Finally, the S205 2018 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Wagon Arrives in Canada

It took some doing.

Mercedes-Benz Canada first showed the wagon version of the fourth-generation C-Class 20 months ago at 2016’s Montreal Auto Show. All-wheel drive, a 2.1-liter diesel with 369 lb-ft of torque, and a profile deserving of all our praise was destined for Canadian showrooms despite Mercedes-Benz USA’s rejection of the wagon.

But there were hiccups. 13 months ago, we asked Mercedes-Benz about the C-Class Wagon’s arrival on this side of the Atlantic and received the following response: “We’re still waiting for certification.”

Mercedes-Benz never got the certification it desired, and diesel engines have disappeared from the automaker’s North American lineup. But by April 2017, we knew Mercedes-Benz had a new plan: the all-wheel drive would remain, but in place of the 2.1-liter diesel there’d be a 2.0-liter turbo C300 with 241 horsepower.

It’s finally here. And it’s still bound for America.

Priced from CAD $48,395 including a $2,395 destination charge, the 2018 Mercedes-Benz C300 4Matic Wagon commands a reasonable $1,300 premium over the Mercedes-Benz C300 4Matic sedan. While the C300 sedan and coupe can be optioned into an AMG C43, AMG C63, or AMG C63 S, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Wagon range starts and ends with the 2.0T-powered C300. A nine-speed automatic is the only transmission.

Cargo volume rises from the sedan’s 12.6 cubic feet to 17.3, or 53.3 with the seats folded. Fuel economy lines up with the sedan’s 10.1 L/100km city; 7.8 L/100km highway with a 10.7 L/100km (22 miles per gallon on the U.S. scale) city rating and 8.0 L/100km (29 mpg) on the highway.

But is the Mercedes-Benz C300 4Matic sedan the real competitor? The C-Class is, after all, Canada’s best-selling premium brand nameplate so far this year and Canada’s 15th-best-selling car overall. The Mercedes-Benz GLC300 4Matic, however, at $48,295, is the real vehicle that will stand in the C-Class Wagon’s search for popularity. GLC sales have doubled in Canada this year, and it’s now the brand’s second-best-selling model.

Of course, most buyers will choose the ever-so-slightly less costly GLC over the C. But at least Mercedes-Benz Canada is giving consumers the chance to decide. At Mercedes-Benz USA, the least costly wagon is the USD $64,045 E400 4Matic.

[Images: Mercedes-Benz Canada]

Timothy Cain is a contributing analyst at The Truth About Cars and Autofocus.ca and the founder and former editor of GoodCarBadCar.net. Follow on Twitter @timcaincars and Instagram.