 horsepower. The engine was linked to a five-speed automatic transmission equipped with the Touch Shift feature, which enabled the driver to upshift and downshift, depending on driving conditions, by nudging the shift lever left or right.

Standard features for the C320 4Matic Sedan included wood interior trim, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, multi-zone climate control, cruise control, a power-adjustable driver's seat, power windows, power heated mirrors, and a Harmon/Kardon audio system, as well as a full complement of airbags.

Other features included anti-lock brakes, stability control, and traction control.

Drivers who had been less than impressed with the exterior styling of the previous year's C320 were much more complimentary about the 2005 sedan. Drivers were impressed with the improved handling, responsiveness, and traction provided by the 4Matic system, especially on rain-slicked or snowy roads. They also like the car's performance and comfortable seats, although some drivers thought the interior instrumentation and electronics could be complicated to operate.