2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Trim Levels with Comparisons & Configurations.

Mercedes-Benz is a German automaker whose name has practically become synonymous with the word luxury. Mercedes is also known for their world-class engineering. They craft some of the best engines the automotive industry has to offer. They build beautiful, high-quality luxury cars on a whole different level from the competition.

The 2021 Mercedes C-Class cars come in two major variations. There's a four-door sedan version of the C-Class. There's also a two-door coupe version of this luxury vehicle. Both share the exact same five trim levels. If a feature is on the base trim of the sedan, it will be on the base trim of the coupe as well.

Each trim level goes up in price by varying degrees. Most offer all of the previous trim-level's features except where upgrades have been made, as well as some new additional features. They all have something unique to offer that sets them apart from the other trim levels. Here is a list of all five trims and how they compare with one another.

 

Compare the 2021 Mercedes C-Class C 300 vs C 300 4Matic Trims. What is the difference?

The sedan version of the C 300 can easily seat five people. It has a trunk space of 12.6 cubic feet. The coupe version is smaller and can only seat four people. The coupe has a smaller trunk too, at only 10.5 cubic-feet of storage space. Both will come equipped with a 2.0-liter turbocharged I4 engine.

The C 300 engine makes 255 horsepower (hp) with 273 pound-feet (lb-ft) of torque. It can get up to 60 miles-per-hour (mph) in just 5.7 seconds. With the sedan version, drivers should see 35 miles-per-gallon (mpg) on the highway and 23 mpg in the city. The coupe version gets slightly lower numbers on the highway, but actually does better during city driving.

The C 300 is a rear-wheel drive (RWD) vehicle with a 9-speed automatic transmission system. It features rack-and-pinion steering with power assist. It also offers a 4-wheel independent suspension system with a 4-link front and a 5-arm multi-link rear. Both body styles come with a set of 18-inch, 5-spoke wheels and all-season tires.

The exterior has an aggressive yet elegant style. There's a power-operated sunroof with tinted glass. The inside is both comfortable and luxurious, with real-wood trim. The wood trim is a warm brown ash wood with a low-sheen finish. The seats are power adjustable, and the driver's seat has a memory features.

The front seats are heated. There are 40-20-40 split-folding seats in the rear. Power locks and windows are standard. The windows can be accessed remotely. There are power-folding side mirrors. The C 300 also features Keyless Go and Remote Start.

The trunk can be closed remotely and also has a hands-free method of opening with a kick of the foot under the rear bumper. A brake-hold feature allows the driver to take their foot off the brake while stuck in heavy traffic. New cars also include 3 years of Mercedes Me Connect. This allows remote access of the car and control of multiple features through a smartphone app.

The C 300 also offers a garage-door opener and illuminated entry. Mercedes provides a number of optional features to customize this base model with. Leather upholstery and ventilation is available for the seats. There's also a nice 64-color ambient-lighting system with high-powered LEDs.

The Mercedes C-Class C 300 comes with a great infotainment system. It has a 10.25-inch high-resolution display. There are controls mounted on the steering wheel for convenient access. Bluetooth Technology is onboard for hands-free use and streaming. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility are offered. The sound system features an HD radio.

The infotainment system also has some optional upgrades for this trim level. A navigation system can be added on. There's an available audio system with 13 speakers from Burmester. This also includes a powerful 590-watt amplifier. Enhanced Voice Control and a WiFi hotspot round out some of the more interesting choices.

When it comes to safety, the C 300 comes with eight airbags and seat belts with Emergency-Tensioning Devices (ETD). All models get LED daytime running lights for better visibility. There's also a rear-view camera and anti-theft alarm in every single model.

The C 300 trim level offers a lot of driver-assist technology to keep you safe too. There's a Blind-Spot Assist with Exit-Warning Assist. As long as the vehicle is traveling at 20 mph or higher, a red light will appear in the side mirror when another vehicle has entered a potential blind-spot. An audible warning will sound if opening the door could collide with a vehicle or pedestrian while the car is parked.

This trim level gets features such as Brake Assist and Active Brake Assist. There's a Tire-Pressure Monitor to make sure all four tires are inflated to a safe level. Attention Assist monitors the driver and their behaviors and will give audible and visible warnings if there's a sign of drowsiness.

Mercedes' proprietary Electronic Stability Program (ESP) is included with every model. There are also too many optional safety features to list. Buyers can add on features such as Lane-Keep Assist and Lane-Departure Warning. There are even some unique options such as Active Speed-Limit Assist and Evasive Steering Assist.

The next trim level up is only around $2000 more than the base model. It has the same engine and transmission system as the C 300. All of the performance stats are the same. Most of the mechanical features, exterior features and interior features are all the same. There are no major differences in the tech features or safety equipment either.

The main difference for the C 300 4Matic is its 4Matic all-wheel drive (AWD). This system is always engaged. It optimizes power and torque to all four wheels for better traction and performance. This one feature greatly adds to the steering and handling of the Mercedes C-Class.

Compare the 2021 Mercedes C-Class C 300 4Matic vs AMG C 43 Trims. What is the difference?

