One of the most intriguing parts of the 2019 Mercedes-Benz C300 4MATIC Coupe, is its ability to remind you why coupes are so cool. Sure, it’s low and sleek, like a good coupe should be, but it’s very capable on snow and ice – which is a serious “plus.”
Journalists had the opportunity to drive all-wheel drive (AWD) vehicles in Winter Park, Colorado and on an iced-over lake in Georgetown, CO. The Rocky Mountain Redline Ice Encounter was a two-day event featuring several AWD and 4WD vehicles. Experts set up courses to allow journalists to test these cars in various winter conditions.
The 2019 Mercedes-Benz C300 4MATIC Coupe comes with a 255 horsepower, turbocharged 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine that makes 273 lb-ft of torque from 1,800 to 4,000 rpm. You can feel that torque almost immediately, even on the most slippery surfaces, with a rush of motion from a standstill. The only transmission available is a nine-speed automatic.
Driving Impressions
The electronically-controlled 4MATIC AWD system has a bent on safety over too much fun. Very German. Honestly, it was difficult to tell if the setup was front or rear-drive bias when flying through snow or sliding on the ice. The system does everything possible to prevent wheel-spin.
Shut the traction control down and things get wild.
I remember saying, “Oh, it is rear-drive bias”, as I slid sideways around some cones. As long as I left it in Sport+ mode, it was happy to scramble for grip while clawing at the snow like an angry Yeti. It was never set to do this, you can tell it’s unsettled, but it dutifully responds to driver input and try to keep its German decorum – regardless of the driver’s foolishness.
While I only had limited on-road seat-time, I found its well-composed ride pleasantly surprising. Keep it off the sport settings and it feels like a much bigger sedan. It’s calm, sophisticated and it coddles you – despite looking so sporty. This driving feel came despite wearing snow tires. Impressive.
I let the car pamper me and it was winter driving bliss.
Unfortunately, this is no entry-level Mercedes-Benz. The 2019 Mercedes-Benz C300 4MATIC Coupe starts at $45,800 and our tester came in, as-equipped, at $63,675. Still, the sheer amount of goodies and the outstanding ride make this a true luxury coupe – one that’s worthy of the Mercedes-Benz name.
Speaking of smaller Mercedes-Benz, check out the new A-Class below:
