Should You Buy a MERCEDES C CLASS COUPE? (Test Drive & Review 2019 W205 C220d) 

This fella knows how to talk. Knows how to move. Knows how to really make u not click off the video! Love it from Ireland

Coming from an owner, spot on 100% accurate in every way. The technology in this car is a joy. I got my 14 year old granddaughter to pair my phone.

I think the extras make this car. I have the premium plus model and it has keyless entry. This means you can wave your foot under the back bumper to open the boot when you are carrying something. Spec'd with everting its amazing, glass panoramic roof, memory heated seats and park assist self parking, its all very useful. Also love the way the rear view camera pops out from a hatch under the rear badge! Mines £20 a year tax too because of the date it was made.

Keyless entry and start is a security nightmare. The amount of Brommie bathers and German barnstormers that get nicked without the owner hearing any damage is ridiculous. An 80’s crook lock is needed to support the latest security tech because it’s easily circumnavigated. This is a cracking coupe and the 63 is a dream car for me when the kids bugger off. Another great everyday man’s review.

Good informed honest review as ever For the record I’ve had a 17 plate c220 premium plus night edition from 6months old and it’s never missed a beat. From the comments I’d like to add , yes it’s based on the Laguna floor pan with some underpinnings. I went for the 2.1 as anything below 2.0 on the prefaclift is indeed a Renault unit. Best handling car and driving experience I’ve ever had.

I’ve had a C250d 4matic coupe for 4 years now, love it! Premium plus, £9ks worth of extras, panoramic roof, cranberry red real leather interior ( still smells gorgeous ) and that really brightens up the interior of the car, I hate all black interiors ( Audi 🙄 ) and the Burmester stereo is absolutely banging, can’t understand why you struggle with adjusting it 🤷🏻‍♂️? Pretty economical for a 4 wheel drive 204 bhp car, best figure was 53 mpg, I just love it 😍 so classy and comfortable, not in any hurry at all to part with it 👍

Had an E220d for a weekend with the same engine as this. Amazing economy without even trying. The gearbox wasn't as intuitive as the ZF8 in a BMW, but the 9th gear meant cruising was so relaxed and quiet.

Your right about the gear box the 9 speed is fantastic on the newer Mercedes’ and they really help to keep the mpg good and to assist it when u put your foot down

I've had my C200 Estate now for two years changing from a 2003 coupe, and it brilliant, i was a bit surprised that you slated it in places, its the most comfortable ride and well built car I've ever owned. and servicing with Mercedes is easier than ever with a service plan mine is only £33 pcm never have to worry again about huge servicing bills and includes all the parts for the A and B service my car now has 50K on it and she is a 2015 W204 ok you had a few more refinements on the face lift model but that doesn't retract from the value of a well built car, OTR mine cost new 39.5K I only paid 15k for it at 3 years old, would I buy new? No but I would buy again from Mercedes at 3 years old again, and if you don't mind being 3 years behind the times their are some fantastic bargains to be found.

“Effortlessly cool and elegant”… Damn that was deep.. and perfectly described! Nice one Matt 👍🏻

1. About the bluetooth pairing, indeed it is a rather complicated to the unused person, for the first time at least - but once you manage it is a straightforward process (if you need to pair another phone) and quite useful and simple to use. There is also the extra option to take the Apple/Android Car Play (it is extra package, comes with a wider central screen - it is also included if you take the Navigation Package) - but this requires the phone to be physically connected to the car (via cable in a usb port in car) and in such a case you do not need to pay extra money for the Navigation Package (way more expensive package) because you can use Google Maps, Apple Maps, Waze etc. 2. Radio and Media are also a little complicated and you need time to learn to operate them, but once you manage it, you can operate them from the driving wheel without even looking. 3. To heat the front windshield there is a specific button and function, which indeed heats the whole inside of the car quite fast. Personally I use more often a balancing of slightly opening the window and only if this does not work I will use the front windshield heating. 4. The "Keyless Entry Package" is an extra one that allows you to enter the car without the need to unlock with the key (it unlocks upon approaching it). In all cases though (either you have the extra "Keyless Entry Package" or not) the car will lock automatically upon the driver exiting and moving away from the car.