The AMG line of Mercedes vehicles are all about sporty performance. There's a significant jump in price by about $13,000 when moving up from the C 300 4Matic to the AMG C 43 model. This model gets an AMG-enhanced 3.0-liter V6 biturbo engine. This new powertrain produces 385 hp and 384 lb-ft of torque. It can get up to 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds.

All of that extra power comes at the expense of the fuel economy. This trim level gets around 18 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway. The transmission system gets upgraded to better match up with the new engine. The AMG C 43 has an AMG Speed-Shift 9-speed automatic transmission. This model still gets the 4Matic AWD of the previous trim level.

Many other mechanical features get the AMG performance-upgrade treatment too. This includes the exhaust system, the front axle and the braking system. This model gets a wider stance to go with its athletic performance. Other new features for this trim level include 3-Stage Electronic Stability Program and ESP Dynamic Cornering Assist.

On the inside, this trim gets sporty brushed-steel pedals and bright-red seat belts. There's an AMG Performance steering wheel covered with Nappa Leather. The previously optional ambient lighting is now added on automatically. The infotainment system gets a unique AMG menu with a race timer, a testament to this model's amazing performance.

When it comes to safety features, these remain the same as what the previous trim level had to offer. The same goes for the driver-assist technology. Mercedes leaves many of the driver-assist features to the Driver Assistance and Parking Assistance packages, which can be added on to any trim level.

Compare the 2021 Mercedes C-Class AMG C 43 vs AMG C 63 Trims. What is the difference?

The AMG C 63 trim level of the 2021 Mercedes C-Class comes with another large price increase of approximately $13,000. It also once again comes with a large increase in power and torque. This model is powered by a handcrafted AMG 4.0-liter V8 biturbo engine. This time, the C-Class can crank out a whopping 469 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque.

In order to increase power and efficiency, this V8 engine has advanced direct-injection and a multi-spark ignition. The turbochargers are placed inside of the "V" of the engine. This configuration means better overall efficiency. With the power increase comes another drop in fuel-economy numbers, but it's not a large difference this time. This trim level should see 17 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway.

This sedan or coupe, depending on the buyer's choice, is ready for actual track racing. It can go from 0 to 60 mph in an astounding 3.9 seconds. There's a Race Start Function that optimizes start-up revs, traction and shifting for racing-capable performance. The transmission gets upgraded again to an AMG MCT 9-speed system.

All of the remaining performance-parts upgrades for the AMG C 43 make a return for the AMG C 63. The AMG C 43 has 18-inch 5-spoke alloy wheels while the AMG C 63 gets a set of 18-inch 10-spoke alloy wheels. The C 63 also gets an analogue clock for the dashboard. There's an upgrade for the upholstery here and some extra interior lighting.

The safety features and driver-assist technology are all identical once again. The multimedia centers and audio systems are identical. All of the available options and packages remain the same for these two trim levels. The major difference is again in the engine and performance.

Compare the 2021 Mercedes C-Class AMG C 63 vs AMG C 63 S. What is the difference?

The last price increase between trim levels is significant, but nowhere near as steep as the previous two increases. The AMG C 63 S is approximately $7,600 more than the previous trim level. This is the best performer of the AMG bunch. It once again comes with a handcrafted and signed AMG 4.0-liter V8 biturbo engine.

While it's the same engine as before, it's now been fine tuned to add more power. This time around it can produce 503 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. It shaves a bit of time off the acceleration with a 0-6 mph time of just 3.8 seconds. Fuel efficiency stays the same as the previous trim at 17 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway.

The transmission system stays the same this time around. The Suspension gets another upgrade for even better handling and a smoother ride. This trim level has an AMG Ride Control Sport Suspension. Settings can be chosen for highway, back roads, city or racetrack driving.

This model gets 19-inch, twin 5-spoke wheels. The brake calipers are painted bright red. The cockpit gets a slight redesign here to be more sports focused. There are sports seats up front and a flat-bottom steering wheel. The instrument panels get some exclusive decals and there is MB-Tex soft-material trim with impeccable stitching throughout the interior.

The multimedia system and safety features remain the same. The driver-assist features don't change for this trim level either. The bulk of the changes here are in the cosmetic flourishes for the interior as well as some more performance upgrades. And of course, there's the supped-up engine with added horsepower and torque.

Which Trim To Choose?

When deciding which model to buy, the first choice will be between the sedan and coupe versions of the 2021 Mercedes C-Class. If the buyer plans on having passengers on a regular basis, the sedan is probably the better choice. Single drivers may prefer the looks of the coupe, but the sedan is more practical.

Different drivers will have a different opinion on which trim is the best depending on what their priorities are. For most drivers, the C 300 4Matic will be the best option. It's only a slight price increase over the base trim. The 4Matic AWD is more than worth that modest price increase. The upgrade in traction and handling is significant, and buyers still get all of the features of the C 300.

For the performance-minded buyers, they will no doubt prefer one of the AMG models. The AMG C 63 is the best option here. While it doesn't reach the horsepower of the AMG C 63 S, it still cranks out 469 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque. That should be plenty enough for thrill seekers while remaining less expensive than the AMG C 63 S.