A compact sedan with the design lines of the benchmark luxury sedan of the last few decades — the Mercedes-Benz S-Class — a monstrous 4.0-litre V8 engine producing 510hp and 700Nm of torque, capable of tearing apart freshly laid asphalt on Sofia’s newly built Aleksandar Malinov boulevard in negative time (one or two speed cameras there certainly would not hurt), and acceleration from 0 to 100km/h in just 4.0 seconds. What is it? The Mercedes-AMG C63 S of course.
Well yes, but today we will not be driving that one… Today we are talking diesel — more specifically the 1.6-litre diesel developed primarily by Renault and installed in Mercedes’ more compact models. Here, the impressive figures are not related to power, but to fuel consumption. According to the official data, the rear-wheel-drive sedan with the seven-speed automatic gearbox should consume between 3.6 and 5.3 litres of diesel per 100km.
Design
I have always had a soft spot for Mercedes-Benz because, unlike some other German manufacturers, they usually offer a range where different models have their own distinct identity, while still being instantly recognisable as Mercedes products. The Mercedes-Benz C-Class is perhaps the model that least follows this philosophy, because it genuinely resembles a scaled-down S-Class. For that reason, the compact sedan has a strongly elegant and luxurious appearance, unless, of course, you opt for an AMG version, where aggression dominates.
Overall, the exterior is very appealing and even the relatively basic version I drove looked excellent on the road after all, it did feature optional 17-inch wheels and LED headlights. I expect the C-Class to age gracefully and continue looking elegant years from now.
Interior
I have to admit that I am slightly biased here because even judging purely from photos, the interior of the C-Class is my favourite in the segment. Why? I like the way its design carefully balances heavy luxury with simple elegance, leaning more toward the latter. I also appreciate the wide range of personalisation options, especially when it comes to the dashboard and door trim elements – several types of glossy or matte wood veneers, fibreglass, carbon fibre, aluminium and the standard piano black finish, which, unlike the basic trim in many other brands, actually looks quite good. There is definitely something for every taste.
Still, what impression does the Mercedes interior leave when experienced firsthand? Once again, a positive one. All materials are of excellent quality, including those not directly within passengers’ sight or touch. Interestingly, these materials will not necessarily make you exclaim, “Wow, this rubber must be incredibly expensive,” but they simply feel solid, well-made and never give the impression that corners were cut. That is a good thing.
Another advantage of the cabin is the sheer volume of storage spaces — the door pockets are among the largest in the class, while the compartment beneath the central armrest is also generously sized. And while we are talking about space, I can also praise the room available for front passengers, it is more than sufficient. In the rear, however, things are slightly tighter than they should be, while the rear seat base is rather short.
Returning to the front seats, I must point out that the standard seats are not particularly comfortable. There is no lumbar support and, generally speaking, something feels slightly off. Apparently, selecting one of the optional comfort seat packages is almost mandatory when configuring your C-Class.
Otherwise, the driving position is excellent, as is the ergonomics. The infotainment system is intuitive to operate, while the “joystick” on the centre console feels very satisfying thanks to its solid construction and pleasant mechanical click.
Something that requires getting used to, especially if you have never driven a Mercedes before – is operating the wipers and cruise control. There are three stalks mounted on the steering column. On the right sits the gear selector (rather like in a Trabant, but actually very convenient and freeing up space on the centre console). On the left there is a combined stalk for indicators, high beams and wipers. Slightly below it is the stalk controlling cruise control and the speed limiter.
If you are unfamiliar with such a layout, you will definitely need some time to adapt. During the test, for example, I accidentally activated the indicators instead of cruise control several times. But once you get used to it, the arrangement is genuinely practical. Back when I was involved in the development of Euro 6 engines for the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and spent thousands of kilometres driving the vans, I never once felt uncomfortable with this setup.
On the road
On the road, the C200d is the absolute stereotype of a Mercedes – comfortable, relaxed and… slightly pensioner-like.
The standard suspension, called Agility Control, prioritises comfort and isolation from the outside world, and it performs this task very well indeed. The system is technically passive but incorporates active elements or explained more clearly, it uses conventional springs and dampers, but the damper characteristics are non-linear and vary depending on road conditions. In practice, this means softer suspension movement within a range of roughly ±1cm, improving comfort and road contact over smaller imperfections.
Finding small imperfections on Bulgarian roads is not particularly easy, but I can still say that Agility Control performs extremely well in terms of comfort. The downside is the relatively large amount of body roll in corners, and generally speaking, anyone who enjoys driving rather than simply travelling would be better off choosing the optional sport suspension or the air-based Airmatic system.
I think the C-Class’ standout quality on the road is its isolation. Road noise is heavily reduced, while the same applies to aerodynamic noise. Yes, at higher speeds you can hear the characteristic turbulence around the A-pillars, but overall the car is exceptionally quiet and that is one of the main reasons the Mercedes feels so comfortable and relaxed.
As you may have guessed, however, the engine is simply too weak. Although the car itself is relatively light at under 1.5 tonnes, the small diesel struggles with it. Of course, you will have no problems pulling away from traffic lights, merging into traffic or cruising at high motorway speeds, but you will not experience much enjoyment either. If you are choosing diesel, it should be at least the Mercedes-Benz C220d. If petrol, then at least the Mercedes-Benz C180. The smaller engines are a compromise… unless you are retired.
The seven-speed automatic gearbox also feels somewhat outdated, or at least in combination with the 1.6-litre engine it occasionally seems uncertain about what to do in order to deliver a little more power to the rear wheels. During relaxed driving it behaves reasonably well, exactly as we are used to seeing it.
Overall, I am satisfied with the C-Class’ road manners, especially when I ignore the small engine. It is good that there are still manufacturers prioritising comfort, because nowadays everyone has suddenly become a “great sports car maker”. And although I personally enjoy sporty cars, it is equally important that people who value calm, effortless and comfortable travelling still have options, not to mention the fact that AMG versions remain available for everyone else.
Conclusion
The Mercedes-Benz C-Class is an exceptionally complete product. Everything about it is carefully thought out and meticulously executed. It is obvious that the team behind the model was enormous and that every department clearly understood both its task and overall goal. Perhaps the only thing missing is a final touch of charm, because in this form the C-Class feels more like a rational choice than an emotional one.
This is a mature car for mature people, although I suspect that somewhere within the huge model range and endless individualisation options, everyone can find exactly what they are looking for — from the retiree with their C200d to the psychopath with their AMG C63 S.
Eng. Tsvetan Iliev
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