Initial Quality – In the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Initial Quality Study, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class received an Overall Initial Quality Power Circle Rating of 3 out of 5.

Performance and Design – In the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout Study (APEAL), the Mercedes-Benz C-Class received an Overall Performance and Design Power Circle Rating of 4 out of 5.

Predicted Reliability – The current generation of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class was a new model for 2008 and is too new to have been included in the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS), which measured dependability of 2006 model-year vehicles. However, based on the performance of previous C-Class models in both our Initial Quality and Vehicle Dependability studies, the predicted reliability rating for the Mercedes-Benz C-Class is 3.5 out of 5 Power Circle Ratings.

Fuel Economy – The 2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class is equipped with one of three engines: a 228-horsepower, 3.0-liter V-6 engine; a 268-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 engine; or a 451-horsepower, 6.3-liter V-8 engine, each requiring premium fuel. The most fuel-efficient C-Class is the C300 with rear-wheel drive, which is rated to achieve 18 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway (the city rating drops to 17 mpg for the all-wheel drive C300 4Matic). The more powerful C350 matches the C300 4Matic at 17 mpg city/25 mpg highway. The least fuel-efficient C-Class is, not surprisingly, the V-8-powered C63 AMG, rated to deliver 12 mpg in the city and 19 mpg on the highway.

Our review vehicle, a C300 Sport with rear-wheel drive and an automatic transmission, averaged 20.9 mpg in mixed driving with an emphasis on highway travel. Combined with the C300’s standard 23.8-gallon fuel tank, this actual fuel economy figure results in an approximate 360-mile range between fill-ups of premium unleaded.

Safety – According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the 2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class gets 4-star crash-test ratings for the driver and front seat passenger in a frontal impact, 5-star crash-test ratings for front and rear seat occupants in a side impact crash, and a 4-star rollover rating with rear- or all-wheel drive.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety calls the Mercedes-Benz C-Class a “Top Safety Pick” because it has standard stability control and received a “Good” rating in the offset frontal impact crash test, a “Good” rating in the side impact crash test, and a “Good” rating for rear impact protection.

Environment – According to the EPA, the 2009 Mercedes-Benz C300 consumes 16.3 barrels of petroleum annually, the C300 4Matic and C350 consume 17.1 barrels of petroleum annually, and the C63 AMG consumes 22.8 barrels of petroleum annually. The resulting carbon footprint ratings are 8.7, 9.2, and 12.2 tons of air pollution per year, respectively.

The Mercedes-Benz C350 receives national and regional air pollution scores of 7 out of 10. In California/New England, however, certain versions of the C350 are rated as Partial Zero Emission Vehicles, or PZEV, resulting in an air pollution score of 9.5 out of 10. Strangely, the EPA does not provide national or regional air pollution scores for the C300 models or for the C63 AMG.