Mercedes-Benz C-Class wins Best Luxury Car under $100K

The concept of the sedan or wagon as the first-choice Australian family car has taken a battering in the past few decades. From the glory days when Commodore and Falcon ruled the sales charts, a barrage of SUVs in all shapes and sizes has dealt a critical blow to the humble sedan or wagon.

But prestige rides have always been something more aspirational, and more revered. Something not too different to what the DCOTY judges are assessing here – the best luxury car under $100K. When Aussie-built cars ruled the streets, cars that could deliver a measure of luxury were the ones we’d look at with envy. EVs weren’t a factor then of course, but the landscape has changed markedly. And it’s a fascinating field for 2024.

On one hand, you could argue that while competition isn’t as fierce as it once was, the smaller market share has in fact made the battleground even more difficult. And, despite the up to six-figure starting price, buyers in this category want value as much as luxury, with that hard-to-measure feeling that your money has gone a long way, a key driver.

That’s why manufacturers in this category aim to deliver a real premium feel inside the cabin. Making the driver feel good about their purchase is key, but so is comfort, quality, up-to-date technology, safety, and infotainment. This category is no stranger to the best in available infotainment touchscreen technology, interactive driver displays, and exceptional audio systems for example.

One car has bucked the SUV trend and done so handsomely. That’s one of the reasons it’s here as a finalist, and that car is the Tesla Model 3. Seemingly impervious to a voracious appetite for SUVs, Model 3 has been widely supported since launch, often with a long waiting list of eager buyers, and even retaining strong value on the second-hand market. You could argue that Aussies simply want a clever electric vehicle, but even in the face of emerging SUV options, Model 3 demand has remained strong.

Hot on the heels of Tesla’s success with Model 3, Polestar has its own contender with the excellent Polestar 2. Like Model 3, Polestar’s sedan has bucked the SUV trend and gained immediate popularity. This category is perhaps the best example of electric vehicles working their way into the regular motoring landscape, competing on merit rather than simply because they are electric.

That alone makes this category a challenging one for the DCOTY Judges. Is the car worthy simply because it is electric? Or is it an excellent ‘car’ all round. The two fresh-faced EVs under consideration here, go up against one of the most established and accomplished sedans with decades of history.

Technically, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class is our reigning champion, although this category has shifted slightly from last year’s award. Previously known as ‘Best Luxury Sedan’, the DCOTY judging team has put a price cap on the category to acknowledge that buyers are weighing up not just conventional versus electric power, but a spend up to that crucial six-figure mark.

Drive's pick: Mercedes-Benz C-Class C200 from $89,900 MSRP

Unsurprisingly, the reigning luxury car champion from 2023 has backed up that win with another triumph in 2024. Against undeniably high quality, high-tech, fully electric competition, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class lays down a marker as the most competent luxury car under $100,000.

Two models are available in the mainstream C-Class range, meaning buyers can shape their budget to suit either C200 or C300 variant, but the verdict is clear as to which way the DCOTY judges would spend their hard-earned money.

The judges agreed unanimously that the smartest way to spend your luxury sedan money is to opt for the entry-point to the C-Class range, the well-equipped C200. We often state that more isn’t necessarily more, and that is very much the case with the C200 where the entry grade is feature-packed, luxurious to drive, and premium in every sense.

This category was a tightly contested one, beyond the reality that two of the three contenders are more modern takes on the segment – both being fully electric. That variety of competition made this a tough category to judge, but once again, the entry points to the model grades provided the most compelling value.

Mercedes-Benz has had a category leader on its hands in the form of the C-Class for some time now, and that remains the case here. DCOTY judges described it as ‘a properly mature executive saloon’. The C200 is, first and foremost, built to the expectation of what a luxury car should be and is as stylish as it is practical.

The C200’s supremacy here is immediately evident inside the cabin, where signature Mercedes-Benz luxury and attention to detail abounds. There’s no doubt the C-Class cabin is a premium place to be whether you are a driver or a passenger. The technology that has been included, like the slick infotainment screen and control centre, looks fantastic but is also easy to use even for first-timers.

The infotainment system – featuring the ‘Hey Mercedes’ voice command – is headlined by an 11.9-inch infotainment screen, while the driver gets a 12.3-inch configurable display. Both screens are beautiful and visible in any light. The standard Mercedes-Benz audio system is a good one, even in the entry-level C200.

The C-Class also carries a full five-star rating by safety body ANCAP, awarded in 2022. Standard equipment includes ten airbags, a 360-degree camera, adaptive LED headlights, adaptive cruise control, and lane departure warning. Stepping up to the C300, you get blind spot monitoring and lane-keep assistance. If your budget permits, that extra safety gear could provide the key to opting for the C300 over the C200.

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class is covered by a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty and service intervals are 12 months or 25,000km. Over the first three years, servicing will cost $2750, while five years will cost $5200.

Despite the diminutive 1.5-litre four-cylinder, turbocharged engine, the addition of 48-volt mild-hybrid starter-generator technology adds some spice. It’s connected between the motor and gearbox, and there’s 150kW and 300Nm on offer as well as a smooth nine-speed automatic. Fuel consumption is claimed to be 6.9L/100km on the combined cycle, and we have used as little as mid-sevens in real-world testing. The 48V system doesn’t do a huge amount to reduce real-world fuel use, but it does allow the C200 to transition smoothly from off to on when you’re in stop/start traffic.

Ride comfort is typical of a premium European offering, firm rather than magic carpet in terms of bump absorption in other words, but the C200 doesn’t crash over the usual urban road network. Different drive modes mean those of you with a sportier intent can choose to have a little more fun when the mood takes you. The C200 is, however, a luxury cruiser at heart.

The key to this category is delivering on the promise of all-round luxury. A classy exterior, luxury cabin, quality inclusions, high-tech equipment and a premium driving experience are all non-negotiable if the vehicle is to win this category. Both Model 3 and Polestar 2 are deserving contenders, but neither has the all-round chops of the C-Class.

That’s why the Mercedes-Benz C-Class is the Drive Car of the Year 2024 Best Luxury Car Under $100,000.

Find out everything you need to know about all the Drive Car of the Year 2024 category winners at our DCOTY content hub.