C-Class oozes poise and status
It took five years of planning, developing, testing, and hard work but the result is a highly polished work of automotive mastery. In the past, criticism of previous C-Class cars included its rather bland, cravat-and- scarf looks, uninspired steering and feeling of heaviness, all of which has disappeared with the wave of a Mercedes magic wand.
Slimmer and sleeker
The new C-Class Merc is a completely different car than its predecessors. It has shed 100kg in weight because the white coats binned the heavy steel previously used in body, chassis and suspension parts and replaced it with lightweight alloy. It now also brims with many of the safety and fancy features you currently find on the more expensive S- and E-Class cars. It has also gained in length and width to move it even further away from its sedan sibling in the A-Class, the CLA and closer in looks and DNA than it's considerably more expensive S-Class and E-Class seniors.
To make it look even more than the bigger Mercs you can now also opt for a C-Class finish that comes complete with the classic Mercedes-Benz front end rather than the sportier, more youthful trim choices of Standard, Avantgarde (my first choice) or AMG.
Not only has the C range grown in status and posture (which actually suits it very well) it has also become more exciting and dynamic as I quickly found out on a testing, very technical new racetrack not too far from OR Tambo where Mercedes demonstrated the car's numerous safety and handling features and gave us some play-time at the wheel of various models.
Take it for a glide... drive
The first impressions you get of the car is the ultra-smooth manner in which it glides along, floating over the pot-holed roads of Gauteng, and its size. In fact, it is bigger than the E-Class of a few years back. The cabins are ultra-smart and luxurious, the doors click shut with the typical solidness of German craftsmanship and the dials, gauges and switches are not only classy and good-looking but placed sensibly and function simply so that even its multi-function touchpad is a doddle to operate. (Having said that, opinions are poles apart over the chromed, large full colour systems display screen on the centre of the dash).
But the rest of the living quarters is as classy as one would come to expect from the three-pointed star brand: spacious and smart with lots of soft leather and shiny metal, large blue sky windows, everything screwed and glued precisely and neatly ... it simply oozes elegance.
Mercedes will roll out a range of models over the next few months and the first batch are already on showroom floors with buyers having a choice of looks, finishes, petrol or diesel engines and transmissions.
Like it's elegant bigger brother, standard on all new C-Class versions are Collision Prevention Assist; Comfort Direct Steering; Agility Control suspension; a theft protection package; Cruise control with Speedtronic; an Interior Light Package, Thermatic automatic climate control; LED daytime running lights and a Pre-SAFE system.
Get that wallet out
As is the norm with the three German leaders in this medium-sized sedan bracket the list of expensive optional extras is long and extensive. For example, I drove the C200 at the launch which retails for R437,318 but with just 12 optional extras you can push up the price by R124,800. The C220 I also drove has a price tag of R459,000 but with 12 extras, including a 7G-TRONIC PLUS automatic transmission(optional across the range), the price quickly escalates by R155,300.
Both cars come standard with a 6-speed transmission but it is well worth spending an extra R21,682 to buy the C220 and then a further R18,000 to replace the standard manual box with the automatic transmission, and another R13,000 on the AIRMATIC Agility Package which provides extra comfort as well as more nimble and agile handling.
In addition to kicking out 100Nm more torque the C220 is also more polar bear-friendly, being lighter on fuel and more frugal with emissions. The new C-Class is the first vehicle in its segment that offers the option of air suspension that allows the driver to choose between "Comfort", "ECO", "Sport" and "Sport+" settings.
The dark side of the saloon
In spite of its dignified pose the new C-Class has a pleasant dark side that surfaces when you start fiddling with the settings, particularly when you opt for the Sport+ mode. Immediately the steering sharpens and the big Merc crouches 15mm closer to the bitumen. In this mode, the C-Class demonstrates a refreshingly new affinity for curves that will surprise and delight established Merc owners and appeal to first-time buyers, particularly in the age groups where greying temples are less prevalent.
My only criticism of the new Mercs is that they are only stocked with a run-free spare wheel which is fine for smoother city roads but useless if you are half-way between Upington and Cape Town and have a blow-out. Then your only option is a tow-truck, an inconvenient break in your journey, probably an expensive overnight stay and the chances are good you will have to wait a day or so for a wheel to be sourced from a bigger town or city far away.
A pity about the spare
The C-Class is manufactured in East London for local use and for export to Europe where run-flats do not pose the same problem as it does in South Africa. For the sake of creating a bit of extra boot space the hassle and expense caused of not having a full-sized spare wheel is the only real distraction from a luxury sedan that is without equal in this class in this country.
Mercedes-Benz plans to extend the C-Class range with a number of additions over the coming months with models such as the C250 diesel and C300 followed by a C450.
The new C-Class comes standard with the six-year/100,000km maintenance contract with no customer contribution and the option to extend.
| Models and prices | |
|---|---|
| C180 BlueEFFICIENCY | R415,900 |
| C200 BlueEFFICIENCY | R436,600 |
| C250 BlueEFFICIENCY | R502,600 |
| C220 BlueTEC | R459,000 |
C-Class accessories brochure (Large file)