The Mercedes-Benz C-Class was previously the smallest Benz you could get. But now an entire family based on the new A-Class has popped up below it in the range to take care of the “entry level” duties for the brand, leaving the C-Class to get on with its happy spread into both middle-age and mid-size segmentation, where luxury and sportiness collide in a very German way.
We head across to Melbourne to check out the newest version of an old favourite.
What is it?
Arguably the most important single model in the Mercedes line-up and one of the most popular, the C-Class – like arch-rival BMW’s 3 Series – is a car that has to do duty as everything from an entry-level rep-mobile through to a seriously high-performance sports sedan, by way of virtually everything in between. That means the base product has to be pretty damn good to cut it these days.
The last C-Class certainly was (there were a few gripes about the interior, but a recent revamp fixed most of those) but it is a car that has since been somewhat overshadowed by the latest (and stunningly good) 3 Series.
That is almost certainly why Mercedes has come out all guns blazing with the new C-Class, firing off a car that is bigger, lighter and faster than the car it replaces, while being packed with cutting-edge technology and safety, as well as pretty damn sexy to look at.
The C-Class range will launch in New Zealand with a choice of two body styles (sedan and, later this year, wagon) and five different powertrains.
The C 200 kicks off the range and comes with a choice of either a 135kW/300Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol turbo engine or a 100kW/300Nm 1.6-litre four-cylinder diesel turbo engine, both hooked up to Mercedes’ excellent seven-speed automatic transmission.
Mercedes claims an impressive 6.0L/100km combined average fuel consumption for the C 200 petrol, with CO2 emissions of just 136g/km. The diesel’s figures have yet to be released.
The C 200 comes packed with standard equipment which, rather than mindlessly regurgitate here, you can read all about by clicking here to download the spec sheet: The All-new C-Class MRLP and Specification
The C 200 petrol kicks off proceedings at $71,900, while the diesel ups that to $73,400 and you can add $3,000 more to both for the wagon.
The C 250 comes with a choice of either a more powerful 155kW/350Nm version of the 2-litre petrol engine or a 150kW/500Nm 2.2-litre four-cylinder diesel twin-turbo, also both hooked up to the seven-speed auto. Also with the same 2.2-litre diesel engine and auto trans is the C 300 Hybrid.
Impressively, the more powerful 2.0-litre petrol has the same claimed average combined consumption and CO2 emissions as the C 200 – 6.0L/100km and 138g/km – while the 2.2-litre diesel has figures of 4.5L/100km and 116g/km. No figures have been released for the hybrid yet.
The C 250 and C 300 add leather upholstery, 19-inch alloy wheels, rear privacy glass and Mercedes’ KEYLESS-GO and Driver Assistance Package (see spec sheet for more info) to the C 200’s already-impressive specification level.
The C 250 petrol lands at $86,900, while the diesel is $88,400, with the wagon body style again adding a further $3,000.
The C 300 Hybrid will land at $91,400 and is available in the sedan body style only.
As expected from a German manufacturer, options are plentiful with Mercedes offering a number of packages to add to the C-Class’s impressive basic spec – see the spec sheet for more info on these, including prices.
What’s it like?
The new C-Class is a truly impressive package.
At the Melbourne-based launch we got to drive the C 200 petrol and C 250 petrol and diesel and came away massively impressed by all three.
The new C-Class is not only a great looking car – with Mercedes’ latest design style as previously seen on the E and S-Class – it is packed with a remarkable amount of standard spec, but most importantly, the basic package is just brilliantly right.
The first thing that strikes you are the looks – the C-Class looks very much like a scaled-down S-Class, with the same sleek, more rounded styling that makes the S-Class look so majestic and impressive. And it works very, very well on the smaller C-Class as well.
While the exterior is impressive, the interior is even more so. With hints of S-Class grandeur, the interior of the C-Class is every bit as elegant as its bigger brother, but also more modern and sporty feeling. Depending on upholstery and trim colours you can go either classy and elegant or brilliantly shouty and sporty, or pretty much anything in-between.
