2003 Mercedes-Benz C320 4matic (Wagon): MPG and fuel economy

This page collects every fuel-economy figure the EPA publishes for the 2003 Mercedes-Benz C320 4matic (Wagon). Below you will find the headline combined, city, and highway MPG, the estimated annual fuel cost at three different driving levels, the tailpipe CO₂ emissions, and a full breakdown of the engine and drivetrain. If you want to know whether this generation got more or less efficient over the years, the year-over-year table further down covers every model year the EPA has rated.

Fuel economy at a glance

These are the EPA's official ratings for the 2003 Mercedes-Benz C320 4matic (Wagon). The numbers come from a standardised laboratory test cycle and are the same figures that appear on the window sticker of every new car. Real-world mileage varies with driving style, weather, fuel quality, and how heavily loaded the car is.

Combined MPG is a 55/45 weighted blend of the city and highway test cycles. The EPA uses it as the single number you can compare across the entire dataset, including hybrids and EVs (which use the equivalent MPGe figure).

How the 2003 Mercedes-Benz C320 4matic (Wagon) compares

The 2003 Mercedes-Benz C320 4matic (Wagon) returns 19 combined MPG. Cars in the Small Station Wagons class for the same model year average 22.3 MPG, which puts this car behind the class average by about 15%.

The most efficient car in the Small Station Wagons class for the 2003 model year is the Volkswagen Jetta Wagon at 33 MPG. The bar chart below puts the Mercedes-Benz C320 4matic (Wagon) alongside the class best and the class average so you can see the full picture.

For broader context, the average new car of the 2003 model year (across all classes) returns 18.4 MPG. Larger vehicles pull the all-cars average down, so do not use that figure on its own to judge a small car or a hybrid. The full list of the most efficient cars of the 2003 model year is on its own page.

Annual fuel cost across driving patterns

The headline annual fuel cost the EPA publishes assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year and a fuel mix of 55% city and 45% highway. The dollar figure is calculated using the EPA's current reference price for premium gasoline, which is $4.61/gallon. EPA updates that reference periodically rather than tracking live pump prices, so treat it as a window-sticker estimate rather than today's pump number.

The table below scales the EPA's number to three common driving patterns. The combined MPG and the reference fuel price stay constant, only the annual mileage changes. To get a current-prices estimate, take your local gas price and multiply by 789.5 gallons (the car's annual consumption at the rated MPG).

Year-over-year MPG for the Mercedes-Benz C320 4matic (Wagon)

The EPA has rated the Mercedes-Benz C320 4matic (Wagon) across 2 model years, from 2003 Mercedes-Benz C320 4matic (Wagon) through 2004 Mercedes-Benz C320 4matic (Wagon). The numbers below are the best combined MPG figure the EPA published for each year, which lets you see when the car was at its most efficient and how recent generations stack up.

Combined MPG has stayed in roughly the same range across the run, hovering close to 20 MPG.

Compare against other Small Station Wagons for 2003

If you are cross-shopping the 2003 Mercedes-Benz C320 4matic (Wagon), the most useful comparison is against the other cars in the Small Station Wagons class for the same model year. The list below shows the highest-MPG peers, ranked from most to least efficient. Click any of them to open its full page.

The Volkswagen Jetta Wagon leads this group at 39 MPG, 20 MPG ahead of the 2003 Mercedes-Benz C320 4matic (Wagon).

Specifications

The 2003 Mercedes-Benz C320 4matic (Wagon) runs a 3.2-liter 6-cylinder engine paired with a automatic 5-spd, sending power through 4-wheel or all-wheel drive.

Engine, transmission, and drivetrain together drive most of the variation in fuel economy across trims. A larger engine moves the car with less effort but burns more fuel. A turbo lets a small engine punch above its weight, often without much MPG penalty. All-wheel drive adds traction and weight, and usually costs a couple of MPG compared with two-wheel drive of the same engine.

