2021 Lexus ES 250 vs. Mercedes C 300
2021 Lexus ES 250 vs. 2021 Mercedes C 300
Overview
Is this your year to spring for a luxury vehicle? If so, two that you should be considering are the 2021 Lexus ES 250 and the Mercedes C 300. These are great vehicles to consider, so take a few minutes to learn about the differences so you can make an informed decision.
Exterior (Overall Design)
Both of these vehicles have bigger brothers in their lineup, but these are meant to deliver a sporty style, luxury, and power in a handsome sedan. In our view, the Lexus does this better. It's hard to imagine a more swooping, gorgeous vehicle than the Lexus. The sweeping lines, chunky grille, and sporty wheels will be turning heads wherever you go. There's something aggressive about it, and definitely 21st century. Meanwhile, the Mercedes has started to take on a slightly dated look. It's by no means a bad-looking car, with pleasingly smooth angles and lines, but it simply lacks that fresh, sporty look the Lexus has.
Interior Features
Both of these offer impeccably crafted interior materials. The seats are comfortable, and the controls are all within reach. But the Lexus edges out its rival with interior comfort and convenience that are just a step above. For one thing, getting in and out of the Lexus is simple, even with its low, sporty stance. Door openings are wide, and once you're in, you'll notice a nice gap between you and the door panels, creating a feeling of spaciousness you don't enjoy so much in the Mercedes. The Mercedes, meanwhile, feels more like you're sliding than dropping in, and we were perplexed by the minimalist controls. Sure, no one wants their driving compromised by a ton of buttons and dials only a rocket scientist can figure out on the fly, but there's such a thing as going too far.
Engines
The Mercedes brings a nine-speed automatic transmission to their C 300, and it definitely has plenty of power for the average driver. However, it's just not as much power as you'd expect for the higher price tag, and shifting isn't as smooth as you'd expect for nine gears. Meanwhile, the ES 250 zips stably around the turns, and the transmission is effortlessly smooth. You get a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine that generates 203hp and 184 lb-ft of torque. All the ES 250 trims come with standard all-wheel drives. That's impressive once again when you consider the higher price for the Mercedes, which only has rear-wheel drive unless you want to pay more.
Safety Features
On the Lexus, you're getting an NHTSA-rated 5-star vehicle. It's a Top Safety Pick + by the IIHS, and the Lexus comes with a long list of features as part of the standard Lexus Safety System 2.0+, which gives you a lot of things standard that other manufacturers charge for. Meanwhile, the IIHS has rated the Mercedes C 300 as Good almost across the board. It has decent standard safety features, like automated emergency braking, but to get things like adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and other features that come as standard on the Lexus, you'll have to pay for an upgrade.