Subtle improvements and a healthy power boost for an already excellent luxury sedan

This review of the 2006 Mercedes Benz C280 luxury sedan may seem familiar. If you read my review of the 2001 C240, you might feel as I did that you had been here before. Here's why.

I've been looking for used luxury cars for a few weeks now, and after not finding the combination of price and condition that I wanted, I decided to lease a new one rather than buy a used one. I had driven various years and models from BMW, Mercedes Benz and Audi, and when shopping new did the same, comparing the new C280 with the new BMW 325i and Audi A4. Strangely, in the middle of my test drive of the new C280 I received a call from another dealership about the C240 I ultimately purchased. While there have been important improvements to the C-class over the last 5 years, more has remained the same than has changed.

Here is a quick summary of the changes between the C240 of 2001 (the first year of the current body style) and the latest 2006 C280. First and most important is the engine, which went from a 168hp 2.6 liter V6 to a 215hp 3.0 liter V6. The new engine has ample power anywhere in the rev range, but then again, so did the old one. Its all a matter of degree, with the new car simply having more power and more torque, and hence responding faster. The C240 is not underpowered, but the C280 is genuinely fast (careful of you driver's license).

The next enhancement is the transmission, which went from a 5-speed adaptive automatic with manumatic (clutchless manual) function in the old C240 to a 7-speed automatic with the same features. The old transmission is a delight, with upshifts so smooth as to be almost imperceptible, immediate downshifts when extra power is needed, and gear ratios that take maximum advantage of the engine's torque and power at any speed. The manual function is well implemented, holding a gear all the way to redline, something many clutchless manuals from other makes fail to do. The new transmission, to me at least, was almost the same as the old one. Yes, it had two more gears and according to Mercedes, the manumatic function is faster, but honestly the old transmission was so good that I barely noticed a difference. C280s equipped with the 4Matic all-wheel-drive system still use the old 5 speed, but my test car was no so equipped.

The last difference is the interior, which has subtle, though significant changes. The main upgrade is in the instrument cluster, which went from a very unusually styled cluster that looked like a high-dollar version of a mid-80s GM van, to a classic cluster of round, chrome-ringed gages that are simply gorgeous. The old cluster was very useful, with a large speedometer, a small tachometer and a multifunction trip computer. The new panel has the exact same functions, but the speedometer and tachometer now are equal size, and present a classic appearance that brings to mind a sports car from the 1960s, a very good thing in my book.

Other interior changes are an in-dash CD player which is now standard and revised controls for the climate control system, which has the same functions as before, but matches the classic sports car look of the instrument panel.

You might be tempted to think of these as very minor changes for a 6th year model, but rather than an indication of laziness on the part of Mercedes engineers, I consider it a testament to the good design and excellent engineering that have been in the C class since the beginning. The car is whisper quiet on the highway, handles twisty roads far better than such a soft and luxurious car should, is fast, comfortable and fully equipped. Very little was needed to improve the 2001 C240, and so the 2006 C280 is very little changed.

The C240 I bought has 67,000 miles on the clock, but looks and feels exactly the same as the new C280 in all respects save acceleration. That bodes very well for anyone who buys a new C280 today, as they can have the confidence that their car will look and feel as good down the road as it did at delivery. This might not seem important in this age of short-term leases, but it is that solid build-quality and long-term reliability that allows you to lease a new Mercedes Benz for the same price as a new Honda. Mercedes cars hold their value because at the end of your 3-year lease, they have a near-new car to sell or lease again. Of course, if you plan on really getting the most for your money, consider purchasing the car and a 10+ year ownership plan. One look at all of the previous-generation C class cars on the road, most of which still look new despite being between 6 and 13-years-old, and you know that this is a quality product built for the long haul.

