2017 Mercedes-Benz C-Class

273 lb-ft (C300); 443 lb-ft C350e, up to 516 lb-ft AMG C63 S

The 2017 C300 (RWD or 4MATIC) is the pre-facelift W205 with the M274 2.0L turbo four; the 255 hp M264 arrived only with the 2019 facelift.

Torque

46/100

6.0 s (C300 / C300 4MATIC, mfr.); 5.8 s C350e, 4.6 s C43, 3.9 s C63 S

Peak torque of the C300's 2.0L turbo four, available from 1,300 rpm.

0–60 mph time

54/100

Manufacturer-quoted 0–60 for the 2017 C300 in both drivetrains; instrumented tests of the M274 C300 have run a couple of tenths quicker.

Powertrain refinement66

The M274 turbo four pulls strongly from low revs with modest lag, but reviewers consistently called its sound coarse and gravelly for a luxury sedan, and the stop-start is abrupt.

Transmission behavior68

The 7G-Tronic Plus seven-speed automatic is smooth in normal driving but can be slow to respond to kickdown requests in Comfort mode; the C300 did not get the 9G-Tronic until the 2019 facelift.

AWD/4WD availability72

Powertrain lineup breadth68

4MATIC AWD is available on the core C300 sedan and standard on the AMG C43; the C350e and C63 are RWD-only. It is a conventional full-time system without terrain modes.

27 MPG combined (C300 4MATIC); C300 RWD 28 MPG

Four distinct powertrains for 2017: 2.0L turbo I4, the C350e plug-in hybrid, the AMG 3.0L biturbo V6 and the AMG 4.0L biturbo V8, which is broader than the post-2018 lineup that lost the PHEV.

2Efficiency & RangeThe C-Class's lowest-graded category.0.28F

Combined fuel economy

38/100

24 MPG city (C300 4MATIC and RWD)

EPA combined for the volume C300 4MATIC (2.0L turbo I4, 7-speed auto); the RWD C300 is rated 28 MPG combined.

City fuel economy

36/100

31 MPG highway (C300 4MATIC); 34 MPG RWD

EPA city rating for the C300 4MATIC volume trim; the RWD car is rated the same.

Highway fuel economy

33/100

~470 mi (17.4 gal × 27 MPG, C300 4MATIC); ~487 mi RWD

EPA highway rating for the C300 4MATIC volume trim.

Driving range

49/100

Estimated annual fuel cost

Computed from the W205 C-Class sedan's 17.4-gallon fuel tank and the EPA 27 MPG combined rating for the C300 4MATIC.

$2,950/yr (EPA, C300 4MATIC, premium); $2,850 RWD

11/100

EPA annual fuel cost at 15,000 mi/yr on premium for the C300 4MATIC; the premium requirement compounds modest MPG.

Fuel requirements30

5 stars overall (4-star frontal, 5-star side, 4-star rollover)

Premium unleaded is required across the entire 2017 C-Class lineup, from the C300 to the AMG models.

3SafetyOne of the C-Class's strongest categories.2.22C

NHTSA overall rating

100/100

IIHS awards & crashworthiness74

NHTSA rated the 2017 W205 C-Class sedan five stars overall, though frontal crash and rollover came in at four stars.

Standard ADAS suite breadth50

Good in every crashworthiness test, but it earned only a 2017 Top Safety Pick, not TSP+, because every headlight variant rated Poor, and the award needed the optional front crash prevention.

Automatic emergency braking performance56

The C300 has standard Collision Prevention Assist Plus low-speed autonomous braking, Attention Assist and Blind Spot Assist. Adaptive cruise, lane keeping and pedestrian-capable braking are extra-cost package options, and IIHS says the standard system does not meet its forward-collision-warning requirements.

Blind-spot & cross-traffic coverage60

With the optional PRE-SAFE Brake with pedestrian recognition the car avoided collisions at 12 and 25 mph (Superior). IIHS did not rate the standard system at all, and there is no nighttime pedestrian result.