Mrs C has a 2007 CLK in black with a cream interior, drives just as well today as it did in 2007, and still looks beautiful, particularly with it being pillar less. There’s no doubt Mercedes make the best looking coupes around, and when hers eventually gives up the ghost, I would replace it with a C class Coupe in a heartbeat.

Great review as always and very accurate. I’ve driven both the C and E class and for me the E class coupe is the one to get (if budget allows) as it’s streets ahead in terms of build and ride quality.

This guy is better than Clarkson. Awesome review, as always.

I feel your pain :-) I now have a 220d C Class Sport after 3, 3 series' and it is mindlessly complicated and awkward after the easy BMW i Drive but, once you get used to it (after about 6 months) it does all sort of make sense, I now absolutely love my C Class, it is a quality, very comfortable, classy car and would gladly buy a new one but they haven't got any!!

I did trade plate driving for a very short while and one of the cars was one of these, but I think it was the 2.1 diesel. It was white with cream leather interior and was one of the poshest cars I've ever driven and felt very successful even though it wasn't my car. The one of the things that let it down the most for me was the 6 speed manual transmission and wished it was automatic as I had to drive it from London to Manchester. The gear ratios were very close together and notchy so it was a bit difficult to get it into the right gear. The best feature for me was the seatbelt being handed to me when I shut the door, never been in a car with that feature. The interior was beautiful with very comfy seats and the dash design felt very upmarket. I was quite sad to have to hand the car over to the owner but it was a great pleasure to have had the chance to drive such a beautiful car.

A friend of mine owned the first W124 300CE-24 in the UK. It was fully loaded too. I've loved the Coupé ever since.

I like this one as it looks premium and prestige, without being over the top. You could park anywhere or meet anyone and blend in regardless. I couldn't help but feel the trunk (or boot for you islanders 🤪) would benefit from more of a hatchback and lift that window to give better access. Looks a decent size storage area but with a small opening.

I had the C63s for a couple of years when it first came out, brilliant fun, great drive and that engine really was a masterpiece! However.. it had problems, noisy fuel purge valves needed replacing, sensors shut off 3 cylinders on one trip (I thought timing belt had gone) all easily fixed under warranty. But the most annoying thing was the creaking, squeaking, rattling interior, very plasticky, looked great but would drive me nuts. I’ve had zero issues subsequently with two land rovers, by far more refined.

Another excellent and very fair review Matt. I do agree that it’s an incredibly beautiful car. One thing that I find difficult, as someone who is 6’ 2” with a back injury, is it’s height from the ground. It is really quite difficult to get in and out of, although that’s true of Mercedes generally…I used to own an E series. The technology looks pretty advanced for a lower end Mercedes but I wonder just how frequently it goes wrong as it’s usually very expensive to fix. BTW, a Happy New Year to you!

Spot on Matt! I've had a 2018 c220d premium plus for three years and love it for all of the reasons you've said. Keep up the great reviews - they're perfectly pitched and very relatable!

Nice cars the W205 in all guises. My dads saloon is a 2015 C220d with the old cement mixer 2.1. a real clatter box but its very easy on fuel and still fairly rapid. The piano black centre console is a let down on it that wood in the coupe looks much nicer, hopefully it doesn't creak like the piano black trim. Another issue is the seal material most models get artico leather ie vinyl. Some may claim its harder wearing than learher but ive seen a few examples of the side bolsters or seat bases falling apart before the car hits 50k miles. Still a nice car to drive, they feel light and nimble on the road quite good fun to drive.

Good choice on the trim. The piano black is a real scratch magnet.

