2009 Mercedes-Benz C350 vs. 2009 Honda Accord

The 2009 Honda Accord stands as the luxury alternative the current
economy is in need of. It does not compare directly, but its comfort
and drivability are not in question – not to mention fuel efficiency.
How does it compare with an entry-level luxury standard such as the
2009 Mercedes Benz C350?

If horsepower gets you sitting up and taking notice, then go ahead and
sink back into your chair. The competition, such as the 2009 Mercedes
Benz C350, delivers between 250 and 300 bhp. The 2009 Honda Accord?
Just 190. The new Accord is less Hammer of the Gods, and more a
bottomless gourd. Where BMW, Mercedes, and Audi struggle to deliver
more than 20 mph, the Accord gets thirty miles out of each expensive
gallon.

The 2009 Mercedes Benz C350 costs a bit more, around $33,000. The new
Accord’s MSRP cannot scratch thirty grand. If you drive a lower end of
the market vehicle and fancy an upgrade, there is no need to jump
straight to the German luxury sedans when the Accord can fill most of
your practical needs in a refined package that costs less.

The comparison of a C300 and Accord was posed earlier, and the general reaction was: no contest, with a little bit of defense for the Honda sprinkled in. This comparison would suggest a further disparity, but consider that a C350 is pricier than a C300 and is often deemed an unnecessary step up. Ironically, is it more worth it to go for an Accord over a C350 than it is to choose it over a C300?