Agree with all your above points. The newer generation direct-injection gas engines are a major jump foreword in technology. The M274 you mentioned at 2 liters of displacement makes 25 more hp and almost 40 lb/feet more torque than the older M112 at 3.2 liters of displacement.

Just completed a 450 mile drive in a 2016 C300 and I got 35.7 mpg for the trip. 95% of the trip was at 80mph.

Technology is just an amazing thing!!