Sat in 2017 C Class. Mainly the interior quality was just OK, for a premium brand vehicle. The most shocking revelation though is the central panel. Made out of cheap plastic and upon a touch feels super cheap, squeaks like Saab 9-3 or Vauxhall Insignia interior. Also, the premium Burmester audio system, was meh. Looks pretty, but feels too cheap

I agree with you. This is a beautifully designed coupe and even more beautiful convertible. The screen on the dash however looks like it is just a tablet superglued to the dash. An interesting point you brought up about having the keyless start but not having the keyless entry. I believe you said what is the point. This was the one and only complaint I had on my 2011 Range Rover. Why would other RR/LR models have it and the top of the line RR not? Made no sense to me but I got use to it and had keyless entry and start on my 2015 RR Sport.

Now that my kids are all grown up, and I can count on one hand how many times someone is in the back seat... So a year ago (Feb 2021) I traded in my 2015 C300 sedan for a 2020 C300 Coupe (with the AMG night package). From a drivers perspective, the controls, the feel, pretty much everything is the same, seats are a little different, more 'sporty', and I have to admit, there's more room in the back seat than I thought. I don't think it would be very comfortable for someone over 6 feet for a long (multi-hour) journey. The one thing I did have to get use to is the size and weight of the doors. Being a 2-door car, they are naturally longer and you need to be aware of this in parking lots when getting out. But it's the exterior of the car that 'turns heads'. It is a beautiful car and one thing I really like, is you just don't see many of them. I am a 'boomer', and had no issues with the bluetooth or sound system (might be because they are pretty much identical to the 2015 I had). One of the thing I really like is as of 2019 the C-Class has Car Play. I never use the Mercedes navigation anymore, Google maps is SO much better. And it does have keyless entry, just pull on the handle with key in you pocket.

I like the exterior styling, but would benefit hugely from a pan roof (premium plus?)! However I'm not a fan of the style over substance interior and its perceived quality. A friend had one of these new and it was always back having rattles addressed under warranty.

great review! Personally I think the E class coupe looks better proportioned but that doesn't justify the price hike between the two. Going to my local dealer to try them both out along with the competition. PS: I imagine Keyless start and keyless entry are likely separated because of the numbers of thieving buggers cloning keys with them handheld scanner things and getting into/driving off from owners' driveways. Don't keep your keys by the front door people! and use a faraday cage/pouch to store them in.

you can open the boot from the bootlid. push the mercedes badge the top part of the badge and the boot should open

Your not a time served motoring journo , your better than most time served journos, never stop with the real everyday cars, best car review channel on yt,

Great review of the C220D... license-losing speed. I'm sold. PS: keyless entry, don't care, my own A180D is similarly handicap'd, and I don't miss it, at all. Key always in pocket. :)

I own a c300 amg line premium 2019 and it is a lovely car especially with the larger screen and the LCD dials however make sure you have deep pockets when it comes to servicing, my local MB has just quoted £557 + VAT for a B service. Oh....and the wood effect is actually real black ash wood.

You can open the "boot" by pressing the top of the Merc Logo, not the first guess people have but it makes for a simpler design.

Another great, informative review Matt. The explanation about your practical and impartial method of reviewing cars and reporting is excellent.

Your delivery is excellent. It's like listening to somebody you know.

Another very informative video & your witty comments always bring a smile to my face 👏🏼👏🏼

I'd still favour a Jag! Thinking XK or XJ when I next change my main driver. The Merc does look good to be fair though.

Great balanced review Matt. The wife has owned one for three years now (Premium Plus, she also hates blank buttons). Agree totally about the infotainment, but the looks and frugal running costs are a plus.

Such a good review. Thank you. These diesels from MB are now so good and this model looks great too. They offer a amazing fuel economy with real performance. Great mpg is saving the planet too. All good then.

Own a 2017 C class Saloon C220D and they are great cars. Mine is ridiculously economical and comfortable, the infotainment can be carplay/android auto activated which makes a massive difference and for me the value for money is very good for a german luxury car

Great review as usual, Matt. My 'spit-your-drink-out' moment was your Bruce Hornsby comment. Class.🙂

Love the way you do reviews. Like an English Lit! Bravo

I have an e-class and you can open the boot by flipping the Merc badge on the lid. It's also used for the reverse camera.

