New Mercedes-Benz C-class review, test drive

The new Mercedes C-class is bigger, better equipped and more luxurious than ever before. But it has to be really special to better our current favourite, BMW’s 3-series.

Published on Mar 11, 2014 10:43:00 PM

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New Mercedes-Benz C-class review, test drive

According to Mercedes, despite being the replacement for a car that was already way better than decent, the new C-class represents a giant leap forward.

In most other departments the new C-class delivers, and delivers exceedingly well. It’s a fair bit roomier than before and a lot more luxurious inside, and it steers, rides, stops and handles beautifully. It also changes gear rather tidily with the new seven-speed gearbox.

But there is one caveat to mention, and in the context of a first initial experience of what is likely to be one of the most popular models, it’s a big one. And it’s the engine.

Boot volume is up by 5 litres comapred to the outgoing car.

For starters, it’s noisy and clattery for a Mercedes, especially from the outside, much like the current-gen C 250 CDI. Secondly, its responses are peculiarly blunt unless you select the sportiest setting within the new Agility system. Thirdly, it doesn’t deliver anything like as much basic performance as you’d expect given that it has 50.87kgm to propel 1,550kg.

The car doesn’t feel in any way slow, but neither does it ever feel explosive like the equivalent BMW 3-series does in the mid-range, and that’s a fairly disappointing discovery given that this is, for the time being, the sportiest new C-class that money can buy.

Perhaps it’s simply the result of the rest of the car being so deeply excellent, but the overall impression of this particular new C-class is: brilliant car powered by a so-so engine. With a couple more cylinders beneath the bonnet, though, I’m sure the genius within will be revealed.

Steve Sutcliffe