Mercedes-Benz is quite arguably the biggest name when it comes to luxury vehicles. While the brand is known for producing high-quality, luxurious performance cars that stand as a symbol for status, Mercedes-Benz actually makes one of the most affordable luxury cars on the market. The 2020 Mercedes-Benz C-Class may be one of the brand’s cheapest vehicles, but also one of the best.

Mercedes-Benz’ most versatile car: the C-Class

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class is different from most vehicles offered by any brand in the industry because it’s available in three main body configurations. Available as a coupe, sedan, or convertible, each is also available in a total of four trims. The C-Class sedan seats up to five passengers, while both the coupe and convertible are four-seaters.

The C300 Sedan, Coupe, and Cabriolet are the brand’s base models, and also the most popular. According to U.S. News, the brand’s performance division, AMG, also produces three of its own C-Class trims for the coupe, sedan, and convertible: the C43, C63, and C63 S. These are considered the top-of-the-line C-Class options.

What you get with each 2020 Mercedes-Benz C-Class trim

Every C300 model comes standard with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 255 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. All C300 sedan, coupe, and convertible models come with standard rear-wheel drive, but all-wheel drive is available as an upgrade in the form of a “4Matic” nameplate.

Without the AWD upgrade, however, the base models are still quick. Car and Driver experts hit 60 miles per hour in a 2020 C300 Coupe in just 5.6 seconds. Regardless of body style, the base C300’s “handling is crisp and engaging,” and it’s “no slouch in the fun department.” An additional kick is offered with any of the AMG performance variants of the C-Class.

The C300 offers up to 24 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway, with the rear-wheel-drive sedan offering the best fuel-efficiency of all models. Inside the C-Class is “appropriately ritzy,” with wood and leather accents throughout.

Standard equipment on the interior of the C300 includes a 10.25-inch touchscreen display, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, Bluetooth/smartphone compatibilities, dual-zone automatic climate control, a split-folding rear seat, and much more.

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class also comes with class-leading standard safety features, such as active brake assist, blind-spot monitoring, SmartKey technology, a rearview camera, crosswind assist, adaptive braking technology, and more.

Mercedes-Benz also offers a variety of optional features and packages to upgrade almost every aspect or area of the C-Class.

A luxury car for every budget

The prices of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class are extremely varied, but that just means there’s a great car for any budget. In fact, the C-Class stands as one of the most affordable luxury options in the segment. While the C300 Coupe and Sedan are among the cheapest of all Mercedes-Benz models, going for the Cabriolet or any AMG trim level can potentially more than double the cost of its cheaper siblings.

The 2020 C300 sedan starts at around $42,000 for RWD, according to Mercedes-Benz, and $43,000 for AWD variants. The C300 coupe is slightly more expensive, starting at around $46,000 or $48,000 for the 4Matic. For the open-air C300 convertible, base prices increase to $54,000 for RWD versions and $56,000 for AWD. 

Upgrading to the performance AMG versions of the C-Class may offer less affordability, but certainly not quality. Base prices for AMG versions of the C-Class sedan vary from around $56,000 to more than $75,000 for the top trim.

The AMG C-Class coupe has starting prices of around $58,000 to $77,000, while performance trims of the convertible start at around $65,000, but increase to nearly $85,000. No matter what you’re looking for, there’s a Mercedes-Benz C-Class configuration for you.