Car Reviews > Mercedes-Benz > C Class > The Mercedes Benz C-Class Range Car Review

Lavish and luxurious

The C-Class is a true blue Mercedes-Benz, aimed squarely at the upwardly mobile executive and the otherwise well-heeled. It is conservatively shaped, yet does not manage to look too old or clunky. It exudes class, comfort and sophisticated charm - with a dash of styling thrown in. But Mercedes certainly haven't played around too much with the basic look and feel, for the C-Class is their main profit center, and they cannot afford to put a wrong foot forward.

There have been some quite changes ushered in under the bonnet, however, and most of them emphasize power. In order to give the car more of a sporty feel, the engine has been upgraded upwards - the basic variant coming with a 6.3liter V8, and with five petrol and three diesel variants to choose from. The C200CDI outputs 136bhp, while the C220CDI outputs 170bhp. All the versions sport a four-cylinder common-rail design that employs all of the recent breakthroughs at Benz, such as fast piezo-electric fuel-injection, exhaust gas recirculation and twin-turbo charging. They achieve torque outputs of 270Nm and 400Nm respectively, allowing you to zoom from stationary to 60mph in 6.4seconds flat, while topping out at an impressive 155mph.

The C-Class comes in two variants, the saloon and the estate, with the latter having a slight advantage over the former when it comes to the load volume (475 and 485liters, respectively); both variants have large passenger space (1500liter with both rear seats folded down) and a slightly longer length (17cm) than earlier. Mercedes also throws in an optional Agility Control Package for the more adventurous, which significantly improves handling of the steering, gearbox and suspension systems.

As mentioned already, the styling has been improved subtly, with the front wheel edged perfectly and the wheel arch aligning tightly with the headlamp. The bumper assembly has been fitted into the spoiler, and the nose has been given a stubby look to complement a swage line that gets deeper as it goes back. The perfect styling is carried on inside too, with the familiar positioning of the steering wheel and dashboard assembly. The controls have luxurious trim and the fascia is perfectly engineered, with a large folding screen that allows control over the myriad functions that the car offers.

The C-Class hosts all the multifarious innovations one associates with a Mercedes, enhancing both engineering and passenger safety. Adaptive High Beam Assist functions at night and gives you optimum field of view in case of an approaching vehicle. If you start to drift away from the lane you are driving in, the Lane Keeping Assist will vibrate the steering wheel to alert you, while Attention Assist will wake you up if you are snoozing at the wheel. Similarly, presence of a vehicle in your blind spot will trigger the Blind Spot Assist, while the Brake Assist Plus will automatically cut in during emergency braking.

So if you have been thinking about buying a luxury sedan or estate, go right ahead and take this one out for a test drive.

by Autoweb