Mercedes C-Class Is Sexy, Modern Killer in Commuter Wars

We all know that charging to and fleeing from work is a daily battle, executed in the dawn and dusk, and made even worse by winter weather. The goal isn't just to survive but to prosper in the crush of highways and fender-banging foxholes of city streets. If your budget is lower than $45,000, you need the perfect small arm, the auto equivalent of an AK-47. BMW's 3 Series is a stalwart, of course; Cadillac's revamped CTS is suddenly a contender; and, since its introduction in 1993, there's been the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. There are great perspectives on the fourth-generation C- Class's attractive new shoulders. The producer has had serious reliability issues, and as its entry-level luxury sedan, the C-Class is probably to make or pause the loyalty of new customers. All-wheel-drive (4Matic by Mercedes's term) is available on both the ``sport'' and ``luxury'' C300 models (though not the more powerful C350). The premium for AWD on the sport model is about $3,200, and the option weighs an extra 145 pounds. Both downsides. Upsides are greater survivability on ice-skimmed roads and better holding power through curves.