Vehicle class

Small Station Wagons

Engine

3.2L 6-cylinder

Transmission

Automatic 5-spd

Drivetrain

4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive

Fuel type

Premium

Annual petroleum use

15.7 barrels per year

Common questions about the 2003 Mercedes-Benz C320 4matic (Wagon)

Quick answers to the questions people most often search for when looking up the 2003 Mercedes-Benz C320 4matic (Wagon).

• Is the 2003 Mercedes-Benz C320 4matic (Wagon) fuel efficient?

  Not particularly. The 2003 Mercedes-Benz C320 4matic (Wagon) returns 19 combined MPG, which trails the average car in the Small Station Wagons class for the same model year by about 15%.
• What MPG does the 2003 Mercedes-Benz C320 4matic (Wagon) get?

  The EPA rates the 2003 Mercedes-Benz C320 4matic (Wagon) at 19 combined MPG, 17 MPG in city driving, and 23 MPG on the highway. Real-world numbers depend on your driving style, the weather, and how loaded the car is.
• How much does it cost to fuel a 2003 Mercedes-Benz C320 4matic (Wagon) per year?

  The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $3,650 for the 2003 Mercedes-Benz C320 4matic (Wagon). That figure assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year, a 55% city and 45% highway split, and the EPA's published average fuel price for the rated fuel grade.
• Does the 2003 Mercedes-Benz C320 4matic (Wagon) require premium gas?

  Yes. The EPA lists the 2003 Mercedes-Benz C320 4matic (Wagon) as requiring premium gasoline. Running it on regular can reduce performance and may affect engine warranties, so it is not a recommended way to save at the pump.
• How much CO₂ does the 2003 Mercedes-Benz C320 4matic (Wagon) emit?

  Tailpipe CO₂ emissions are 468 g/mi. Multiplied across a typical year of driving (15,000 miles) that works out to about 7,016 kilograms of CO₂.
• What is the difference between the city and highway MPG of the 2003 Mercedes-Benz C320 4matic (Wagon)?

  City driving returns 17 MPG and highway driving returns 23 MPG, a gap of 6 MPG. A spread that wide is typical of cars with conventional automatic or manual transmissions, where stop-start city traffic eats more fuel than a steady highway cruise.
• What engine is in the 2003 Mercedes-Benz C320 4matic (Wagon)?

  The 2003 Mercedes-Benz C320 4matic (Wagon) has a 3.2-liter 6-cylinder engine.
• What transmission and drivetrain does the 2003 Mercedes-Benz C320 4matic (Wagon) have?

  The 2003 Mercedes-Benz C320 4matic (Wagon) comes with a automatic 5-spd transmission and 4-wheel or all-wheel drive. All-wheel-drive variants typically read 1 to 3 MPG lower than the front-wheel-drive equivalent of the same engine, since the extra hardware adds weight and parasitic loss.
• How does the 2003 Mercedes-Benz C320 4matic (Wagon) compare to the best car in its class?

  The most efficient car in the Small Station Wagons class for the 2003 model year is the Volkswagen Jetta Wagon at 33 combined MPG. The Mercedes-Benz C320 4matic (Wagon) returns 19 MPG, a gap of 14 MPG. If you are comparing on fuel economy alone, the class leader is worth a look.
• How much more does the 2003 Mercedes-Benz C320 4matic (Wagon) cost in fuel compared to an average car?

  The EPA estimates that over five years, the 2003 Mercedes-Benz C320 4matic (Wagon) will cost about $7,500 more in fuel than an average new vehicle of the same model year. The difference accumulates because the car uses more fuel per mile, not because of any one-off charge at the dealership.

Source: U.S. EPA fuel economy dataset. Annual fuel cost figures assume 15,000 miles of driving per year and a 55% city, 45% highway split. Real-world mileage varies with driving conditions, vehicle maintenance, fuel quality, and driver behaviour.