2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Reviews, Pricing & Specs

The 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class is vastly different, but it's not an overhaul - just a mid-cycle freshening up, and a downright impressive...

The 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class is vastly different, but it's not an overhaul - just a mid-cycle freshening up, and a downright impressive one at that. A coupe has joined the lineup in C250, C350, and C63 AMG Black flavors - though without any Luxury or Sport designations like the sedan. Power and efficiency are on the rise, more equipment joined the standard list, and the style was vastly revised inside and out.

The end result? Some people are jealous. Owners are thrilled, and can't get over how the magazines and previews just couldn't do the C-Class proper justice. The style cannot be more acclaimed inside and out, and for power - the AMG delivers 60 mph in 4.2 seconds. Drivers note you should get acquainted with the mode shifter for the 7-speed automatic and automated manual transmissions - "E" means Economy, and it is the default mode every time you start your C-Class. The "S" Sport mode unlocks the engine's full potential.

Speaking of engines, the only one to carry over untouched is the AMG's screaming 451-hp, 443-lb-ft torque V8, but it now exclusively uses the 7-speed automated manual usually reserved for pricier lines - otherwise, a 7-speed automatic with paddle shifters is the C-Series' norm. The new C250 is powered by a 201-hp, 229-lb-ft torque turbocharged 1.8-liter 4-cylinder with serious pep - it will still beat other luxury compacts to 60 mph by half a second (although still almost an entire second slower than the 2011 Maxima - yes, the one by Nissan) and gets as much as 30 mpg. The full spectrum of Luxury sedan, Sport sedan and coupe are available for this level.

The C300 sedan also hits 60 mph just after 7 seconds, but gets about 20 mpg out of its 3-liter V6, good for 228 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque - and it is the only option left with all-wheel drive available, rear-wheel drive being typical. The C350 coupe and Sport sedan powerplant was pushed up 33 horses for 2012, for a 302-hp, 273-lb-ft torque 3.5-liter V6 with just slightly better economy than the 300 - but it will reach 60 mph in less than 6 seconds, according to Mercedes-Benz. Someone apparently got touchy about the Nissan.

Each trim genuinely offers a unique experience for its ideal owner, every one having a specific set of features and comforts added for 2012 to suit the unique style of each offering. From panoramic sunroof to all sorts of techno-wiz safety features, every C-Class offers a healthy dose of luxury and safety with the reliable, refined ride and power drivers have come to expect from Mercedes-Benz.

At long last, a genuine Baby Benz has arrived on the market - and the vast number of consumer reviews already published says a lot about the end result. Drivers can't wait to get their hands on a 2012 Baby Benz - and not a one has been disappointed.