Mercedes-Benz C-Class Goes back several generations to 1982 when the W201 or ‘Baby Benz’ was born. Its success saw the creation of the C-Class model line in 1993, and five generations later we have the W206. Legacy is a wonderful thing in an automotive context, and the C-Class has a very strong lineage. The outgoing model has been very successful for the company – even winning the 2015 World Car of the Year title. After missing out for a few months, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class model line is back in the Indian market. I’m in Mussoorie – the queen of hills – to test-drive the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class to see if it retains that strength – or better yet, tops it. It is one of the most important models for Mercedes-Benz in the country, with over 37,000 units sold since 2001. It rivals the likes of BMW 3-Series, Audi A4, Volvo S60 and Jaguar XE.
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The C-Class comes to us in two trims – the AMG Line and the Avant Garde – and the former gets two-tone AMG alloys, a sharper bumper and diffuser and a star-studded front grille.
exterior design
Mercedes-Benz has been hitting it out of the park on styling and exterior design over the years. The new C-Class is no different. The sensual purity design language gives us a very good looking car, with the edgy and aggressive face visible of late in the new C-Class, and along the flanks and rear of the S-Class. Any resemblance to the latter model is purely intentional, as it is actually a ‘baby S-Class’. The car comes to us in two trims – AMG Line and Avant Garde. The AMG trim gets you a two-tone AMG alloy, a sharp bumper and diffuser, and that sexy star-studded front grille. AMG badging will be everywhere as you would expect. Though the Avant Garde trim also looks good, and the car maintains an elegance that will especially appeal to driverless owners.
Any similarity in the design of the S-Class to the new generation C-Class is purely intentional.
The new hood along with the power dome adds sportiness to the look of the Si. The design focus is on enhancing the sporty appeal and looking wider and more spacious. The split taillights, dual exhausts and neat shut-line give the car a luxurious look. On the C300d, you get a dual exhaust, while on the C200 and 220d – a faux twin exhaust pattern has been made at the bottom of the bumper – just like the previous car. I will talk about interior design and layout a little later.
Engine Options: One Petrol, Two Diesel
All three engine options get a 48-volt mild hybrid system that makes 15 bhp and 200 Nm of peak torque
There are three variants of the C200 petrol in India, and two variants of diesel – the C220d and the most powerful diesel in the segment, the C300d – which coincidentally match the specs of the cars more than a segment. Today I am testing two of them. The C300d uses the same engine block as the C220d but with more power at hand. It takes just 5.7 seconds to go from 0-100 kmph and the top speed of the car is 250 kmph. And this is one of the cars with me. I don’t have that 220d whose numbers are also strong enough. It now claims to be the most fuel-efficient car in the Mercedes-Benz India lineup with a mileage of 23 kmpl – impressive for a car in this segment. And finally the C200 – the only petrol offering. Don’t be fooled by displacement alone, as the car’s power and torque are substantial. All three engine options get a 9G-Tronic gearbox as standard. All three also get ISG or Integrated Starter Generator, 48-volt mild hybrid system. The electric motor provides additional power of up to 15 bhp and peak torque of 200 Nm. The idea is simple, the system works to reduce the load on the engine in start-stop situations and provide the extra juice needed in dynamic or even cruising conditions. This gives the car optimum efficiency.
| Specifications | C 200 (Petrol) | C 220d (Diesel) | C 300d (Diesel) |
|---|---|---|---|
| displacement | 1,496 cc | 1,993 cc | 1,993 cc |
| Power | 201 bhp 5,800 – 6,100 rpm | 197 bhp at 3,600 rpm | 261 bhp at 4,200 rpm |
| Torque: | 1,800 – 4,000 rpm . at 300 Nm | 1,800 – 2,800 rpm . at 440 nm | 1,800 – 2,200 rpm . at 550 Nm |
| transfer | 9G-tronic | 9G-tronic | 9G-tronic |
| Claimed Mileage | 16.9 kmpl | 23 kmpl | 20.37 kmpl |
| 0-100 kmph | 7.3 seconds | 7.3 seconds | 5.7 seconds |
| top speed | 246 kmph | 245 kmph | 250 kmph |
performance and mobility
The C 300d packs some impressive numbers on the spec sheet and the car is very fast. It is clear that the work has been done on the dynamics
With the W205 the C-Class had already become more dynamic and sportier. With this generation there has been a change once again. And that’s a good thing because at times with the C, driving enthusiasts were kind of left out in the cold. The other good thing about the car is that the additional increase in wheelbase is visible in the back. It doesn’t feel as tight as before, but for now I should focus on driving the car. I have started my drive on C300d. The car’s substantial figures on paper translate directly to actual performance on the road. The handling of the car is quite sharp and it is clear that the dynamics have been worked out. It makes the car feel a bit more spirited. The C300d gives you more power and all 260 horses come out to play! The new C-Class feels like a more agile, more balanced car. The C300d feels notably sharp, and although the motor still suffers from a touch of lag, the overall refinement levels are superb.
