When Mercedes-Benz introduced its new C-Class sedans last year, the cars earned eight major American automotive awards, appealing to groups as diverse as AAA,Automobile magazine, the North American Car of the Year jury and the numbers-conscious IntelliChoice, which called the Mercedes-Benz C220 the best overall value in luxury cars under $40,000.
In large part, the cars’ appeal was due to the low (for Mercedes) price tag. The all-new cars, which replaced Mercedes’ entry-level 190 series, were bigger and more powerful, and yet came in at about the same price.