Lane keeping & centering56

Alert-only Blind Spot Assist is standard. Active Blind Spot Assist with braking intervention and cross-traffic functions need the optional Driver Assistance Package.

Adaptive cruise & highway assist66

Active Lane Keeping Assist and DISTRONIC PLUS Steering Assist centering worked competently for 2017, but both are optional; a base C300 has no lane-keeping assistance.

Hands-free driving availability10

The optional DISTRONIC PLUS offers full-speed stop-and-go with Steering Assist and was among the better systems of its era. It is an extra-cost option and lacks the route-based speed adaptation added with the 2019 update.

The 2017 C-Class has no hands-free highway driving. Steering Assist requires hands on the wheel.

Headlight performance20

IIHS rated all three headlight configurations Poor, including LED with Adaptive High Beam Assist, so no C300 had adequate headlights. That rating kept the car from TSP+.

Outward visibility64

Child-seat (LATCH) usability62

Forward sightlines are typical for a compact sedan, but the sloping rear roofline and thick C-pillars limit the rear view. A rearview camera is standard; the surround-view camera is optional.

IIHS rates the LATCH hardware Good with two full LATCH positions, but the compact rear seat limits room for rear-facing seats and fitting three across.

4Space & ComfortMid-pack among this car's ten categories.1.85C-

Seating capacity

5 seats

100/100

The W205 C 300 sedan seats five, though the center rear position straddles a tall transmission tunnel.

Front headroom

37.1 in

28/100

Front headroom sits in the lower part of the sedan band, and the panorama sunroof common on US cars trims it further.

Front legroom

41.7 in

43/100

37.1 in (36.9 in quoted by some sources)

Front legroom is adequate for the compact luxury class.

Rear headroom

53/100

Rear headroom is competitive for a compact sedan, though the sloping roof brushes taller heads.

Rear legroom

35.2 in

32/100

12.6 cu ft; 40/20/40 split-folding rear seatback standard

Rear legroom is typical for the class but tight for tall adults behind tall drivers. U.S. News quotes a smaller 33.4 in, so the manufacturer-derived 35.2 in is used.

Cargo/trunk volume

26/100

In-cabin storage & clever solutions52

The trunk is small for the class, well behind the BMW 3 Series' 17 cu ft. The standard 40/20/40 split rear seat helps with long items.

Storage is ordinary: a covered console bin with cupholders, a modest armrest bin and door pockets, and no wireless charging pad in 2017. The 40/20/40 rear seat is the one flexible feature.

Seat comfort72

The 10-way power front seats with four-way lumbar are supportive, and heated and ventilated or multicontour seats are optional. The rear bench has a low cushion and thin thigh support.

Ride quality77

The steel-sprung ride absorbs bumps in typical Mercedes style while staying composed, and AIRMATIC air suspension is optional. Sport packages on run-flat tires firm it up.

Cabin quietness75

Climate & comfort features50

The cabin is quiet at a cruise with little wind noise. Run-flat tire roar comes through on coarse pavement, and the four-cylinder is audible when worked hard.

$40,425 (C 300 RWD: $39,500 + $925 destination)

Dual-zone automatic climate is standard. Heated front seats sit in the Premium Package, and ventilated seats, the heated wheel and rear climate zoning are further options, which is stingy for a luxury sedan.

5Cost of OwnershipOne of the C-Class's weakest categories.0.30F

Base MSRP

44/100

~$45,500 (C 300 4MATIC with Premium package, typically equipped)

The 2017 C 300 RWD sedan, the third model year of the W205 generation and a carry-over year, started at $39,500 plus a $925 destination charge.

Volume-Trim Price

37/100

5-Year Maintenance & Repair Cost

The C 300 4MATIC was the volume configuration at $42,425 with destination. Most dealer stock carried the Premium package and a few stand-alone options, which puts a typically equipped car around $45,500.

