Review: Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Mercedes-Benz has made the enormously popular C-Class even more appealing by upgrading its normally aspirated four-cylinder engines to supercharged units. All of the new engines now boast light-alloy crankcases and cylinder heads, which reduce weight by about 10% from the earlier cast-iron units. Twin camshafts are now adjustable and offer variable valve timing. There’s also a new turbodiesel model in the range.
Least expensive of the new crop, at R231 000, is the C180K manual, which generates 10kW more than the discontinued 95kW naturally-aspirated two-litre C180. Torque is boosted from 190Nm to 220Nm and acceleration to 100kph is claimed to take 9,7 seconds for the manual and 9,9 seconds for the auto — respectively 1,3 and 1,7 seconds quicker than the older models. Top speed is up from 210kph and 207kph to 223kph and 220kph respectively.
Next up the ladder comes the R250 000 C200K, which boasts the same power output as its supercharged two-litre predecessor — 120kW — while gaining 10Nm of torque, taking it to 240Nm. Top speed for both auto and six-speed manual versions is claimed to be 240kph, with 0 to 100 coming up in 9,3 and 9,1 seconds respectively.
The sports coupe C230K produces 141kW and 260Nm — the earlier C230K displaced 2,3 litres and churned out just 4kW and 20Nm more than the replacement 1,8-litre unit. Despite this slight drop in output, the factory claims that the new six-speed manual car’s 0 to 100 acceleration time of 8,1 seconds is only 0,1 second slower than its predecessor. Top speed of 240kph is the same, while fuel consumption is improved by a claimed 0,7 litres per 100km. The auto version gets to 100kph in 8,2 seconds, and tops out at 236kph, which is virtually the same as the older model’s maximum.
We enjoyed driving all three petrol models, but consider the C180K to be the bargain of the bunch. It felt as lively as the C200K and is fairly competitively priced in this market.
The new C-Class Kompressors are good-looking, excellently equipped and well finished. But above all, they’re lively and fun to drive. And, of course, safe. Everything that counts in terms of safety comes standard, and the C-Class achieved five stars in the Euro NCAP ratings with a score of 33. Only the Renault Laguna equalled this achievement, with Audi’s A4, Volvo’s S60 and S40, Jaguar’s X6 and the BMW 3 Series scoring between 25 and 30, to earn themselves four stars.
Also at the launch was the fourth new C-Class model, which we unfortunately did not drive. The C220 CDI is powered by a 2148cc turbodiesel engine that produces 105kW at 4200rpm and 315Nm torque between 1800 and 2600rpm. The highly specced oil-burner comes with a six-speed manual or a five-speed auto transmission, and reaches 100kph in under 10,5 seconds. The price tag is R265 000 for the manual (R11 000 more for the five-speed auto with Touchshift).