2025 Mercedes-Benz C-Class

The 2025 C-Class is Mercedes-Benz's small sedan. It's bracketed in Mercedes' lineup by the smaller CLA and the midsize E-Class. It's available in a variety of versions, from the mild C 300 to the wild AMG C 63, with options that allow you to take a more luxurious or sporty path. In an era when shoppers are flocking to SUVs, it's refreshing that Mercedes offers a smaller, more efficient and more agile vehicle for those who want it.

In generations past, we knew that a vehicle had a burly V8 under the hood when we'd see the letters AMG followed by the number 63. But no longer. The latest AMG C 63 has a four-cylinder that seems to have been pushed to its limits. It makes significantly more power thanks to a plug-in hybrid system, yet it's more efficient and can provide 6 miles of EV range. Sounds good, right? Well, actually, it's the new engine's sound that holds it back. The wail of four cylinders simply doesn't have the impact and ceremony of a V8.

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class squares off against its traditional foes that include the BMW 3 Series and Audi A4. As you move up the C-Class lineup, the AMG C 43 is equivalent to the Audi S4 and BMW M340i, while the top AMG C 63 challenges the Audi RS 5 and BMW M3. In general, the C-Class is the more luxurious pick, while the BMW is the sportier choice. In many ways, the Audi finds a middle ground, but its age is beginning to show after eight years without a redesign. You can read our test team's Expert Rating below to learn more.