~$7,800 over 5 years (maintenance + repairs)

18/100

5-Year Resale Value Retention

Dealer A/B services are expensive, and repair spend climbs in years 4–5 once the 4-year/50k warranty lapses. That puts 5-year maintenance and repairs near the top of the sedan band.

~43% retained after 5 years

27/100

4 yr / 50,000 mi (bumper-to-bumper)

German compact luxury sedans depreciate steeply, and KBB puts the 2017 C-Class among the faster-depreciating sedans. A 5-year retention in the low-to-mid 40s is the best estimate, though the 2021–22 used-car price spike temporarily lifted values.

Basic warranty

50/100

4 yr / 50,000 mi (no separate powertrain coverage)

The 2017 C-Class is covered by the Mercedes-Benz New Vehicle Limited Warranty of 4 years / 50,000 miles, which is typical for the luxury segment.

Powertrain warranty

0/100

Complimentary maintenance & perks40

Mercedes-Benz offers no separate, longer powertrain warranty, so powertrain coverage ends with the 4-year/50k basic warranty. That is below the start of the sedan band.

Effective 5-Year Ownership Cost

The 2017 C-Class includes no complimentary scheduled maintenance; owners pay for A/B services or buy a Prepaid Maintenance plan. The benefits are 24-hour Roadside Assistance for the warranty term and an mbrace connected-services trial. That trails BMW's 4 yr/50k Ultimate Care, which was then standard, and Jaguar EliteCare.

$33,735 (≈$25,935 depreciation + $7,800 maintenance)

36/100

$45,500 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (43% retained, or about $19,565) leaves about $25,935 in depreciation. Add the projected $7,800 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $33,735 in total.

6Reliability & QualityMid-pack among this car's ten categories.2.22C

Predicted reliability58

Brand reliability track record60

2017 is the third US model year of the W205 generation (2015–2021), before the 2019 facelift. Consumer Reports rates early-W205 reliability below average, with in-car electronics, power equipment and body hardware (sunroof) trouble spots, so it trails later W205 years and class leaders like the Lexus IS.

Mercedes-Benz ran at or below industry average in J.D. Power's Vehicle Dependability Study in the late 2010s and sat in the lower half to lower third of Consumer Reports' brand reliability rankings — behind Lexus, Toyota, Mazda and BMW, ahead of Alfa Romeo and Land Rover.

Recall & TSB history50

Powertrain durability reputation62

Eighteen NHTSA campaigns list MY2017 C-Class variants, including a large starter-overheating/fire-risk recall (307,629 units), a front airbag clockspring recall, front seat-belt pretensioner and retractor recalls, and panoramic sunroof glass-bonding recalls — several safety-system and fire-risk campaigns, though none powertrain-systemic.

Interior material quality86

The volume C 300 uses the M274 2.0L turbo four with the 9G-Tronic 9-speed automatic (new to the C 300 for 2017, replacing the 7G-Tronic Plus). The 9G-Tronic has proven durable across the Mercedes line; the M274 is broadly sound but carries owner reports of oil leaks, camshaft adjuster noise and cylinder-1 piston cracking at higher mileage.

The W205 cabin was widely rated the best in the compact luxury class — open-pore wood, metal switchgear, extensive soft-touch surfaces — with the COMAND touchpad/controller layout the main criticism.

Fit & finish74

Dealer & service network80

Panel gaps and interior assembly are tight, but the sunroof glass-bonding recalls, seat-belt component recalls and owner reports of sunroof and trim rattles point to scattered assembly and supplier-quality slips in the early W205 years.

Parts availability & repair cost55

Mercedes-Benz USA has roughly 380 dealers across all 50 states, covering major metros and most secondary markets; luxury-brand service satisfaction is mid-pack against BMW, Audi and Lexus.

