The current generation Mercedes-Benz C-Class first debuted in 2007 and while it has aged well, it's still, well, aged.
Mercedes-Benz announced that the C300 4MATIC will receive a major update: its 3.0 liter V6 will retire and will get replaced by the direct-injected 3.5 liter V6 powerplant found in the C350 and E350 sedan.
Slightly detuned from the engine's C350 trim, it will produce 248-hp and 251 lb.-ft. of torque, a healthy bump from the 228-hp and 221 lb.-ft. of torque found in the outgoing 3.0-liter engine. Best of all, the engine upgrade won't come at the expense of fuel economy.
In its 3.0 liter trim, the C300 4MATIC receives an 18 mpg city and 25 mpg highway EPA rating. Coming equipped with fuel-saving eco mode, automatic start/stop, and fuel injection, the new 3.5 is expected to deliver even better fuel efficiency although official fuel economy numbers have yet to be announced.
Other than the powertrain upgrade for the C300 4MATIC, the C-Class lineup continues relatively unchanged and the C300 4MATIC will only be offered in sedan form.
An overdue update, a fresh engine for the C-Class 4MATIC came to no surprise. Considering that the Audi A4 2.0T Quattro Tiptronic produces similar horespower ratings while delivering 29 mpg highway, it was time for Mercedes-Benz to answer its competition. Only a few weeks ago, Car and Driver had predicted that an update was in store for the C300 4MATIC when official filings with the NHTSA and revealed related data.
