The short answer
The 2015 to 2018 C300 is a lovely car to sit in, but its 2.0 litre turbo engine does not suit low-quality fuel, and the car is less tough on rough roads than the C-Class before it. If you buy one, budget for strict maintenance. If you can stretch, Dee's advice is to put that maintenance money towards a different C-Class trim instead.
At a glance
- What's good: a far nicer cabin than the previous C-Class, soft leather, keyless entry, memory seats and a smart, modern look.
- What worries us: the turbo four's sensitivity to bad fuel, reported oil leaks as it ages, a softer build for bad roads, and no spare tyre.
- If you still want one: use quality fuel and additives, never skip a service, and only use a mechanic who really knows German cars.
What the W205 C300 gets right
Mercedes launched the fourth-generation C-Class in 2014. It went on sale in 2015 and ran until the new C-Class arrived for 2022, as a sedan, coupe and cabriolet. The car in our video was a 2016 C300 sedan with AMG styling.
- Outside: a big grille, 19 inch AMG wheels, AMG bumpers, twin exhaust tips and a rear spoiler on the car we filmed. Base cars have standard halogen headlamps rather than LEDs.
- Cabin: the biggest upgrade over the old model. Soft leather instead of hard plastics, round air vents, fewer buttons, a 7 inch screen controlled by a rotary dial, and a flat-bottomed AMG steering wheel.
- Comfort: heated, perforated sport seats with memory settings on the door, and keyless entry.
- Space: longer than the previous C-Class, so rear legroom is better, though it is still a compact sedan.
- Boot: deeper than it looks, with extra storage under the floor. The catch is there is no spare tyre, so you rely on run-flat tyres.
The problem: the engine and Nigerian conditions
The C300 uses a 2.0 litre turbocharged four-cylinder (Mercedes code M274) with about 241 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque, in rear-wheel drive or 4MATIC all-wheel drive. The previous C300 used a naturally aspirated V6. Mercedes moved to the smaller turbo engine to cut emissions, and the same engine family appears in other "300" models of that era, such as the E300 and GLC300.
Dee's concern comes down to three things:
- Fuel quality. Small turbo engines work under high cylinder pressure. With fuel below the recommended octane, they are prone to low-speed pre-ignition, a kind of uncontrolled combustion that can damage pistons and lead to engine knock.
- Ageing. As these engines get older, oil leaks are a common complaint.
- Roads. This generation is not as solid on rough roads as the C-Class before it, so expect the suspension to start complaining on bad roads.
She also flagged the switch from the old hydraulic power steering to electric power steering, and her rainy-season advice: be careful driving through deep water in any car with more electronics in it.
| C300 (W205, 2015 to 2018) | |
|---|---|
| Engine | 2.0 litre turbo four (M274) |
| Power | About 241 hp, 273 lb-ft |
| Drive | Rear-wheel drive or 4MATIC all-wheel drive |
| Steering | Electric power steering |
| Spare tyre | None, run-flat tyres |
| Biggest risk in Nigeria | Engine damage linked to low-quality fuel |
Specifications are for the car in our video and the US-market C300. Equipment varies by year and market, so check the exact car you are buying.
If you still want one
- Fuel: buy the best fuel you can get and use a quality fuel or oil additive. Ask in the comments on the video and Dee will recommend some.
- Servicing: never miss a service, and change fluids on schedule.
- Mechanic: use an experienced mechanic who really knows German cars. These are not the easiest cars to fix.
- Before you buy: ask for service records and get the engine checked for leaks, misfires and knocking.
Or buy a different C-Class
Dee's alternative is simple. Add the money you would spend keeping a C300 healthy to your budget, and look at the six-cylinder trims of the same generation, such as the C400 or C43 AMG, or the C63 if the budget really allows.
Whichever you choose, work out the yearly running cost before you commit. With German cars, the purchase price is only the start.