Speaking of long hauls, that is where this or any Mercedes really shines. My test drive was in a car that had been sold and returned due to the buyer's loan not getting funded. Since this was technically a used car despite only 58 miles on the clock, the dealership was very generous and let me take a test drive without neither the salesman nor a time or distance limit. I drove the car on the 210 freeway and then a little bit up the Angeles Crest highway, a road known for twisty switchbacks and a favorite of motorcyclists. While the sport version (C230) would likely be a better match for Angeles Crest, my work as an immigration lawyer means I spend a lot of time slogging in traffic and visiting distant government offices as far away as San Bernardino and Lancaster, a role for which the luxury models are better suited. I also drive once per month to San Jose (750 miles round trip) for my Army Reserve meetings, which has its fun moments, but is usually a cruise-control affair.

I didn't fuel up the C280, but the trip computer indicated an average fuel economy of 23 MPG for my 40 mile test drive. This was mostly highway driving at a speed of 75MPH, though I briefly brought it up to 90 and spent a few miles in 15MPH traffic. My C240 gets about the same gas mileage, so this is truly impressive considering the added power everywhere in the rev range.

Everything else about the old C240 applies to the new C280. With the exception of the instruments and climate controls, a casual observer would be unable to tell the two cars apart from the inside or out. The alloy wheels have a different style, though they are the same size and both designes are simply gorgeous. I personally like the old wheels a little better, but then again they've had five years on the road to grow on me (I tend to be conservative when it comes to automotive styling). The interior, old or new, is extremely inviting and simply terrific place to spend time.

I did my 750 miles San Jose run last weekend for the first time in my C240 and found the seats supremely comfortable. The C280 uses the same seats, but adds a level to adjust the lumbar support. I tried the lumbar adjustment on my test drive and liked it quite a bit, so while the old seats were very good on a long trip, the new ones should be even better. Everything else is the same, from the softly padded and slightly oversized leather steering wheel to the easy-to-use multifunction trip computer with steering wheel-mounted controls.

The stereo is a bit complicated at first, but very intuitive once the controls are learned. The new one is identical in function and sound, only adds a single-CD to the cassette of the older unit. Both old and new have a glovebox mounted CD-changer option that takes up most of the glove compartment. My 2001 has the changer, which is essential in my opinion in this tapeless age, but the new car would be better without as the new unit plays MP3s as well, allowing just as much music despite its single disc design. Old or new, MP3 or CD, the stereo sounds great, with ample bass and a special mode to optimize the sound for the driver's seat – just the thing when traveling alone.

The back seat is the only area that gets a lot of complaints on the C-class cars, mainly for being small. I am 5'9, and with the front seat set for me, I have no trouble sitting comfortably in the back. Six-footers would be cramped, but anyone 5'10 or shorter should find enough comfort back there. Keep in mind that this is the smallest car Mercedes Benz makes, and as such there must be compromises somewhere for that size. So long as you don't put tall people behind other tall people, Mercedes did a terrific job of packaging their smallest sedan. If you are under 5'11" and sit behind someone 5'10", you will find yourself in a very comfortable place. The leather seats are firm and supportive, with a high-enough seat cushion to offer good thigh support and an adjustable head rest for peace of mind. When the back seat is empty, by the way, the driver can lower those rear headrests with the touch of a button on the dashboard. There is even a fold-down armrest with two (albeit shallow) cupholders for the rear passengers. With the armrest down the rear is a very luxurious place to be. Try to squeeze a 3rd passenger back there and things get very crowded, however. This is a 4 passenger car at its best, with the rear center space ideal for short trips and thin people.

In conclusion, you don't get a lot of flashy new features in the 2006 C280 that weren't already on the 2001 model. There is more power, LOTS more, but the overall feel of the car is almost identical to the old one. Handling is the same, it isn't any quieter because it was already dead silent, and unlike many products these days, the quality does not seem to have gone down. For roughly $34,000 you get a very solid-riding luxury sedan that is rivals even the vaunted S-class for comfort, so long as you or your passengers aren't basketball players. That price can go up very quickly when you start adding options, but in its base form the car represents an outstanding value, for an outstanding automobile.