View All Media
By KBB Editors
Updated December 23, 2019
If you desire a reasonably-priced premium luxury car guaranteed to impress the neighbors, but still require a functioning sedan for clients and family, the C-Class has you covered.
If bang for the buck is more important than the Mercedes-Benz name, makes from Audi, Infiniti and Acura provide more features for about the same or less money.
The 2009 C-Class gains front pelvic airbags, bringing its total number of supplemental restraints to eight. The C300 gets a comfort suspension, while a 10-way driver’s memory seat and power adjustable steering wheel are made standard on the C350. New options include a 40 gigabyte hard drive with six gigabytes of music storage and a Zagat restaurant guide.
For many, the Mercedes-Benz name represents the pinnacle of automotive design and good taste. While they may not have the means to climb into a new S-Class, the upwardly mobile still have a shot at joining the exclusive MB club without breaking the bank. Mercedes-Benz’ most affordable offering, the 2009 C-Class, comes loaded with style and content. Starting in the mid-$30,000 range, the C-Class must contend with the likes of the Audi A4, Infiniti G37 and Cadillac CTS. And while some will note the C-Class lacks such technological gadgets as adaptive cruise control and adaptive headlights, it is still a lot of car for the money. More importantly, it is a lot of Mercedes-Benz for the money.
The Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price for any individual used vehicle can vary greatly according to mileage, condition, location, and other factors, but here's a general idea of what buyers are currently paying for used 2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class models when purchasing from a dealership.
Original MSRP | KBB Fair Purchase Price (nat'l average) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
$35,235 | $6,068 | |||
$35,525 | $6,161 | |||
$37,075 | $6,092 | |||
$37,325 | $5,954 | |||
$40,885 | $6,268 | |||
$55,975 | $13,135 |
For reference, the 2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class originally had a starting sticker price of $35,235, with the range-topping C-Class C 63 AMG Sedan 4D starting at $55,975.
In the Luxury trim, the C300 delivers an enjoyable ride, responsive handling and a quiet cabin. Acceleration with the 3.0-liter V6 is brisk and passing power is ample, even at high speeds. In Sport trim a six-speed manual transmission brings out the C300’s playful side, making us wish for more aggressively bolstered front seats. The high tech Agility Control, which selectively stiffens or softens the shocks in response to road conditions and steering input, performed as promised. Like the C300 Sport, the C350 rides on larger tires and sits about an inch closer to the ground. While handling is improved over the Luxury model, ride comfort is somewhat diminished and cabin noise levels see a slight increase. The 3.5-liter V6 packs a bit more punch than the base engine, but does not offer a manual transmission, saddled instead with a seven-speed automatic with manual shift feature. Unfortunately, the sometimes slow-to-come shift points often make it more enjoyable to just leave the lever in the "D" position.
A blend of the old with the new best describes the C-Class interior. Optional leather seating and tasteful wood inlays surround the cabin, but the power-extendable LCD display screen and multifunctional central controller are far from traditional. The front seats are wide and somewhat flat, which is fine for the Luxury model but definitely lacking in the support that would be appropriate for the Sport. The optional panoramic glass sunroof opens the C-Class interior, making it feel larger and more airy. A few oddities stand out, namely the awkward placement of the manual lumbar control and the less-than-intuitive steering-wheel controls for the information screens and audio system.
The once-sedate C-Class comes alive with eye-catching sheetmetal and two different grille designs (one for Luxury, the other for Sport). Following the styling of the elegant S-Class, the C-Class now appears more on design’s cutting edge. A long wheelbase and body give the car a substantial road presence as well as adult-sized interior dimensions. Mercedes-Benz loyalists will quickly notice the Sport model’s transference of the three-pointed Mercedes-Benz star from the hood to the grille, a first for a Mercedes-Benz sedan. Racy alloy wheels, a lowered suspension and AMG-inspired lower bodywork complete the Sport model’s aggressive look.
Panoramic Glass Sunroof
When open, the roof exposes half the cabin to the open air and, when closed, delivers equal quantities of sunlight to front and rear passengers.
harman/kardon Audio
With 450-watts, 12-speakers and surround sound LOGIC7 technology, the system is good enough on its own. Add in a six-gigabyte storage unit for uploading songs, voice control and PCMCIA slot, and the C-Class delivers one of the most advanced audio systems in its class.
Standard features for the 2009 C-Class include a power sunroof, eight-way power front seats with manual lumbar control, Bluetooth connectivity, eight speaker 100-watt sound system with auxiliary input jack, 17-inch alloy wheels, agility control selective dampening suspension, dual-zone automatic climate control, central controller and a motorized LCD display. The C300 Sport features a six-speed manual transmission, while the 300 Luxury and 350 Sport have a seven-speed automatic. Standard safety features include eight airbags, adaptive braking, traction and stability control, active front head restraints and extensive use of high-strength steel.
Among the more noteworthy options are Mercedes-Benz’ 4MATIC all-wheel drive system (C300 models only), DVD navigation, 450-watt harman/kardon LOGIC7 surround sound audio with iPod connectivity and a six-gigabyte music storage register, leather seating, panoramic glass sunroof, bi-xenon headlamps, a rear sunshade and 18-inch alloy wheels. Standard on the C350 and optional on the C300 are auto-dimming power folding side mirrors, 10-way driver’s memory seat, a power adjustable steering wheel, heated front seats, SIRIUS Satellite Radio, rain-sensing wipers and split-folding rear seats.
