2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Fuel economy, running costs, emissions and safety · from U.S. EPA and NHTSA data
The 2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class is sold in the U.S. with gasoline and plug-in hybrid power. The EPA lists 6 configurations for this model year, with combined economy from 20 to 30 MPG and an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,650 to $4,000 at 15,000 miles.
Key numbers
| Model year | 2016 |
|---|---|
| Vehicle class | Compact Cars |
| Fuel type(s) | Gasoline, Plug-in Hybrid |
| Combined economy | 20-30 MPG |
| Best / worst combined | 30 / 20 MPG |
| Annual fuel cost | $2,650-$4,000 |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | 215-440 g/mi |
| EPA smog rating | 6-9 / 10 |
| NHTSA overall | 5 / 5 stars |
What it costs to fuel
Across its configurations, the 2016 C-Class costs about $2,650 to $4,000 a year to fuel at the EPA's 15,000-mile basis, averaging roughly $3,292. Over five years that is about $16,458 in fuel alone before maintenance, insurance and depreciation — which is why the running cost, not just the price, decides what a car really costs.
Relative to an average new vehicle, this C-Class configuration spends about $250 more on fuel over five years.
For context, the average combined economy of compact cars in this dataset is about 29 MPG. The C-Class sits roughly 4 MPG below that mark at its midpoint, making it thirstier than average for its EPA class.
Configurations and fuel economy
| Version | Engine | Drive | Trans | Fuel | Combined | Annual fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C350e | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Rear-Wheel | Automatic | Plug-in Hybrid | 30 MPG | $2,650 |
| C300 | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Rear-Wheel | Automatic | Gasoline | 28 MPG | $2,850 |
| C300 4matic | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 4-Wheel | Automatic | Gasoline | 27 MPG | $2,950 |
| C450 AMG | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | 4-Wheel | Automatic | Gasoline | 24 MPG | $3,300 |
| AMG C63 | 4.0L 8-cyl turbo | Rear-Wheel | Automatic | Gasoline | 20 MPG | $4,000 |
| AMG C63 S | 4.0L 8-cyl turbo | Rear-Wheel | Automatic | Gasoline | 20 MPG | $4,000 |
Emissions, safety and size
The 2016 C-Class records tailpipe CO₂ of 215-440 g/mi, an EPA smog rating of 6-9 out of 10, a 5-star NHTSA overall crash rating, and an EPA electric range of 410 to 410 miles when running on battery. The EPA classifies it as compact cars.
Compare this car
Open the comparison tool to line this 2016 C-Class up against any other vehicle in the database, or jump to other years and trims from the 2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class overview.
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Data: U.S. EPA FuelEconomy.gov (public domain) and NHTSA SafetyRatings. Figures are EPA estimates; real-world results vary.