2008 Mercedes-Benz C350 Sport Exclusive Photo Gallery

Mercedes introduces us to the new 2008 C350 Sport

by Autobytel Staff

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August 14, 2008

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7 min. Reading Time

Entry-Level Sport and Luxury: the 2008 C-Class Sedan

For 2008, Mercedes-Benz introduced an all-new C-Class to its lineup. Our test car was the C350 Sport Sedan in Mars Red equipped with the optional Premium II and Multimedia packages, as well as the leather upholstery and TeleAid, bringing the total cost of our C350 to $44,275 including an $875 destination and delivery fee.

Mercedes-Benz really pushed the limits of design with the new C-Class for 2008. The C350 Sport design is a head turner from the sometimes controversial large grille up front to the newly styled rear. The new C-Class sports a wider and lower stance and is available in rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive.

Engine and Performance

Our 2008 Mercedes-Benz C350 test car offered up 268 horsepower and 258 lb.-ft. of torque from its 3.5-liter V-6. Mercedes claims a 0-60 mph time of 6.3 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 130 mph. EPA fuel mileage is listed as 17 mpg city and 25 mpg highway.

You’d expect leather in any Mercedes, but in the new C-Class it’ll cost you -- to the tune of $1,570. The C350 front seats are heated and 8-way power adjustable with lumbar support. The interior also features a cheap-looking (and feeling) 3-spoke steering wheel.

Wheels, Tires and Brakes

Mercedes equips the 2008 C350 Sport with 17-inch AMG-styled 6-spoke wheels and all-season 225/45R-17 tires at the front and 245/40/R-17 at the rear. Braking is handled by 12.7-inch ventilated rotors and single piston calipers up front and 11.8-inch ventilated discs with a single piston at the rear. One staff member pointed out it was odd seeing AMG wheels on a non-AMG car.

Bi-Xenon headlamps are part of the optional Premium II package on the 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Also included were headlamp washers and cornering foglamps. The eyebrow design of the headlights is a nice design accent. Exterior design was a sticking point with our staff, some loved the C350s looks and others felt it was over-designed.

Driver's Dash

The interior of our 2008 Mercedes C350 Sport Sedan was trimmed with black maple accents and equipped with a seven-inch retractable display for navigation and high-end audio system included in the multimedia option package. Our interior also included the leather upgrade, but we were disappointed with the amount of textured rubber and plastic in a car costing $44,275.

For 2008, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class incorporates 4-wheel independent suspension with Sport models getting sport shocks and springs. The Mercedes C350 maintains a sporty feel, yet delivers luxury-car feel. Steering tended to be a bit light but the car handles freeway onramps and turns with confidence.

Transmission

It wasn’t long ago that a six-speed automatic transmission was all the rage in luxury cars, today seven and even eight-speed automatics are finding their way into entry-level cars like the 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class. For 2008, the Mercedes C350 comes standard with a seven-speed driver-adaptive automatic transmission. Upshifts were smooth and downshifts responsive when called on.

Test Vehicle:

2008 Mercedes-Benz C350 Sport

Base Price:

Engine Size and Type:V-6

Engine Horsepower:

268 @ 6,000 rpm

Engine Torque:

258 lb.-ft. @ 2,400- 5,000 rpm

Transmission:

Seven-Speed Automatic

Curb Weight, lbs.:

3,615