2020 Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Car and Driver (opens in a new tab) says the C-Class adds blind-spot monitoring as standard equipment on all models for 2020. Every C300 and C300 4Matic uses a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder making 255 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque, with rear-wheel drive standard and all-wheel drive on the 4Matic trims.

Kelley Blue Book (opens in a new tab) lists a Fair Purchase Price of $19,700 for the C 300 sedan, and fuel economy from 21/30 mpg to 24/35 mpg city and highway depending on trim.

NHTSA lists 12 recall campaigns for the 2020 C-Class. They include turbocharger oil line screws on turbocharged four-cylinder cars (20V364000), stability program software on AMG models (20V395000), front seat belts that may not fully retract (21V032000), LED headlight adjustment (21V509000), a fuel rail (21V961000) and a front roof panel (21V197000 and 23V854000). Others cover software and display recalls shared across Mercedes models.

Owners have filed 46 complaints: engine with 9, power train and unknown or other with 7 each, structure with 5, and electrical system and fuel and propulsion system with 4 each. Consumer Reports (opens in a new tab) keeps a reliability page for the year.

EPA rates the 2020 C-Class at 20 to 28 mpg combined and $2,750 to $3,900 a year in fuel. The BMW 3 Series lists 28 to 30 mpg at $2,600 to $2,750, the Audi A4 26 to 30 mpg at $2,600 to $3,000, and the Lexus IS 21 to 24 mpg at $3,250 to $3,700. The C-Class trails the 3 Series and A4 at the top end and beats the IS.