ENGINEER'S REVIEW 2023 MERCEDES C300 - HOW'S THE QUALITY? HOW'S THE DRIVING?

Automotive Engineer David Chao performs a full audit and engineer's review of the new 2023 Mercedes-Benz C300. What does David like or dislike about the C300? How is the quality build? David answers all these questions and more.
Automotive Press is owned and managed by David Koichi Chao, a global expert in the field of automotive evaluation, engineering, and strategy. With over 35 years of engineering experience, David is able to review vehicles from unique perspectives utilizing technical and specialized methods. David is a board member and a director at AJAC (Automobile Journalist Association of Canada).
David is known around the world as an authentic specialist of Lean/Agile Thinking, and travels all around the world to review vehicles and teach latest engineering methods. Born and raised in Japan, David has an engineering degree from University of British Columbia and post-graduate education from MIT and Harvard Business School in Boston.

[@filup7419]

I agree, Germans make great small displacement engines. I've owned several VW and Audi's over the years but where they fall and the Japanese thrive is maintenance and reliability. The Toyota engines for example, all take the same oil filter and it's cheap. Not very long ago, you were required to take the Mercedes to the dealer and they had to drop the oil pan to change the oil. As far as longevity, mountains don't live as long a Toyota engines and that's why I drive a '23 Lexus GX today. The Germans can't hold a candle to the reliability of the Japanese engines and I'd take that over initial smoothness and engine feel any day.

[@8MunchenBayern8]

Plenty of super reliable German engines that are just as reliable as Japanese ones except you get the exceptional smoothness that they are known for. Example Mercedes’ M276 engine which is essentially bulletproof reliability

[@nickgriffin511]

I just bought a 2024 c300 4matic. I'm in love with it. Comfortable and beautiful interior. Very classy car.

[@bngr_bngr]

I traded my forever E350 for a C class coupe. It’s one of the best cars I’ve had. Before I had a M3 and a Porsche Turbo. The M3 was extremely fast but I would say the workmanship wasn’t what it should have been for the price. After 6 years it had an unresolved electrical issue. The Porsche was a wonderful car but a bit small for a daily driver. The C coupe can fit two full size adult in the rear seats. The trunk is big enough for two full size luggage’s and carryons.

[@toddhupp]

very cool.thank you

[@jmoranretana]

Great video, love your approach of quality assessment. Would love to see your quality assessment of the latest BMW x1 (or even the iXi). Keep the good work.

[@marcelpatel9017]

David, I love your channel but the quality of the Mercedes plastics and fits are leagues behind Toyota let alone Lexus. The panels should be pushed and pressed and you'll hear the squeaks. The plastic injected mouldings have a dry, grainy feel. My 2005 Camry, which is over 18 years old with well north of 200,000 miles is as solid as a tank. The plastics, leather seats and switchgear, knobs and dials have great tactile feedback. Toronto, Canada

[@dtna]

Do MBs have one piece dashes like a Toyota/Lexus?

[@themercedestraveler9566]

A 2005 mercedes wouldn't have these bad plastics either. I can tell you that a 2022 Toyota has tons of ugly bad plastic. Times have changed.

[@altafernandes2756]

Did you try “Sport Mode”? That makes it more fun.

[@iqraahmad86]

Good video

[@user-pp2cj7rx7c]

Very cool 😎

[@TomL2025]

Hi David, I plan to travel to Japan in the summer， I am wondering if I have to show them the confirmation of Covid Vacinateion to enter Japan? Thank you

[@lazarsekulic2694]

And you come here to ask about it

[@ChKashifRasheed]

It's beautiful car ❤

[@user-cz1rc4ej5o]

Nice Mercedes car ❤❤❤

[@dzeng]

Yes the braking is weird on my test drive too and some reviewers mentioned the same thing - so it's not your car - it's all the C class that are like that

[@dtna]

You still can't beat an old MB W124 300CE from the '90s.

[@ShowMeWhatINeedToKnow]

A lot of reviewers are complaining about Mercedes brakes. It's astonishing they can't get the brakes right.

[@bngr_bngr]

I love my C class. Never had an issue with brakes.

[@melissasmess2773]

If you use sport mode or cruise control on my 2013 GLK it pumps up the brake pads closer to the brake rotor and will cause the rotor to warp within about 20,000 miles. The designer wanted a shorter braking time by reducing brake pedal travel distance. Rotors and pads replaced at 20,000 miles and warped again before 40,000 miles. They should be sued by owners.

[@bngr_bngr]

@@melissasmess2773 my sister has a 2013 GLK with over 140k miles. She has not suffered premature wear on her pads nor the warping of the disks.

[@TVseriesfangirl]

😮😮😮😮

[@weablewabble]

Basic control nobs should be standard! Why put everything on the touch pad or hepatic steering wheel? Bad decision by MB.

[@cencio_1976]

The C class for the North American market is made in South Africa, not Germany

[@cencio_1976]

Also that’s a 2022 model. You can tell by the instrument cluster. On the 2023 they removed the EQ symbol on the power/charge gauge

[@JustinLaNoue]

In the US they’re built in Germany or Alabama factories.

[@cencio_1976]

@@JustinLaNoue not the C class

[@JustinLaNoue]

@@cencio_1976 my C class was made in Alabama…VIN starts with 5, W is Germany, South Africa is AA-AH

[@cencio_1976]

@@JustinLaNoue then you have an older model. The new W206 C class for the US market is built in South Africa. The plant in Alabama moved production to SUVs only, in 2020. Also the assembly location in the vin number is defined by the 11th character (R for South Africa) Google “Mercedes vin decoder phoenix” for details.

[@garyjohnson8120]

Mercedes is well know for electrical issues and with all of the tech in this latest iteration, how can we be reassured of reliability? Mercedes replacement parts take forever to arrive at the dealer...and once out of warranty, they are insanely expensive, as well as the labor. Long term value of owning one of these cars is not ideal.

[@yslee1401]

Yeah. The dashboard has a habit of lighting up like a Christmas tree. Have the emergency assist number on your speed dial

[@nVizhonTeam]

Lot of Japanese brand fans here.. but like all arts, we're each drawn to something different and for me, German engineering, styling and performance is more my cup of tea than Lexus..Not sure if any of you Lexus fans drove the discontinued CH200 hybrid, but a TEN SECOND 0-60 performance is laughable..Regardless we're all entitled to our opinions and there's no right or wrong :)

[@marcelpatel9017]

German cars often have the latest yet unproven TECH. They lost the quality game when Lexus launched in 1990 and never recovered. "If you cant beat the Japanese in quality then we will try in tech" was their mantra but this along with the amount of plastic used is horrendous and has been for years and years. The era of the vaunted W140 engines are long gone.

[@yslee1401]

Wait for the review at 2 years / 40,000 miles. It will likely be an owner’s nightmare

[@Fabian-lc8ms]

Hi I’m in love with you ❤