During a recent dealer visit to get our 2012 C300 Sport serviced, I had the good fortune to get a 2013 C300 Sport Package as a service loaner for the day. This gave me a chance to experience a car that I first saw on display at the LA Auto Show in November. Before we take a quick look at the option package, lets do a quick history refresh on the C-Class line-up. The current C-Class is the third generation and was introduced for the 2008 model year in the fall of 2007. The 2012 C-Class received a mid-cycle refresh that was much more significant than the industry-typical light styling changes and is also more involved than may be first apparent. Yes, there were styling tweaks (bumpers, grilles, lights) as well as some major interior upgrades to both controls and materials, but Mercedes-Benz indicates that there were 2000 new components in the 2012 model. Prior to owning our 2012, we had a 2009 C300 4MATIC that was an excellent car, but the 2012 is a far superior car from both an amenity and driving standpoint. So what’s new for 2013?
2013 C-Class updates
The big news for 2013 involves the C300 models. They finally got the piece that was missing from the 2012 models–the new engine family. The prior 3.0 liter V6 that produced 228 HP and 221 ft-lbs. of torque has been replaced by a 3.5 liter direct-injection V6 with 248 HP and 251 ft-lbs. of torque. In addition to the noticeable performance improvement, the new engine provides an increase in EPA fuel economy ratings–20 city/27 highway/22 combined as compared to the 18/25/20 ratings on the 2012. There is also an ECO mode to control the stop-start function–more about that later.
Option Code 956 Sport Package
The Sport Package is new for 2013 and is available on all 3 sport sedan models. The most eye-catching feature in the package is the wheel upgrade–that is what made me take a closer look at the car in LA. The wheels are 18″ AMG twin-7-spoke alloys with a black and silver polished finish that have a much more aggressive look than the standard wheel. The other noticeable exterior change is the addition of an AMG rear lip spoiler on the trunk.
The next surprise happens when you open the door–RED SEAT BELTS!! But there is a lot more to enjoy and to appreciate when you take a closer look. The interior upgrades start with the seats. They are nicely contoured exclusive sport seats with a combination of black M-B Tex and DINAMICA inserts (think suede or alcantara). The interior stitching is done in red to provide a subtle contrast and works well with the brushed aluminum trim. The final touch is a set of black floor mats with red leather borders. If you like the package but find the red seat belts too bold for your taste, black belts are available at no charge.
On the Road
The most noticeable difference between the 2012 & 2013 C300 is the increase in horsepower and torque. The extra power is apparent and readily available when needed. Although Mercedes-Benz doesn’t mention any difference in exhaust tuning, I feel that the exhaust on the Sport Package is a bit throatier than the 2012 under hard acceleration; in normal driving conditions the exhaust is as smooth and quiet as you would expect. I didn’t have the opportunity to drive the car hard for a few reasons (primarily out of respect for a dealership service loaner, and the car had only 17 miles on the odometer when I picked it up) to test the handling capabilities, but the 18″ wheel and tire package would add a bit more grip in spirited driving. Overall, the car feels nimble and responsive with a compliant ride. For those who like a softer feel the C300 is still available in Luxury trim that has different suspension tuning to enhance the ride quality at the expense of some handling feel.
The new-for-2013 ECO mode controls the stop-start function and can be turned on or off with a switch on the center console. With the ECO mode on, in most driving conditions the engine will shut off when you come to a stop; as soon as you take your foot off the brake the engine restarts so you are ready to go. . The transitions are fairly seamless although you can occasionally detect a slight shudder when the engine restarts. I think the more that you drive the car, the less noticeable this would be. The engineers have done a nice job of smoothing out the process to the point where it is almost on par with the best of the hybrid system transitions (i.e.Toyota). As I experimented with the system, I discovered that if you have your foot on the brake and either turn the steering wheel or touch the accelerator the engine will restart automatically. The obvious benefit of this technology is improved fuel economy. The EPA doesn’t make any allowance for stop-start in their test cycles, but across the industry most manufacturers predict a 3-7% increase in fuel economy by incorporating stop-start in their vehicles.
The seats are more supportive than the standard seats and have a nice feel with the DINAMICA inserts. The DINAMICA gives a different look than the traditional M-B Tex or leather with the added benefit of not being as hot in the summer or as cold in the winter. One interior nit to pick–for some unknown reason the engineers decided to reverse the arrangement of the stalks on the left side of the steering column. The 2013 (L photo) has the cruise control mounted lower at the 9 0’clock position where the turn signal/wiper stalk has traditionally been located; the wipers and turn signals are now at the 10 o’clock position where the cruise was typically located (2012 arrangement shown in the right photo). If you drive with your hands at the 9 & 3 position and reach for the turn signals you are very likely to operate the cruise control instead. I would suppose that over time you would adapt to this–but why make the design change for no apparent benefit?
In summary, the 956 Sport Package is a great addition to the model line up for those who would like to individualize their car. The $2300 package price includes the 18″ AMG wheels, AMG rear spoiler, Sport Seats with DINAMICA trim, red stitching, red seat belts, and black floor mats with red piping. All-in-all a nice value if the contents appeal to you when you consider that an 18″ wheel upgrade (from the standard 17″) would typically cost $1000-1800 as an option and the rear spoiler was a $400 option on the 2012 models. As the C-Class becomes a much more common sight on the road, this is a pretty cost-effective way to make your car stand out from the rest. Our test vehicle was fully equipped including metallic paint ($720), Parktronic with Park Assist ($970), Premium 1 pkg ($2500), Lighting pkg ($1290), Multimedia pkg ($2790), Sport Sedan (N/C), and the 956 Sport Pkg ($2300) for a total MSRP of $50425.
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Horsepower, Torque, & MPG increase Control Stalk layout
Red Seat Belts ( for individualists) Red Seat Belts ( for traditionalists)
956 Sport Pkg, is a nice value $50k MSRP is getting close to the E350