Mercedes-Benz C220 CDI

Ditching Traditional lines and geometric shapes in favour of curves and boldness seems to be the way Mercedes-Benz chose to revamp one of the most popular models in their line-up. The new C-Class is one of the best looking executive sedans in the world, and it is filled with luxury and technology that elevate it to a whole new level. In December last year we tested the C 200, the petrol variant, and this month we bring you the definitive road test of the diesel variant.

People have been comparing the new C-Class with the beautiful S-Class and some have even tagged it as the ‘mini S-Class’, which is not a bad thing at all. In fact, it is quite a compliment considering that the new S-Class has charmed its way into the hearts of many in the motoring community. And just like the S-Class, strikingly elegant appearance combined with brilliant engineering from Stuttgart make the new C-Class one of the most desirable executive sedans in the world.

The design of the new C-Class is eye-pleasing and luxurious. It seems that Mercedes designers were on an Italian escapade before they were commissioned to design the new C-Class. Escapade or not, the final result is simply breathtaking. Plenty of curves mixed with bold and flowing lines make the C-Class an absolute visual treat. S-Class influence on the exterior is quite discernible, but there are visual breaks that separate the two cars. Subtle changes such as a twin-slat grille that houses the three-pointed star, sleeker headlamps, smaller wheels and narrower width set the C-Class apart from the S-Class. Nevertheless, it still manages to look as gorgeous as the bigger Merc.

The cabin of the new C-Class is also very special. Unlike the previous generation car, which had a cabin resembling Greek economy, the new one looks more like a work of art. It is like a painting in there. The wood-covered centre console exudes richness that is at par with cars a couple of segments higher than the C-Class. Luxury is evident in abundance inside this new Merc as every inch is covered with high-quality material and finished to perfection.

One detail in particular caught my eye: the array of buttons on the centre console. These finely crafted bits are finished in aluminium and feel ultra-rich. The dashboard is covered with leather and aluminium that lend it a classy and luxurious appearance. Round air-con vents, S-Class mimicking seat-adjustment controls and a perfect balance of wood, leather and aluminium have resulted in a cabin that looks classy, sophisticated and very upmarket.

The leather seats up front are highly comfortable and provide ample support during long drives. The rear seats are pretty comfortable, too, though the limited head-room at the back is the only thing that may be an issue inside the cabin. The Avantgarde trim level that we tested comes with a panoramic sunroof adding more luxury to an already rich cabin.

The new C also comes loaded with modern tech features, including drowsiness detector, adaptive high-beam assist, an excellent safety net for safer motoring and a high-end infotainment system with a floating iPad-like screen that can be operated via a rotary dial/scribble pad.

The designers have paid a lot of attention to making the cabin of the new C as good as possible and they have been successful in their job. A rich blend of fine-quality materials, utmost fit-and-finish and comfort are the elements that make the new C-Class an exuberant and lavish place to be in.

Mercedes-Benz have not just concentrated on making the new C-Class the most luxurious in its class; the company has gone to great lengths to make it an efficient and brilliant product. For this they have worked extensively with aluminium, which has resulted in a 40-kilo lighter body shell structure and an overall weight loss of almost 100 kilos in comparison to the old car. All of this was possible because Mercedes used a brand-new platform, called the Mercedes Rear-wheel Architecture or MRA. Almost 50 per cent of this new platform is made using aluminium, which not only results in lighter cars but also in more fuel-efficient cars that perform better. Moreover, Mercedes have also worked a lot on improving the aerodynamics of the new C, making it the most aerodynamic in its segment with a drag coefficient of 0.24. Suspension has also improved tremendously. The isolation of the front strut has improved the ride quality and handling by a huge margin, thus making the new C a much better car to drive.

And setting all this science and luxury in motion is Merc’s trusty 2.2-litre four-cylinder diesel motor. Now, a four-pot diesel may sound a bit underwhelming, but when 170 PS and 400 Nm of torque meet efficient aerodynamics and lightweight construction, the results are pretty good. This is the same engine that powered the old car and, just like the rest of the car, Mercedes-Benz have worked on this
engine as well. However, improvements are not on par with the rest of the car. It has a good amount of refinement and smoothness but it is still a bit noisy.

However, it doesn’t lack in any other areas. This turbocharged motor is quite responsive at low RPM as it picks up from as low as 1,400 revs without any noticeable turbo lag. Ample bottom-end torque ensures good driveability, and if you are feeling a bit naughty then simply nail that throttle and this engine will be happy to oblige. It doesn’t have that massive kick-in-the-back that bigger diesel motors do, and 400 Nm is more than enough to set your heart racing.

Linearity is the name of the game for this engine. The power and torque are transferred to the rear wheels in a very smooth and civilised manner, which makes for a very good driving experience.

Being light and aerodynamic also helps with the fuel efficiency and in our test the new C-Class achieved pretty good results. In the city it returned a decent 10 km per litre and on the highway this figure went up to 17 km/l, thus resulting it an overall fuel efficiency of almost 12 km/l.

The new C also comes with something called the ‘Agility Select’ or drive modes that allow you to switch among pre-defined engine, transmission and steering settings. There are four pre-defined modes namely, Eco, Comfort, Sports and Sports+ and the fifth mode is individual, which allows you to tweak the engine, transmission and steering for a personalised set-up. I preferred the ‘Sports+’ setting for the highway as it sharpens the acceleration, adds some weight to the steering and holds the revs higher for a more indulging experience. However, in the city the ‘Comfort’ mode was my choice as it has a nice balance of smooth acceleration and lighter steering, both ideal for the city.

The 7G-Tronic automatic transmission is also an amazing box. Shifts are utterly smooth and seamless and it is pretty quick to respond to your inputs via the steeringmounted flappy paddles.

Performance-wise this 1.6-tonne C-Class doesn’t disappoint at all. Accelerate hard, and you will be rewarded with a 0-100 km/h timing of 8.35 seconds. Keep your foot glued to the floor and it can accelerate to a top speed of 200+ km/h in just over 30 seconds. Mercedes claim a top speed of 233 km/h. However, we were able to achieve only 204 km/h before encountering traffic and had to back-off, but the car still had enough gusto to go further.

Thrill-seeking owners who prefer to drive their C-Class will be delighted with this car’s handling. It has great driveability and the slightly soft suspension set-up lends it a plush and comfy ride. However, this set-up doesn’t hamper your corner-carving by being too soft. You can still throw it into corners with some enthusiasm and it will retain its composure from entry to exit. The electromechanical steering is sharp with oodles of feel and feedback. The sticky Pirelli footwear also provides superb grip most of the time. Brakes are good too.

There is no doubt about the new C being a great car for enthusiastic driving, and I’m sure many new owners will enjoy driving this new offering from Stuttgart. And why shouldn’t you; after all, you will be shelling out about Rs 42 lakh for the new C 220 CDI. It may sound a bit steep, but at this price you are not just buying a luxury executive sedan, you are buying a car that has had the privilege of being compared to the world’s most luxurious sedan. It is a car that is not just feature-rich, it’s luxurious, sophisticated, handles very well, has a brilliant ride quality along with a pretty capable engine. Besides, you also buy your ticket into the magical world of Mercedes-Benz.