The 2019 Mercedes-Benz C-Class is a 'spa on wheels'

This article was originally written by Hannah Elliott for Bloomberg.

I must admit to feeling some apathy about driving the 2019 Mercedes-Benz C Class.

After all, this is a simple refresh on a mid-size mass luxury sedan, a segment notorious for offering safe, reliable and relatively interchangeable vehicles to an upper middle class public.

As expected, yes, the act of driving the CLS 450 around the horse farms of New Jersey was pleasant, placid, peaceful – you name it. Warmer than lukewarm and not quite forgettable. In a word: unobtrusive.

But as for the exterior and interior of the car, including under the hood, I was surprised with some significant new features that should lend themselves to genuine delight for prospective buyers.

The C Class started in 2003 and became Mercedes’ first foray into four-door “coupe” territory, a slight misnomer that has taken hold with other brands courting consumers who want performance and space, like in BMW’s “Gran Coupes”. From the time the CLA Coupe debuted, more than half of its buyers have been conquests from other brands. They are, on average, 11 years younger than the average Mercedes buyer.

“The formula for success in this industry is pretty simple: attract younger customers to the brand and keep them for life,” Mercedes president and CEO Dietmar Exler said in Brooklyn. 

Indeed.