What a great review! I replaced my C Class Coupe only last September - I loved it! As you say, it looks great and I thought it drove brilliantly. Mine was the C250 diesel and on a long motorway run (the bulk of my driving) I could top mid-60s mpg in fabulous comfort - those seats are amazing. The boot space is huge and with the seats down, I fit my road bike in very easily with just the front wheel removed, plus all the other detritus I take with me when working away. My new car is the CLA 220 with the same engine you reviewed. Same run frequently gives me mid to high 70s mpg! Another great product BUT it doesn’t fire me up like the C Coupe did.

With the c class, you can open the boot by pushing the rear logo up, and you use it as a handle to open it. Personally, I’ve found the new MBUX way easier to use than the one in this car.

I do like the current C - Class. Agreed that it’s better looking than it’s contemporaries. Great informative review.

I use to hate the look of these from the back so it put me off, but recently I’ve started to like them. I was really glad to see this review and to see you liked it. Cheers

4:45 you need to push in on the top of the mercedes logo on the rear, and pull from the bottom of it, it acts as the backup camera and the opening for the back

Currently saving up for this. Hope I can have it soon. The dash on this version is the perfect mix of tech and tradition.

I had a C-class saloon (current model, but the older diesel engine) and really enjoyed it, although I have come to realise it takes days to work out the technology on any new car. An age thing with me! But my wife's BMW220, now five years old, continues to defeat me - I can hardly work out how to play music stored on the hard drive, let alone load a CD up. She of course, has no problem. Good review and a nice car. I think the all-black interior is part of the AMG line.

Very helpful a few years later, looking at getting one myself which this video is pushing me to get one

Lovely car Matt, all the best for the new year.

Had a 250d and swapped it for a c43 2 years later. Both in premium plus(is a must, can't even consider the car without it) with night edition package. I have to admit that if I see another one on the motorway, I'll stick behind it because of that as*.

I've driven the W205 estate version as a loan car and the gearbox was very smooth. I own a facelift W204 C220d saloon (AMG sport), it has great body control, precise steering and is nicely balanced. I used to commute over the Cat and Fiddle, which was simply a pleasure with this car (particularly in manual tiptronic mode), very well suited to fast sweeping A roads. No front heavy wallowing around or horrible torque steer. I can't remember what the W205 was like on the C&F. With regards technology, I'm the same generation as you, tech gets newer and we get older! Well that's how I feel anyway!

I had this for 1 year with night packed and amg Styling Black on the outside beige in the inside. This was such a great car and I enjoyed it every single day. Unfortunately I had the smallest engine. Now I’m driving a CL 500 c216

Boot lid can be opened by pulling on the merc badge in the centre of the actual boot. Same area the camera pops out from.

I bought a late 2018 model back in September, lovely car but there was a persistent rattle coming from the windscreen and after having it back to Mercedes 3 times I got fed up and traded it in. I was averaging 35mpg, very thirsty car for a diesel. I had an A-Class before this which never gave me a problem but the issues with this put off this brand. I know a rattle is a small issue but I'm a stickler for sounds within the cabin especially when the car cost 28k. Great review as always Matt

Sorry but Bruce Hornsby "The Way it is..." is epic.

I asked the recovery man when I broke down in a Skoda for the first time in 16 years, which brand to stay away from. He said that it was easy to answer that question, Mercedes followed by Range Rover as a distant second.

"That's just the way it is" Funny how what you are listening to mirrors what is happening in your life at the time. I remember removing radiators in my first house, couldn't stop the leak and as I ran down the staircase to try and get assistance, the radio played "oh oh, we're in trouble". Apt!

I have Mercedes’ Class estate same Diesel engine. The car is very easy to live with. You are correct about the issue with the Nox sensor The one in my engine failed after 2 years Fortunately still under Mercedes warranty Still needed to wait a week for the part to arrive from Germany and to be fitted by Mercedes’ local dealer. Servicing costs are mega expensive so best to find a local independent Mercedes’ after the end of the 3 year warranty.

