BUY, LEASE OR FINANCE A MERCEDES C-CLASS FROM OSV: bit.ly/3LNbPoz
Despite the rise and rise of the SUV, the C-Class continues to be Mercedes' best selling international model. No pressure then for this redesigned fifth-generation 'W206'-series version. Which fully embraces various forms of engine electrification. And brings more than a dash of S-Class luxury to this important segment.
Market and Model
Prices are a little above those of the previous generation model, which means a starting point of around £39,000 for the entry-level C200 'Sport' saloon. Whatever model you're looking at, allow a premium of around £1.600 if you want the estate version. The initial range-topping variant, the C300d 'AMG Line Premium' variant, costs from just over £52,000 in saloon form - or from around £53,500 as an estate.
Base 'Sport' trim includes the latest generation MBUX media system, including a high-resolution 11.9-inch central media display with its 'Hey Mercedes' virtual assistant. Plus there's a 12.3-inch digital driver display, 17-inch five-spoke alloy wheels, LED high performance headlights with Adaptive Highbeam Assist, a Parking package with reversing camera, heated front seats and wireless smartphone charging.
Next up is 'AMG Line' trim. With that, you get 18-inch AMG 5-spoke design alloy wheels, privacy glass, AMG bodystyling, a multifunction sports steering wheel finished in nappa leather and visible twin exhaust pipes. If you want to go further, the 'Premium' equipment line features 19-inch AMG multi-spoke alloy wheels, Adaptive Highbeam Assist Plus, ambient lighting, illuminated door sills, KEYLESS GO comfort access, MBUX augmented reality for navigation and a 360-degree surround view camera. Finally, 'Premium Plus' trim adds 19-inch AMG five-double-spoke alloy wheels, a panoramic sliding sunroof, a head-up display and Thermotronic four-zone automatic climate control.
Cost of Ownership
Apparently, the Mercedes-AMG Formula 1 team worked with the C-Class development engineers to create a new turbocharger that gives these latest mild hybrid engines better efficiency - and the official readings seem to bear that out. Let's get to the WLTP-rated figures, starting with the petrol mild hybrid models. The 1.5-litre C200 saloon variants return up to 44.1mpg on the combined cycle and up to 146g/km of CO2 (estate up to 42.2mpg and up to 161g/km). For the C300 saloon, the figures are up to 42.2mpg and 152g/km.
As for the mild hybrid diesels, well the likely best selling variant, the C220d, manages up to 61.4mpg on the combined cycle and up to 120g/km of CO2 in saloon form (estate up to 60.1mpg and up to 124g/km). The C300d saloon manages up to 55.4mpg and up to 133g/km of CO2 (estate up to 54.3mpg and up to 136g/km). Increasingly though, diesel drivers will be moving towards the various Plug-in options available. The C300e petrol PHEV manages al all-electric driving range of between 34 and 62 miles and can be charged in 30 minutes with a 55kW fast charger (an 11kW device is fitted as standard).
Summary
There's the potential for quite a shift here in the segment hierarchy for mid-sized premium badged saloons and estates. To be frank, in its previous guises, the C-Class was a car you usually chose more because it was a Mercedes than because it was intrinsically better than its Audi A4 and BMW 3 Series arch-rivals. But this fifth generation 'C' could potentially tempt you on grounds other than mere badge equity.
It now has the segment's classiest and most sophisticated cabin. We also think it has the best interior media set-up. And when it comes to issues of ride and refinement - the things that really matter to potential business customers - there's the potential for class-leading drive dynamics too. The other thing that really matters to those customers is running cost efficiency; well, this Mercedes is class-leading there too. If you're in the market for a car of this kind, that all makes this 'C' a compelling proposition. It'll be interesting to see how BMW and Audi fight back.
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21 июл 2024
