The 2007 Mercedes Benz C-Class might be a smart purchase as a project car, or a parts car. With the car typically going on the market right as it reaches the end of its life cycle, you may just wind up pushing it home.
Is the 2007 Mercedes Benz C-Class a Good Used Car?
- Overall Rating 7/10 – A once-impressive compact executive car that just wasn’t built to go the distance.
- Interior, Comfort & Cargo 7/10 – The backseats are cramped and the interior trim quality isn’t quite as luxurious as you might expect of a Benz. But the front seats offer a nice smooth ride.
- Reliability 5/10 – The 2007 C-Class is expensive to maintain brand new. Now that it’s on its last legs, you’ll be spending more to keep it running than you would buying a brand new compact.
- Safety 8/10 – Good crash test ratings and generous standard safety features make the C-Class one of the safer compacts on the road.
- Gas Mileage 7/10 – The 2.5L Sport model gets 19/25 miles to the gallon. That wouldn’t be bad for a full-size sedan, but it’s not great for a compact.
- Value 4/10 – Unless you’re buying the 2007 C-Class to tear it down for parts, it’s absolutely not worth the asking price of five grand.
Positive Owner Reviews
Negative Owner Reviews
What Do Critics Say About the 2007 Mercedes Benz C-Class?
Consumer Reports praise the 2007 C-Class for its sporty vibe, responsive steering, supple ride, comfy seating, and well-built interior. They note that the back seat is a bit tight, however, some of the control layouts are unintuitive, and the low ground clearance makes for poor all-weather performance.
Kelley Blue Book confirm that the 2007 C-Class lives up to the Mercedes-Benz brand name, but note that, on release, the car cost thousands of dollars more than any number of American, European, and Japanese models that were pretty much just as good, but with more rear legroom.
Edmunds liked the generous list of comfort and safety features, but they shared in the consensus that the backseat is a bit tight, the car is overpriced, and the interior finish, though not “cheap,” might be a bit underwhelming if you were expecting a true first-class experience.
What Common Problems Does the 2007 Mercedes Benz C-Class Have?
The 2007 C-Class has generated 264 complaints with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Fuel issues take the lead with 74 complaints on file, as drivers report a strong gasoline smell after refueling, most likely owing to spillage.
56 powertrain complaints point to issues like faulty camshaft balancers and faulty engine control modules. Basically, if you’re having transmission issues, it’s probably a computer problem, not a mechanical one.
There are 52 airbag complaints on file, with reports of failure to deploy and airbag warning lights staying on. The car was recalled for ruptured airbags in early 2016. Complaints have been infrequent since then but not unheard of.
The 2007 C-Class has been recalled 5 times in total, which is average for a vehicle of this age.
How Long Will the 2007 Mercedes Benz C-Class Last?
A Mercedes Benz C-Class is reported to last around 150,000 miles. You might get lucky and reach 200,000 miles, but not without some expensive repairs popping up. Luxury cars aren’t always built to last, as they tend to attract drivers who replace them every few years or so.
Repairpal estimate an annual repair cost of around $727, which is high for a sedan, owing to the specialty maintenance services luxury brands require. The most expensive common fix is a heater core replacement starting at around $1,535.
It is a reliable car and I have rarely had problems with it. The defogger sometimes takes a while to get the job done, but that is my only complaint.
How Is the Technology?
Mercedes-Benz entertainment technology is always generous, and the 2007 C-Class is no exception. You’ve got a CD/MP3 player as a standard feature with six speakers and fiber-optic wiring throughout the system.
Safety technology is likewise generous for the model year. Anti-lock brakes and electronic stability come standard. That may not seem like much, but remember that this is a few years before features like lane-keep assist and rearview cameras became the norm.
Is the 2007 Mercedes Benz C-Class a Good Value?
No.
A 2.5 Sport model typically lists for just $5,929, while a high-end 3.5 Luxury model lists for around $6,742. That sounds like an awesome deal on a car that lists for up to fifty grand brand new. But these prices are for models with around 150,000 miles on the odometer, which is about how long a C-Class is expected to last.
