Americans can buy a brand new, 2009 Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport for $33,775. The C300 Sport is the least expensive way to park a new set of wheels bearing one of the most widely recognized symbols of success, the Mercedes three-pointed star emblem, on its grille, and on its steering wheel, and on its trunk lid, and on all the center caps for the wheels. Of course, at that price, you’re getting a manual transmission, and a single CD player, and vinyl seats, because an automatic transmission, a premium audio system, and leather upholstery are all options on this luxury-brand car. Introduced with modern fourth-generation design and engineering just last year, the Mercedes C-Class nevertheless sees several updates for 2009.

Here is a summary of the changes to the 2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class:
• New pelvic airbags bring the total airbag count to eight
• New Comfort Suspension on the C300 Luxury model
• 10-way power memory seat now standard on C350 model
• Power tilt and telescopic steering wheel now standard on C350 model
• Compass added to rearview mirror on C350 and C63 AMG models
• New, optional 40-gigabyte hard drive with 6MB reserved for music and Zagat restaurant reviews
• New standard auxiliary input jack for portable music devices
• New standard Bluetooth hands-free call capability
• New instrument cluster for Sport models is similar to that of the C63 AMG
• Fuel range and average fuel economy are added to the speedometer display screen
• Buyers can match burl walnut interior trim with the gray and black interior color scheme

The 2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class is available in a single sedan bodystyle with four variants: the C300 Sport, the C300 Luxury, the C350 Sport, and the C63 AMG. Among them, only the C300 models are available with 4Matic all-wheel drive instead of the standard rear-wheel-drive powertrain configuration.

Standard equipment for the 2009 Mercedes-Benz C300 includes dual-zone automatic climate control, a power sunroof, 8-way power front seats, a CD player, an auxiliary input jack for an iPod, Bluetooth hands-free calling, a tilt and telescopic steering wheel with leather trim, automatic headlights, cruise control, a trip computer, and 17-inch wheels. The base price also includes MB-Tex upholstery for the seats, which is Mercedes-Benz terminology for vinyl.

The C300 Sport models are less expensive than the C300 Luxury models, and also come standard with a manual transmission, a lowered sport suspension, a sport body kit, a sport grille, sport front seats, a sport three-spoke steering wheel, and aluminum interior trim. The more expensive C300 Luxury models include an automatic transmission, a comfort-tuned suspension, burl walnut wood interior trim, and a stand-up three-pointed star hood ornament over a traditional grille design.

For an extra $6,100 more than the C300 Sport, the 2009 Mercedes-Benz C350 Sport adds a more powerful V-6 engine, an automatic transmission, AMG-design alloy wheels, AMG-design decklid spoiler, and a Sport braking system. It also comes standard with auto-dimming mirrors, Sirius satellite radio with a free 6-month subscription, a programmable garage door opener, an aluminum shift knob, black Bird’s eye maple wood trim, a 10-way power driver’s seat, and heated front seats.

The 2009 C63 AMG stickers for $56,300. This $17,300 premium over the C350 Sport rewards the enthusiast buyer with an AMG-engineered, hand-built, 451-horsepower V-8 engine connected to a 7-speed SpeedShift Plus transmission with paddle shifters and the first-ever rev-matching feature for a Mercedes-Benz product. The extra coin also pays for go-faster hardware such as special suspension and braking components, thickly bolstered front sport seats, and larger wheels shod with stickier tires. The C63 AMG also gets unique body detailing, a sport steering wheel, a sport-tuned exhaust system, a three-stage stability control system, and special interior trim.

Mercedes-Benz offers numerous option packages for the 2009 C-Class. The C300 models can be equipped with Premium Package 1 including rain-sensing wipers, heated front seats, a 10-way power driver’s seat, a garage door opener, Sirius satellite radio, and auto-dimming rearview mirrors. Premium Package 2 adds split-folding rear seats, a power rear sunshade, bi-Xenon headlights with cornering fog lights, and heated headlight washers to a C300 or a C350. Both models can be equipped with a Multimedia Package including a 450-watt Harmon/Kardon surround sound audio system with 12 speakers, a Gracenote database and MusicRegister feature that allows the owner to rip up to 1,500 audio tracks to a 6GB section of the 40GB hard drive; a six-disc CD changer; a PCMCIA slot; and a COMAND navigation system. Notable individual options include a panoramic sunroof, 18-inch AMG wheels on Sport models, and the Tele Aid security and communications system.

In terms of features and amenities, C63 AMG buyers get the same level of standard equipment as the C350 Sport, and can choose from a list of similar options and packages. Unique to the C63 AMG is the AMG Performance Package, which makes the car track-ready. It includes a limited-slip differential, an even stiffer suspension than stock, composite two-piece front disc brakes, and a performance steering wheel wrapped in Nappa leather. Another exclusive is an AMG Seating Package with premium leather and other features. Carbon fiber trim can also be added only to the C63 AMG.

There are three different engines offered on the various 2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class models. The C300 Sport is powered by a 3.0-liter V-6 engine driving the rear wheels through a six-speed manual transmission. A seven-speed automatic transmission with manual shift feature is standard on the C300 Luxury, and is required when 4Matic all-wheel drive is ordered. The 3.0-liter V-6 generates 228 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 221 lb.-ft. of torque between 2,700 and 5,000 rpm. Fuel economy ratings are 18 mpg city/25 mpg highway with rear-wheel drive and 17 mpg city/25 mpg highway with 4Matic all-wheel drive, burning premium unleaded. Our review vehicle, a C300 Sport with rear-wheel drive and the automatic transmission, averaged 20.9 mpg in mixed driving with an emphasis on highway travel.

The 2009 Mercedes-Benz C350 is equipped with a 3.5-liter V-6 engine that makes 268 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 258 lb.-ft. of torque between 2,400 and 5,000 rpm. A seven-speed automatic delivers power to the rear wheels, and this model is rated by the EPA to return 17 mpg city/25 mpg highway, burning premium unleaded.

The 2009 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG’s hand-built, 6.3-liter V-8 engine makes 451 horsepower at 6,800 rpm and 443 lb.-ft. of torque at 5,000 rpm. It powers the rear wheels through a three-mode, seven-speed AMG SpeedShift automatic with manual shift paddles, and is rated to get 12 mpg city/19 mpg highway while burning premium unleaded.

Standard safety equipment on every 2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class includes dual front airbags, side-impact airbags for the front seating positions, side-pelvic airbags for the front seating positions, and side-curtain airbags for each outboard seating position. Additionally, the C-Class comes standard with four-wheel-disc ABS with brake assist; stability control; and traction control.

The C-Class is also offered with additional standard or optional safety features, including fog lights that can help to illuminate around corners, Quickpark sensors in the rear bumper that help identify when the C-Class is getting close to objects behind the vehicle, and automatic rain-sensing wipers. There’s also a Tele Aid security and communications system, which includes an SOS button that can summon help in the event of an emergency, and provide GPS coordinates when the car is optioned with the COMAND navigation system.

J.D. Power and Associates says the 2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class competes against other entry premium vehicles such as the Acura TL, Audi A4, BMW 3 Series, Cadillac CTS, Infiniti G37, Lexus IS, Lincoln MKZ, Saab 9-3, and Volvo S60.