The suspension gets a good workout on hard edges that can travel up to the cabin
You get the usual drive modes – Eco, Comfort, Sport and Individual – and a new button Access Dynamic buttons based on the touchscreen that lets you switch through them. On Sport mode the car’s 12.3-inch digital cluster flaunts a sexy, red-themed look. And the graphics are much nicer than a regular taco to show the rave. The ride quality of the new C is quite good, but not too soft. The suspension gets a good workout on the hard edges that can travel up to the cabin. Routine irregularities and potholes are dismissed with sheer carelessness. Steering is also tighter than before, and more precise – making driving enjoyable.
The C200 is expected to see more demand with the latest generation and the EQ Boost actually gives a lot of punch to the tiny 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol motor
Now let’s move on to the new C200 – the only petrol variant. This is a significant variant as the market continues to move towards petrol anyway. With the previous car, it was around 25 per cent of the sales, but with this, it is expected to go up to half of the estimated sales of the car. However, the biggest question for me was how the car’s 1.5-litre engine performs on the road. The good news is that it’s okay! While its numbers are pretty strong, the EQ Boost I talked about actually gives the C200 a lot of punch. And that’s because when you get a little extra power, what’s more important is the extra torque you get – 200 Nm of extra torque, which makes things a lot more fun, and the car is a lot more responsive.
security technology
The C-Class MBUX drives 7NTG, while the model also gets a host of ADAS features including automatic emergency braking, park assist and more.
Technology plays a huge role in the new C-Class, there is something called Car-to-X, which we saw in the S-Class as well. Basically, this means that all the cars that use the MBUX interface talk to each other through the cloud and they are constantly transmitting information. Everything, from a sharp curve ahead to perhaps a broken road surface, some sort of traffic anomaly, even a pothole! Car-to-X alerts work on all Mercedes-Benz cars with the MBUX interface. But only cars with the latest NTG7 version of MBUX can relay information to the cloud and therefore to other cars. The information has a 24-hour life because most conditions will be temporary. The C-Class gets that latest MBUX. And of course MBUX Assistant is ready to help. We’ll do a separate technical review on the car anyway. Now in addition to the MBUX 7NTG, you get a whole host of ADAS features on the C-Class including automatic emergency braking, park assist, etc. The C-Class also gets the Mercedes staple of ‘Pre-Safe’ and gets 7 airbags. It also promises exemplary levels of crash safety. But there are no surprises in this segment anyway.
Cabin layout and interior design
The centerpiece is the new vertical touchscreen, angled toward the driver, measuring 11.9-in. is
The theme of tech applies to every aspect of the C-Class. And in the cabin, it’s all about luxury too. The overall layout is completely new, and the centerpiece is the new vertical touchscreen, on the driver’s side, which measures a generous 11.9-inches. Like most modern premium cars, the touchscreen houses almost all of the car controls and, therefore, gives the dashboard a clean, refined look. Another highlight is the HD instrument panel, which houses various themes and settings. Touchpad controls on the steering are now more flush. The left side lets you control the touchscreen, and the right is for the instrument cluster. And they operate at the flick of a finger – the same goes for the volume controls.
Read also: Mercedes-Benz expects 2022 to be India’s best year ever: Martin Schwenko
The legroom is quite high on the new C-Class, while the main attraction on the C 300D is the Burmester 3D sound system.
Sunroof controls also resemble just a touch-sensitive panel, rather than a switch or lever. A fingerprint recognition system lets you carry your profile in the car – recognizing your preferences for music, connectivity, climate control, seats, mirrors and surroundings. The layout is very sharp, and the materials used look great. The interior has a few color options, but this two-tone sienna brown and black combo is a new addition on the C300d; And it looks great. No seat ventilation, however, the overall legroom at the rear has actually gotten better. You get a Burmester sound system, ambient lighting, a connected car telematics suite that works with the Mercedes Me app, wireless charging, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and Alexa or Google Home integration.
Now you can lock the car by pressing the Mercedes-Benz logo on the keyfob, as another German automaker has been doing for years.
But there is one more thing which I have to mention here and it is related to the key fob. What’s new in this? Well, unlike earlier when it had a lock button, you can now lock the car by pressing the logo. It definitely reminds us of another German car maker that has had it over the years. Any idea?
Pricing and Condition
The new generation C-Class is expected to be more expensive than the older version and despite that, we feel it will be the most successful one ever in India and the world.
Prices for the outgoing C-Class start at around ₹ 50 lakhs and I expect the new generation to be a bit expensive. Expect these variants to start just above ₹ 50 lakhs, and top-offs will be above ₹ 60 lakhs. Competing cars for both the fuel types stay below Rs 50 lakh ex-showroom, and hence it will be heavy on the Mercedes India management as it decides the pricing.
0 notes
Inside-out technology, sexy design, sophisticated S-Class-like interiors, safety, connectivity and multiple powertrain options make the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class quite the winner. The model is a worthy addition to the holy C-Class lineage, and will likely be the most successful generation ever in India and the rest of the world!
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