It took some doing.
Mercedes-Benz Canada first showed the wagon version of the fourth-generation C-Class 20 months ago at 2016’s Montreal Auto Show. All-wheel drive, a 2.1-liter diesel with 369 lb-ft of torque, and a profile deserving of all our praise was destined for Canadian showrooms despite Mercedes-Benz USA’s rejection of the wagon.
But there were hiccups. 13 months ago, we asked Mercedes-Benz about the C-Class Wagon’s arrival on this side of the Atlantic and received the following response: “We’re still waiting for certification.”
Mercedes-Benz never got the certification it desired, and diesel engines have disappeared from the automaker’s North American lineup. But by April 2017, we knew Mercedes-Benz had a new plan: the all-wheel drive would remain, but in place of the 2.1-liter diesel there’d be a 2.0-liter turbo C300 with 241 horsepower.
It’s finally here. And it’s still bound for America.
Priced from CAD $48,395 including a $2,395 destination charge, the 2018 Mercedes-Benz C300 4Matic Wagon commands a reasonable $1,300 premium over the Mercedes-Benz C300 4Matic sedan. While the C300 sedan and coupe can be optioned into an AMG C43, AMG C63, or AMG C63 S, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Wagon range starts and ends with the 2.0T-powered C300. A nine-speed automatic is the only transmission.
Cargo volume rises from the sedan’s 12.6 cubic feet to 17.3, or 53.3 with the seats folded. Fuel economy lines up with the sedan’s 10.1 L/100km city; 7.8 L/100km highway with a 10.7 L/100km (22 miles per gallon on the U.S. scale) city rating and 8.0 L/100km (29 mpg) on the highway.
But is the Mercedes-Benz C300 4Matic sedan the real competitor? The C-Class is, after all, Canada’s best-selling premium brand nameplate so far this year and Canada’s 15th-best-selling car overall. The Mercedes-Benz GLC300 4Matic, however, at $48,295, is the real vehicle that will stand in the C-Class Wagon’s search for popularity. GLC sales have doubled in Canada this year, and it’s now the brand’s second-best-selling model.
Of course, most buyers will choose the ever-so-slightly less costly GLC over the C. But at least Mercedes-Benz Canada is giving consumers the chance to decide. At Mercedes-Benz USA, the least costly wagon is the USD $64,045 E400 4Matic.
[Images: Mercedes-Benz Canada]
Timothy Cain is a contributing analyst at The Truth About Cars and Autofocus.ca and the founder and former editor of GoodCarBadCar.net. Follow on Twitter @timcaincars and Instagram.
Like a true auto-website commenter, I would definitely buy that, but only used, of course. Then I’ll complain about manufacturers not selling wagons here.
And only with a manual, in brown, with RWD, debadged too so you’re not judged as a badge whore.
Oh, and after 10 years. Because you don’t want to drive an unreliable German car so you have to wait to see that it rival’s Toyota. Then you will buy it.
I feel compelled to point out that, at least in Canada, a majority of Benz dealers are corporately owned stores, so even pre-owned models can contribute to their bottom line, and have a positive influence on their continued existence (because yes, the only way I could swing one is CPO in 4 years or so).
Get out of my head!
Jaguar sell Wagons…buy them or lose them!
lol jag wagons for 72k+ and they aren’t even that good
literally selling less for more money than germans
oh no the sportbrake won’t be sold anymore big loss
i’ll take a few regal or c class or e400 or v90 cross country or all roads ty
I dont get these Benz/Jag wagons, they both strike me as your average droopy-back wagons with their respective cooperate faces being their only distinct characteristics.
Not to say that either are ugly, the Jag looks quite good. But I dont go to Jaguar for utility.
Does anybody even make a flat-back wagon in 2017? The last one I can think of was the non-american market 2016 Volvo V70, or the fwd XC70 version they sold in america until last year.
Ford Flex.
Totally missed that one thanks. Funny thing is that it’s distantly related to the volvo
The C-Klasse looks a lot better as an estate IMHO.
All the current Merc wagons appear to be mimicking the ill-fated R-Class, visually speaking. I’m not a fan of that downward-swooping D pillar in cars like this. It’s very “CRV-esque” and acts like it’s trying to disguise the wagon as something it’s not.
The prior generation wagons were all stunning, IMO — including the GLK, which is now the very generic looking GLC.
Since “prestige” brands don’t really offer prestige anymore, might as well get an Outback. You’ll certainly spend less time at the dealer.
And in 10 years the Outback will have cost less than half as much to own and will probably be worth more.
17.3 cubic feet with the second row up isnt much space. Folded the number is more impressive, but this thing isnt a mail hauler, that’s for sure.
Looks nice.
Damn that raked rear glass. When loading these things up, it’s a big hindrance, despite what the numbers may show.
I am only interested in C43 version, where is it?