Mercedes-Benz C-Class vs Genesis G80

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class was the automaker’s entry-level model, but it needed a new role. Mercedes now has a line of compact cars serving as lower-priced entryways to the brand, so it’s moving the C-Class upmarket. The redesigned 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan borrows design elements from the automaker’s flagship S-Class to entice new car buyers on a budget who still want the most Mercedes for their money.

The C-Class competes against a formidable array of small sports sedans. Like the Mercedes, the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series, Lexus IS, and Volvo S60 are fixtures in this segment, with nameplates that date back at least two decades. The Acura TLX, Cadillac CT4, and Infiniti Q50 are newer names that build on their respective brands’ experience in the segment. The Genesis G70 is a relative newcomer from a recently launched brand that’s already managed to impress.

The all-new C-Class launches in C300 sedan form with standard rear-wheel drive (RWD), optional 4Matic all-wheel drive (AWD), and Premium, Exclusive, and Pinnacle trim levels. Our test car was a C300 4Matic in the top Pinnacle trim. An AMG C43 performance model is also on the way, but it’s not expected to hit showrooms until after the C300, which arrives at dealerships later this spring.

The 2023 Genesis G80 offers all of the luxury and premium appointments as its legacy rivals, but it does so at often thousands less. However, with so many established luxury brands vying for new car buyers, a low price alone may not be enough. How does a relative newcomer make a splash in a market where the name brand and prestige matter so much? By offering an electrified variant of its cornerstone luxury sedan.

It may seem like electric cars have only just arrived, but the Tesla Model S was introduced a decade ago. EVs still make up a very small fraction of the market, but their numbers are growing. And the critical inflection point is coming when EVs pivot from early adopters to mass appeal.

And when that broader acceptance happens, it will be thanks to vehicles like the 2023 Genesis Electrified G80. It has an all-electric powertrain, but it presents like your typical luxury car. This format of an EV as a conventional luxury sedan is the perfect way to showcase what an electric vehicle really can be to the broader buying public.