2015 Mercedes-Benz C 220 CDI review, test drive

What’s it like to drive?

As we’ve seen with this 2.1-litre diesel motor in most of its guises, its strength lies in its strong bottom-end and mid-range of the power band. There’s plenty of punch low down and a good reserve when you want to overtake. It’s also surprisingly refined if you keep the revs under control, but that also highlights the road noise, which on coarse surfaces, constantly makes itself felt in the cabin. Stretch it to its limit, however, and it will sound (and feel) very strained. And in pushing it hard, you’ll also find the 7G-Tronic gearbox getting caught out from time to time. Like most diesel Mercs, this one is best driven in a leisurely manner.

Also making a return in the diesel car in Avantgarde trim are Mercedes’ ‘Agility Control’ driving modes, which alter the engine, steering and air-con performance with each setting. ‘Eco’, with its blunted throttle response, is best reserved for your chauffeur, while we found ‘Sport+’ to be a little too highly strung for stop-and-go city traffic. ‘Comfort’ and ‘Sport’, on the other hand, offer a good blend of responsiveness and a smooth delivery of power.

The suspension setup (raised for India) still errs a bit on the stiff side, and while that gives the C-class great composure out on the highway, it makes it a touch skittish over bumps and undulations, with a fair bit of vertical movement inside the cabin. It’s still a comfortable car by conventional standards, it’s just that the segment – especially this car’s own predecessor – has set the bar quite high on ride quality. The steering is quite light, but it's quick and accurate, making the new C quite a lot of fun to tuck into corners.