I have to say i do like these coupes, i had a clk430 a few years back, as a weekend car. This looks like the perfect replacement. Only thing i wished MB would do is make the boot opening better, i go mountain biking but hate bike racks on cars, so having maybe a hatchback style opening where the whole rear window opened for access to make use of the boot space better without ruining the cars shaping!

Great review as usual...Considered this but ended up with a new shape E Class 220d which is streaks ahead comfort wise and I would definitely recommend it as better value for money! Build quality is still lagging behind BMW and Audi - as much as I love mine theirs still creaks

Great review. I have the AMG premium plus 220d estate. Best car I’ve owned and at 59 I found the controls easy to use. Set up wife and my phone straight away. Mines the 4matic as I live in the Scottish highlands and great in the snow. Averaging 54 mpg and on long runs can get almost 70mpg. Smooth ride, doesn’t crash over potholes and just a nice place to be. Only problem I’ve had is the tailgate privacy cover which slides back and forth as the tail gate opens. Needed a new motor but fixed under warranty. Be prepared for road tax of almost £500 a year for first 5 years due to high list price. As was said it’s a lovely car to see sitting on your drive.

I had a C Class E300 2015 I bought in 2018 and the Nox sensor failed but had it fixed under Warrantywise. Turns out it was a known MB recall which should have been fixed for free by local dealer. Don't be spending any money on that fix as it should be free from MB.

My wife bought one of these a few years ago (2013) - loved it! It was the 250D in Premium Plus. Two things we didn't like - the foot-operated parking brake (WTF!) and the rear side windows were fixed, unlike her previous Volvo C70, where all the side windows wound down (electric, of course). Missed opportunity there Mercedes. Mind you, her current BMW 430i is just as bad that way. Very nice car to have anyway.

I had a C220d 4 door on rental at Heathrow for 24 hours and covered 530 miles. Great fun break boosting it (I'm a massive child), whilst being good on fuel. 70-80mph on the motorways whilst to/from Cheshire and averaged around 60mpg. Bit of a bugger getting in and out with the way I have the steering down low-ish, as I'm 6'1. I also agree on the tech front, I tried to set up Android Auto but failed. Shame the infotainment screen wasn't touch.

I think they did a beautiful job inside and out with this generation of c class. As for technology I just wanted heated seats, parking sensors and Apple car play im happy

Hi, Matt, I'd love you to do a review on another GT if you can get hold of one, a BMW 630d GT(G32) and comment on the other GT's you have reviewed and see in your opinion what is overall the best package.Love the reviews and your humour.

Great video. And I agree totally regarding the car.For the money it's a very stylish appealing car 👍

Yeah; brilliant and comfy as they are, I think Germans really overdo those black/dark roofs. You feel like you're out of air even on bright, sunny days and it gets really bad in the back seats, with dark leather seats in front of you and tinted windows at the sides.

The facial expression about getting the back out in the wet cracked me up ☺️. Great review as always mate, your approach to every car review and delivery is spot on.

“Give me all or give me nothing “ Classic Matt

Been watching your videos from time to time and decided today that I would finally subscribe. Your content seems to come from the heart, you say it as it is and your videos are not too long and overdetailed. I actually am now considering C-Class Coupé after watching this video ;)

Love big coupé’s like this, I had an S5 with the 4.2 V8, god I loved that car.

Well done yet again matt, I leased a c220 and your nailed it's pros and Co ns. I would add its a car that u what to be seen in but at the same time been seen to keep on top of the family outgoings.

Nice looking car but somehow I like more the BMW 4-series. That is how it is. Anyways great video. Thumb up from the RRR. :)

Great review. I had a C class although it must have been the pre-facelift model because the infotainment system was awfully slow and temperamental for a new car at the time. Coming out of a BMW I was shocked at the sloppiness of the ride, build quality, engine, transmission all of which wasn’t helped by seats which felt like a vinyl wrapped park bench. It looks great inside and out but this novelty soon wears off when you have to live with its downsides.

Setting the sound system, easy, setting the phone up, tricky but easy, the radio is easy it's a dial turn left or right to go up and down the channels....

