So do you still think that you need a big engine to get decent performance? Or even a medium sized one?
Well, the latest addition to the C-Class family is here to prove you quite wrong.
The C 300 Coupe doesn’t pack a 3.0-litre engine, despite what it’s name may traditionally suggest. Neither does it come with six cylinders.
Nope, the C 300 has a 2.0-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that would embarrass quite a few current 6s.
Plus it has all the luxury expected of a Mercedes, plus the sportiness traditionally associated with a BMW.
Sound good? Well, it can actually drive itself in certain circumstances (that you won’t really want to drive yourself in anyway), so there’s that as well.
Outside
Likes: Fantastic modern C-Class nose with an extra touch of sleek aggression. Tail looks great as well, with even a hint of Porsche 911 around the arches.
Dislikes: Loses its mojo in the middle bit though, looks a bit frumpy and awkward from some angles as a result.
Inside
Likes: Gorgeous interior with fantastic seats. Superbly ergonomic layout. Red leather looks brilliant, kind of like an Italian car from the 60s.
Dislikes: There are quite a lot of buttons scattered around the cabin, some with strange, arcane symbols on them that require the ultimate sacrifice to decipher – reading the handbook…
Under the bonnet
Likes: The 180kW/370Nm inline four is a fantastically flexibly engine that does a remarkable job of replacing a 6-cylinder engine, particularly when the big torque kicks in from just 1,300rpm. Seven-speed auto is brilliantly slick and smooth too. Big, booming growl in Sport mode is almost six-like!
Dislikes: It does all sound rather flat and characterless in normal mode, however. Can drink 6-cylinder level of fuel when pushed as well.
On the road
Likes: Composed and poised, even under extreme duress. Will gently tip into a graceful slide when muppet-like throttle mashing occurs out of a corner, which is massive fun. Thoroughly excellent ride quality.
Dislikes: Steering isn’t the sharpest tool in the Mercedes shed – good weight and feel, but slightly remote. It’s good enough, but we really have come to expect better than “good enough” from Mercedes.
Verdict
While it isn’t quite as sleek and sexy as a BMW 3 Series coupe, the C 300 more than makes up for its slightly-from-some-angles awkwardness with its utterly superb interior, ride and general on-road behaviour.
The compliance of the ride and the rock-solid composure that shouldn’t really be seen together in the same car are both present and correct here.
While the handling and steering aren’t as sharp as an M4, or a C 63, that isn’t what the C 300 is about, and besides, they are still plenty sharp enough to have more than a bit of fun with.
Comfortable, effortless high-speed cruising is what the C 300 is all about, and it does this utterly superbly. Adding to its basic dynamic abilities is Mercedes’ thoroughly excellent Distronic cruise control system.
At low speeds in heavy stop start traffic, the C300 will literally drive itself, with enough electronic smarts to handle the throttle, brakes and steering up to around 40km/h before insisting that you play more of a part in proceedings.
Even when you do need to take control, the system is so intuitive and effortless that it still does most of the hard work, entirely eliminating the stress from committing in heavy traffic.
While Mercedes insists these are “driver assists” rather than any form of autonomous control, the fact is the current crop of Mercedes newest cars are capable of driving themselves to some degree, and the forthcoming E-Class is an even bigger step in that direction.
And, hey, if it can handle the boring parts of driving and still manage to be a heap of fun on a winding back road fully under the driver’s control, then that is a very good thing indeed.
And the Mercedes-Benz C300 Coupe is a very good thing indeed.
- PRICE (incl. GST/excl. on road costs): $97,900
- PRICE AS TESTED: $104,570
- ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo petrol
- TRANSMISSION: 7-speed automatic
- PERFORMANCE: 180kW/370Nm. 0 to 100km/h in 6.0 seconds
- FUEL ECONOMY: 6.6L/100km
Click here for full specifications and more information on the Mercedes-Benz C 300 Coupe.
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