2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class vs 2023 Honda Accord Hybrid

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 Honda Accord enters a new model year refreshed and rejuvenated, if not exactly revolutionized in comparison to the previous version of Honda’s long-running and highly regarded family sedan. With this, the 11th-generation of the Accord, Honda wisely didn’t attempt to rewrite the rulebook in how the company set about improving one of its most important and popular models.

Available in four trims—Sport, EX-L, Sport-L, and Touring—pricing for the Accord Hybrid ranges from approximately $32,000 to $38,000. These MSRPs are on target with five-seat sedan rivals like the Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima, and Hyundai Sonata, not to mention a dizzying array of small and midsize SUVs, including the Toyota RAV4, Nissan Rogue, Ford Escape, and even Honda’s own CR-V.

Does the Accord Hybrid make enough of a splash to be worthy of consideration in such crowded and hotly-contested markets? After a shorter drive at the start of the year, a week-long test drive this summer provided the answers.