Keyless entry and start is just a way of getting it stolen silently. It’s not arduous to either press a fob button or turn a key. Modern security is pants.

i really like these C200 + models, very cool coupe design. Technology never works? Don't be such a cynic Matt! lol, I really like the chunky sporty steering wheel, I think Merc do they best ones. Keyless entry was probably an optional extra : ) Only thing I don't like about these earlier models is the massive bezel, don't know why they thought that was a good idea. Infotainment screen looks like a photoframe.

"Catherine of Aragon to write an email..." Brilliant, and I haven't gotten more than 4mins into the video.

Glad I'm not the only one who had issues with the 1 series M sport ride. I leased one for 4 months and did 8000 miles in it before I handed it back. Even in 'comfort' mode, it was the most uncomfortable car I've ever driven. Every bump in the road was sent through your lower back. Long journeys were especially punishing.

The non keyless entry is to prevent a particular type of theft method. I'm sure you are aware that thieves have stolen cars by 'cloning' the owners key from outside the home with a laptop, which mirrors the key and allows them to drive your car away without the key. With the non keyless entry they need the key to get into the car.

Like you, as soon as this was released, I was very tempted, I still am. The only two downsides, for me, are that, 1 it’s a shame it isn’t pillerless like it’s much older cousin the old W124 coupe and 2, it was never offered with the 350 engines, petrol or diesel. Still tempted though

Had the previous model & loved it. Can’t say im sold on the cheap screen in the middle but other than that I’d have one in a heart beat!

As long as the key is on you matey , you can open it by just pulling the handle and all you do is swipe under the boot with your foot and it will open !!!!! Learn before you comment 👍🏽

The cockpit and seats in those cars is very nice. The new models just missing the V6-V8 engines.

Another great real- world review, and you're right Matt; she's a proper looker 😍

I had a W205 with the 194ps engine. The best merc I owned. My was a german model so more power than the french model where i lived

Comment before watching: A definite yes. I've hankered after a C63 S for years 😍

Gorgeous vehicle.. from the outside. I always hated that in these Mercs it looks like they slapped on an iPad onto a cheap plastic looking centre console. BMWs and Audis look much more expensive!

& another fantastic review! Lovely looking car..& when you compare it to all these bland suv's we are bombarded with its in a different league..it has style & character. As for you sir you'll always be better than nostalgia motoring journalist who in general like attracting the limelight to themselves rather than the car they are reviewing

With all the flaws you stated, it makes me appreciate my Honda City 2022 even more, it has everything the Merc doesn't even a button to open the boot and my car cost like 3-4x less than this

Thanks Matt. The 1.5 is a hybrid & that's good for people who can choose their company cars because of the lower tax. The Diesel.....NO. It will only be a matter of time when they are banned from Cities as a private car/company car. I think most modern cars takes a little bit of getting used to so don't put yourself down for that. All them buttons in new cars......NO. I want to concentrate on what I am doing.....DRIVING.

I like the looks and presence of Mercedes and have done for a while now. I just wish that they hadn’t turned into mobile server farms, with more onboard computers than an telesales office block! Bring back the sold tank style over-engineering of the old 190e and keep the modern looks and you have a winner! 👍

The video that I was waiting for..... I recently bought a c class coupe c220d on a 67 plate. You nailed with the phone connection. I still haven’t managed mine after a month....Android btw. Agree also regarding how dark inside it feels. I went for the pano roof for that reason. When nearing new mills, stop off and sort my phone out please 👍🏻 It’s usually parked up on the left 😀

With the comment about the nox sensor and back order I think the issue here isn't the volume of failures but semiconductor shortage. Unfortunately the nox sensor on that car has an ecu attached. It's why it's over £400 mercedes only order. 15 semiconductors/ecu's in that car. I've got a petrol c class and it's the same issue with the sensors. Love the content by the way.

My uncle has a 2016 C200 saloon which is absolutely stunning

Just sold my W205 C220d AMG line coupe, on the good side, nice interior very cheap to run, superb gearbox and a relaxing drive, down side, mine had vinyl seats and both split, satnav was poor and it was very slow (2.1), all in though a decent, if uninspiring, all rounder