For most C-Class drivers, the 3.0-liter V6 should prove more than adequate. With 228-horsepower and ample torque, this engine delivers a nice balance between fuel economy and performance, taking only 7.1 seconds to go from zero to 60 miles per hour. Although the C350’s 3.5-liter V6 delivers 40 more horsepower and shaves one second from the C’s zero-to-60 time, it costs some $5,000 more than the C300 and offers neither the manual transmission nor the 4MATIC option.}
3.0-liter V6
228 horsepower @ 6000 rpm
221 lb.-ft. of torque @ 2700-5000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 18/26 (manual), 18/25 (automatic), 17/25 (4MATIC)
3.5-liter V6
268 horsepower @ 6000 rpm
258 lb.-ft. of torque @ 2400-5500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 17/25
Our Expert Ratings come from hours of both driving and number crunching to make sure that you choose the best car for you. We comprehensively experience and analyze every new SUV, car, truck, or minivan for sale in the U.S. and compare it to its competitors. When all that dust settles, we have our ratings.
We require new ratings every time an all-new vehicle or a new generation of an existing vehicle comes out. Additionally, we reassess those ratings when a new-generation vehicle receives a mid-cycle refresh — basically, sprucing up a car in the middle of its product cycle (typically, around the 2-3 years mark) with a minor facelift, often with updates to features and technology.
Rather than pulling random numbers out of the air or off some meaningless checklist, KBB’s editors rank a vehicle to where it belongs in its class. Before any car earns its KBB rating, it must prove itself to be better (or worse) than the other cars it’s competing against as it tries to get you to spend your money buying or leasing.
Our editors drive and live with a given vehicle. We ask all the right questions about the interior, the exterior, the engine and powertrain, the ride and handling, the features, the comfort, and of course, about the price. Does it serve the purpose for which it was built? (Whether that purpose is commuting efficiently to and from work in the city, keeping your family safe, making you feel like you’ve made it to the top — or that you’re on your way — or making you feel like you’ve finally found just the right partner for your lifestyle.)
We take each vehicle we test through the mundane — parking, lane-changing, backing up, cargo space and loading — as well as the essential — acceleration, braking, handling, interior quiet and comfort, build quality, materials quality, reliability.
Curb Weight | 3737 lbs. | ||
---|---|---|---|
EPA Passenger | 88.2 cu.ft. | ||
Fuel Capacity | 17.4 gallons | ||
Front Head Room | 37.1 inches | ||
Front Leg Room | 41.7 inches | ||
Max Seating Capacity | 5 | ||
Minimum Ground Clearance | 4.5 inches | ||
Overall Length | 182.3 inches | ||
Front Shoulder Room | 54.7 inches | ||
Trunk or Cargo Capacity | 12.4 cu.ft. | ||
Turning Diameter | 35.5 feet | ||
Wheel Base | 108.7 inches | ||
Width with mirrors | 79.5 inches |
Alloy Wheels | Available | ||
---|---|---|---|
Fog Lights | Available | ||
HID Headlights | Available | ||
Moon Roof/Sun Roof | Available | ||
Number of Doors | 4 doors | ||
Panorama Moon Roof | Available |
City | 17 mpg | ||
---|---|---|---|
Highway | 25 mpg | ||
Combined | 20 mpg |
Drivetrain | AWD | ||
---|---|---|---|
Transmission Type | Automatic | ||
7 speed | Available | ||
Recommended Fuel | Premium | ||
Hill Start Assist | Available |
Horsepower | 228 @ 6000 RPM | ||
---|---|---|---|
Torque | 221 @ 2700 rpm | ||
Engine | V6, 3.0 Liter | ||
0 to 60 | 7.1 seconds | ||
Top Speed | 130 mph |
Basic | 4 years / 50000 miles | ||
---|---|---|---|
Powertrain | 4 years / 50000 miles | ||
Corrosion | 4 years / 50000 miles |
Used 2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class | Used 2011 Chevrolet Malibu | Used 2011 Suzuki Kizashi | Used 2009 Volvo S40 | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Price | $6,561 | $5,916 | $5,968 | $5,964 | |
KBB.com Rating | N/A | 3.8 | 3.3 | N/A | |
Consumer Rating | 4.7 | 4.3 | 4.9 | 4.5 | |
Fuel Economy | City 17/Hwy 25/Comb 20 MPG | City 22/Hwy 33/Comb 26 MPG | City 23/Hwy 30/Comb 26 MPG | City 19/Hwy 28/Comb 23 MPG | |
Fuel Type | Gas | Gas | Gas | Gas | |
Safety Rating | N/A | 4.0 | N/A | N/A | |
Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | |
Basic Warranty | 4 years or 50000 miles | 3 years or 36000 miles | 3 years or 36000 miles | 4 years or 50000 miles | |
Horsepower | 228 @ 6000 RPM | 169 @ 6400 RPM | 180 @ 6000 RPM | 227 @ 5000 RPM | |
Engine | V6, 3.0 Liter | 4-Cyl, 2.4 Liter | 4-Cyl, 2.4 Liter | 5-Cyl, Turbo, 2.5 Liter | |
Drivetrain | AWD | FWD | FWD | FWD |
Mercedes-Benz has issued a recall for about 8,200 C-Class sedans, including some AMG models, from model years 2022 and 2023.…
Mercedes-Benz has issued a recall for more than 143,000 cars and SUVs because their fuel pumps can fail, causing their…
Mercedes-Benz, for the third time, has issued a recall for a large batch of cars because their sunroof panels can…