On the road the engines all feel strong and modern – with the C 250 petrol and diesel particularly so, although the diesel is a traditionally vocal Benz unit – while the handling and ride combination has been nailed just right.
The C-Class has a controlled ride, with hints of sporty firmness, but never one that descends needlessly into harshness or discomfort. It is a remarkably comfortable car, with a wonderful predilection for the corners.
The steering is brilliantly sharp and responsive, and while it does pass on what is happening freely enough, it unfortunately isn’t exactly bristling with feel. Still, it is communicative and brilliantly accurate, which is what really counts.
Later in the day we got a chance to try out a C 250 petrol equipped with the optional Airmatic air suspension. Like all air suspension systems, this one still adds another layer between your bum and the road, so dulls ultimate feel a bit, but what it does add is a thoroughly stunning ability to soak up bumps and provide a ride that is on-par with the like of the S-Class.
Cosseting and incredibly composed when in “Comfort” mode, the Airmatic-equipped car is also incredibly hard to shake off line in the much, much firmer “Sport” setting, regardless of how bad the road surface gets. The slight loss of purity of handling that adding the air set up brings is well worth the trade off for the stunning ride and remarkable composure that also come along with it.
What’s good about it?
To be completely honest? Most of it.
Even the basic C 200 is so well equipped and so accomplished that it represents fantastic value for money, as well as being more than capable of providing thrills on a winding back road.
The more powerful, more highy-specced cars are equally impressive for the money and, really, there isn’t a misfire in the entire launch line up.
What’s not so good?
Some of the new styling doesn’t work quite so well in certain colours. In white or silver a lot of the rear highlights disappear, leaving a slightly droopy tail that looks a wee bit like a Korean car from the 1990s. Darker colours largely fix this, but the front definitely works better than the rear, in a styling sense.
First impressions?
The new C-Class is a thoroughly brilliant car that not only improves on its predecessor (an impressive feat in itself) but also easily takes the fight right back to the fantastic new BMW 3 Series.
Traditionally, the BMW has had a sportier bent, while the Merc has leaned towards the luxurious – and that is still very much the case – but both now possess an impressive level of excellence in the other’s area of expertise.
If the basic model of the new C-Class is this good, then we can’t wait for the AMG version…
Models/prices
C 200 Sedan – $71,900
C 200 BlueTEC Sedan – $73,400
C 200 Estate – $74,900
C 200 BlueTEC Estate – $76,400
C 250 Sedan – $86,900
C 250 BlueTEC Sedan – $88,400
C 250 Estate – $89,900
C250 BlueTEC Estate – $91,400
C 300 BlueTEC HYBRID Sedan – $94,400
Powertrain: 2.0-litre inline 4-cylinder petrol producing 135kW/300Nm; 7-speed automatic transmission; rear-wheel drive (C 200), 1.6-litre inline 4-cylinder diesel turbo producing 100kW/300Nm; 7-speed automatic transmission; rear-wheel drive (C 200 BlueTEC), 2.0-litre inline 4-cylinder petrol producing 155kW/350Nm; 7-speed automatic transmission; rear-wheel drive (C 250), 2.1-litre inline 4-cylinder diesel turbo producing 150kW/500Nm; 7-speed automatic transmission; rear-wheel drive (C 250 BlueTEC), 2.1-litre inline 4-cylinder diesel turbo producing 150kW/500Nm; 7-speed automatic transmission; rear-wheel drive (C 300 BlueTEC HYBRID)
Fuel consumption: 6.0L/100km (C 200), 6.0L/100km (C 250), 4.5L/100km (C 250 BlueTEC), TBA (C 200 BlueTEC, C 300 BlueTEC HYBRID and all Estates)
CO2 emissions: 138g/km (C 200), 138g/km (C 250), 116g/km (C 250 BlueTEC),TBA (C 200 BlueTEC, C 300 BlueTEC HYBRID and all Estates)
Safety
ANCAP/EuroNCAP rating: Five stars
Air bags: 9
Stability control: yes
Lap/diagonal belts: 5
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