7 in standard; 8.4 in optional with navigation (not a touchscreen: rotary controller, touchpad optional)

As a high-volume, long-running generation the W205 has good parts availability and a large aftermarket, but out-of-warranty repair and maintenance costs run well above mainstream sedans, particularly for electronics, sunroof and turbo-engine work, and owners note premature brake wear.

7Technology & InfotainmentOne of the C-Class's weakest categories.0.71F

Touchscreen size

0/100

Infotainment UX & responsiveness45

The 2017 C 300 sedan has a standard 7-inch dash-top display, with an 8.4-inch screen in the navigation packages. Neither is touch-sensitive, and the 10.25-inch screen arrived only with the 2019 facelift.

Wireless CarPlay / Android Auto40

The pre-MBUX COMAND interface runs through a rotary controller with an optional touchpad. Its menus are deep and the controls overly complicated, and a AAA study rated its demand on the driver's attention 'very high'.

Voice control & native navigation48

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto came only in the optional Smartphone Integration Package, and only over a wired connection, so many 2017 cars have neither. Wireless projection was never offered on the W205.

COMAND navigation is optional, and the Linguatronic voice control relies on fixed commands rather than natural language. Owners call the navigation fussy.

Audio system quality70

Digital instrument cluster30

The base system is decent, and the well-regarded 13-speaker Burmester surround system comes in the Premium Package, which most US cars carry.

The 2017 sedan uses analog gauges with a small color multifunction display between them. The 12.3-inch fully digital cluster arrived only with the 2019 facelift.

OTA update capability20

Companion app & remote functions50

The NTG 5 COMAND head unit has no meaningful over-the-air vehicle software updates. Map updates are dealer or media based, and Mercedes' OTA capability arrived with MBUX.

Charging ports & device power38

The mbrace / Mercedes me connect app offers remote lock and unlock, vehicle locate and, where fitted, remote start. Most services are subscription-gated after the trial, and there is no phone-as-key.

Keyless & remote access55

Two USB-A ports sit in the front armrest, alongside an SD reader and 12V sockets. There are no rear USB ports and no wireless charging in 2017.

Keyless start is standard, but full KEYLESS-GO proximity entry and the hands-free trunk are extra-cost options in 2017. Both became standard only for 2020.

Camera & parking aids58

Head-up display availability55

A rearview camera is standard. Parktronic sensors, the 360-degree Surround View camera and Active Parking Assist come in optional packages.

Kid & car-seat practicality52

A head-up display was offered on the W205 from launch, but only as a standalone extra-cost option that few volume cars carry.

8Use-Case FitGrades below the middle of the scale.1.08D

LATCH access is good, but the 35.2-inch rear legroom leaves rear-facing seats tight behind the front seats. The 12.6 cu ft trunk struggles with a stroller plus shopping.

Family safety package66

Family road-trip comfort50

The car is an NHTSA 5-star and IIHS Top Safety Pick (with optional AEB), and Collision Prevention Assist Plus, Attention Assist and Blind Spot Assist are standard. Adaptive cruise and lane keeping cost extra, and the headlights rate Poor.

The ride is quiet and comfortable and there are rear air vents, but the low rear cushion, few rear charging ports and a small trunk limit four-up road trips.

Daily driving ease72

Commuting cost efficiency50

A compliant ride, quiet cabin and 273 lb-ft of low-end torque make it a pleasant commuter. Intrusive stop/start, a spongy brake pedal and the complicated COMAND controls are the annoyances.

Parking & maneuverability68

Economy is reasonable for a luxury sedan at 28 mpg combined (RWD), but it requires premium fuel and German-luxury maintenance and run-flat tires.

The compact footprint and 36.8 ft turning circle suit city use, and a rear camera is standard. Parking sensors and surround view cost extra.

Work capability12

Durability for work duty25

The C 300 sedan has no US tow rating and a small trunk, so it is not a work vehicle.

Jobsite & upfit practicality10

It is a luxury-oriented car with delicate trim and expensive repairs, unsuited to hard use.