Add the expensive repair bills to the mix and you’re going to be spending more to keep this car running than you would each month on a brand new Volvo. If you can get the car home in the first place, you might find that you dropped four figures on a two-ton lawn decoration.
What are the Different Models of the 2007 Mercedes Benz C-Class?
The 2007 Mercedes Benz C-Class is offered in two trim levels, being the Sport and the Luxury editions.
With the entry-level Sport model you’re getting:
- Anti-lock brakes and electronic stability control
- CD/MP3 player with 6 speakers
- Fog lights
- Heated mirrors
- Leather seating
- Dual zone automatic air conditioning
The high-end Luxury edition adds:
- 10-way power adjust driver seat
- Heated front seats
What Engines Come In the 2007 Mercedes Benz C-Class?
- The base engine in the 2007 Mercedes Benz C-Class is a 2.5L V6 delivering 201 horsepower and 181 lb.-ft. of torque. This is paired to a 6-speed manual transmission in rear wheel drive, and it averages 19/25 miles to the gallon, city/highway.
- At the mid-range you’ve got a 3.0L V6 delivering 228 horsepower and 221 lb.-ft. of torque. This is paired to a 5-speed automatic in rear/all wheel drive, and it averages 22/28 miles to the gallon.
- Finally, the 3.5 models pack a 3.5L V6 delivering 268 horsepower and 258 lb.-ft. of torque at 20/29 miles to the gallon. This is paired to a 5-speed automatic in rear/all wheel drive.
What Colors Does the 2007 Mercedes Benz C-Class Come In?
How Comfortable Is the 2007 Mercedes Benz C-Class?
The front seats of the Mercedes Benz C-Class are fairly comfortable with leather trim and heated cushions in the luxury models. The suspension rides smooth and the interior trim is of a decent quality, if not as exquisite as you might expect of the brand. The back seat stretches 54 inches across, but legroom is scarce.
How Much Storage Space Does the 2007 Mercedes Benz C-Class Have?
The 2007 C-Class offers just 12 cubic feet of cargo space, which puts it on par with a typical budget compact like a Hyundai Elantra. And that’s a solid 12 cubic feet. No fold-flat back seats, and no hatchback editions. You can pack four or five medium suitcases in there, and that’s about it.
On the other hand, there’s plenty of pockets, slots, and cupholders in the cabin.
What Are the Differences Between Years?
The 2007 Mercedes Benz C-Class was the first of the nameplate’s 3rd Generation, running from 2007 to 2015.
2005: Wider headlights and sleeker tail lights were new for 2005.
2006: V6 engines were made standard in all sedan models for 2006.
2007: For the 3rd-gen relaunch, the C-Class was made sedan-exclusive with adjustable steering columns included as a standard feature.
2008: The wheelbase was expanded a bit in 2008, and the body shell was upgraded for durability.
2009: No big changes for 2009, except for some new airbags.
How Does the 2007 Mercedes Benz C-Class Compare to the Competition?
The leading compact car, year after year, is the Honda Civic. If you want a reliable, comfortable, sporty driving experience at a fair price, a Civic is built to last and the 2007 model only costs about a thousand dollars more than the C-Class, from trim to trim.
If it’s gotta be a luxury car, the Lexus ES isn’t a bad alternative. It’s considerably more expensive, starting in the $8,000 range, but if you’re going to spend that much money on a used luxury car, the ES is the one to get, as it’s likely to last twice as many miles as a C-Class.
There’s just no way the 2007 Mercedes Benz C-Class is a smart purchase. With used models typically coming in at around 150,000 miles, you’ll be lucky to get one off the lot, let alone squeeze another 50,000 or 100,000 miles out of it.
Do Owners Recommend the 2007 Mercedes Benz C-Class?
Yes, it is a good vehicle. The car is small but not too small, which gives enough room inside and is great for parking in smaller spaces. The cost of maintenance is a bit pricey, but overall the car itself is nice to drive.
