Mercedes C-Class - The small S-Class

With the freshly renewed C-Class, Mercedes is loudly claiming the throne in the premium middle class. Sedans and station wagons have good arguments, but also high prices.  

It was comfortable and sovereign Mercedes C-Class always. Have in the new generation Limousine and Combo also topped up with infotainment and networking. There is currently hardly a better car for comfortable, frequent drivers who do not need more space. Provided you have the necessary change - because the mid-range model from Stuttgart has never been cheap.  

In brief

With restrained elegance on the outside, classy and fully digital on the inside - there is no longer any trace of the slightly conservative Baby Benz of the early years in the new C-Class. Rather, the sedan has become even more of a small S-Class.  

Body and chassis

The classically cut four-door sedan and the station wagon of the same length now stretch to 4,75 meters. In both cases, the space is primarily of benefit to the passengers; the rear and front seat are exceptionally airy. The trunk of the sedan has a capacity of 455 liters, significantly more than the previous model. The station wagon has between 490 and 1.510 liters of space, which is more of a standard than a top value in this class. Despite the relatively large exterior dimensions, the C-Class is very easy to drive, at least when the optional all-wheel steering (1.250 euros) is on board.

Incidentally, there is no longer an air suspension in the new generation of models, but the standard steel suspension already offers an extremely high level of comfort. If you want it to be particularly dynamic, you can choose the sports suspension (405 euros) or adaptive dampers (1.071 euros). Buyers have no choice at Stern; In contrast to the previous model, this is no longer available as a figure attached to the large chrome radiator grille, but only in the integrated version.  

Engines

In contrast to the predecessor, there are no longer any six-cylinder engines for the new edition. All diesel and gasoline engines are four-cylinder turbos, supported by an electrical auxiliary compressor and, in some cases, by a mild hybrid starter generator. The most electrified is the 230 kW / 313 PS plug-in hybrid C 300 e with an electric range of over 100 kilometers. The three petrol models currently on offer range from 1,5 liters to 2,0 liters and from 125 kW / 170 PS to 190 kW / 258 PS.

The basic model C 180 is only available with rear-wheel drive; all-wheel drive technology is available for the C 200 and C 300. Similar to the 2,0-liter diesels, where the C 200 d (120 kW / 163 PS) only ever has one driven axle and the C 220 d (147 kW / 200 PS) and C 300 d (195 kW / 265 PS) ) are also available as 4Matic models. The power transmission takes place exclusively via a nine-speed automatic, a manual transmission is not available. Which drive is the right choice depends primarily on your budget and your own preferences: performance and consumption are okay with all models.  

Facilities

The price list for the C-Class is over 80 pages thick. Almost half of this concerns the design. There are two ready-made configurations to choose from: the elegant “Avantgarde” line, the sporty “AMG Line”, both of which can be individually configured with the right crosses on the equipment list. Alternatively, you can also largely choose your own dream car - including dozen of paint colors, rims and trim.

The remaining 40 pages offer technical equipment. Most of the extras can be found in thematically sorted packages, which include various extensive driver assistance packages (up to 2.500 euros) and infotainment packages (up to 1.416 euros). However, many items can also be selected individually, including the head-up display (1.180 euros) and - especially important for frequent drivers - the tank that has been enlarged to 66 liters. The 60 euro investment is worthwhile, as the series container only holds 40 to 50 liters, depending on the engine. The reason for the small-looking surcharge are the rules for standard consumption measurement, which are always carried out with the tank filled with the same percentage. A few pounds less save a few grams of CO2.  

Suggestions

For beginners - no frills, but no stingy either: C 200, 150 kW / 204 PS, rear-wheel drive, nine-speed automatic; Equipment: including metallic paint, avant-garde exterior and interior, folding rear seat backrests, infotainment package, assistance package with blind spot warning, price: approx. 51.000 euros (45.000 euros basic vehicle price plus 6.000 euros for special equipment) 

For frequent drivers - what makes driving pleasant: C 300 d 4Matic, 195 kW / 265 PS, all-wheel drive, nine-speed automatic; Equipment: including metallic paint, AMG Line exterior and interior, adaptive LED light, multicontour seats with air conditioning and massage, automatic air conditioning, rear-axle steering, advanced infotainment package, head-up display, driver assistance package plus, price: approx. 75.000 euros (55.000 euros basic vehicle price plus 20.000 euros for special equipment)  

For the discerning - almost everything that works: C 300 4Matic, 190 kW / 258 PS, all-wheel drive, nine-speed automatic; Equipment: including AMG Line exterior and interior plus Night package, special paint, 19-inch wheels, high-end lighting package, panoramic roof, nappa leather seats, rear-axle steering, sound system, driver assistance package plus; Price: 80.300 euros (50.600 euros basic price plus 29.700 euros special