Long-distance comfort & range68

It has no onboard power outlets, tie-down or upfit ecosystem, or washable surfaces.

Outdoor & adventure capability30

It is a quiet, composed highway cruiser with supportive front seats and roughly 450 miles of range. DISTRONIC PLUS and lane keeping are optional, and the analog-era cabin tech makes long trips less easy.

Gear & luggage flexibility40

4MATIC AWD helps on gravel and in snow, but low ground clearance, no tow rating and no outlets keep it pavement-oriented.

The standard 40/20/40 rear seat takes skis and long items, but the 12.6 cu ft trunk is small and there is no factory hitch.

9Driving ExperienceOne of the C-Class's strongest categories.2.44C+

Handling & agility76

The tightly controlled chassis corners with composure and balances sport and comfort well. A BMW 3 Series or Cadillac ATS is sharper still.

Steering feel63

The steering is sharp, precise and well weighted, but it passes little road feedback.

Braking confidence66

Powertrain smoothness & response66

Stopping power is strong, but reviewers criticize a spongy, vague brake pedal on the 2017 C 300.

Drivetrain noise & vibration60

The M274 2.0L turbo delivers 273 lb-ft from 1,300 rpm with little lag, and the 7G-TRONIC PLUS shifts smoothly. Auto stop/start is abrupt and downshifts are sometimes sluggish.

36.8 ft (RWD; slightly larger with 4MATIC)

It is quiet when cruising, but the four-cylinder sounds gravelly and unrefined under load for a luxury car.

Turning circle

53/100

Driving position & ergonomics64

The turning circle is mid-pack for a compact RWD-based sedan.

The power-adjustable wheel and 10-way seat with memory give a good position and sightlines. The column-mounted gear selector and the rotary-plus-touchpad COMAND layout are fiddly.

Fun-to-drive factor66

Standard equipment generosity58

The C 300 is quick (6.0 s to 60 mph) and composed, but the muted steering and uninspiring engine note keep it short of enthusiast favorites. The AMG C43 and C63 variants are a different story.

10Value & Market PositionThe C-Class's best-graded category.2.86B-

Feature value per dollar62

The 2017 C 300 comes standard with a 241-hp turbo four, a 7-in central display, a rearview camera, power front seats, MB-Tex upholstery and Collision Prevention Assist Plus. Heated seats, blind-spot assist, keyless-go, LED headlights and navigation are split across Premium, Multimedia and Driver Assistance packages, so a well-equipped car costs thousands more.

Trim & configuration breadth82

At about $40–42k before options, the C 300 prices level with the BMW 330i and Audi A4 and delivers a more upscale cabin than either. Package pricing quickly pushes it toward $50k, and it offers less performance per dollar than a Cadillac ATS or Lexus IS.

Sales popularity & market acceptance82

The 2017 sedan spans the C 300 (RWD or 4MATIC), the C 350e plug-in hybrid, the AMG C 43 4MATIC, and the AMG C 63 and C 63 S, with many option packages, from about $40k to over $80k. It is one of the broadest lineups in the class.

Brand desirability & image90

In 2016–2017 the W205 C-Class was the best-selling compact luxury car in the US, outselling the BMW 3 Series. Sedan volume was starting to slip as buyers moved to crossovers like the GLC.

Deals & incentive availability70

Mercedes-Benz is a top-tier aspirational luxury brand, and the C-Class is its core gateway sedan with a strong, loyal following.

In 2017 Mercedes-Benz Financial Services regularly subsidized C 300 leases and offered holiday cash incentives. Negotiated prices several thousand dollars below sticker were common, though this was a high-volume model, not a distressed one.

Model freshness72

Critical reception & awards76

2017 is the third model year of the W205 generation, launched for MY2015, which still had a modern platform and interior. The facelift (M264 engine, digital cluster) did not come until MY2019, and the all-new W206 not until MY2022, so there was little near-term redesign risk.