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By
EWAN KENNEDY
12 November 2007
To many people a Mercedes-Benz sits at the pinnacle of desirability, the
car that announces that you have arrived in our society. The German
company that invented the automobile 121 years ago provides an image of
success few other brands can equal, let alone exceed.
For many years Mercedes cars were only for the rich, but smart
corporate planning over the last couple of decades has seen the
company move many of its products down the affordability chain.
Yet while doing so Mercedes has been able to retain its strong
hold at the expensive end of the prestige market. Best of all if
you’re only part way to being really rich, the lower-cost models
continue to bathe in the halo effect created by the topline
variants.
Enter the Mercedes-Benz C200K. With a starting price of ‘just’
$56,990, a figure deliberately set to sneak it under the
Australian luxury car tax limit, the subject of this week’s road
test is available to anyone with an income that, while admittedly
above average, is not extraordinarily so.
Styling of the just released C-Class is modern, with sweeping
lines that take an interesting new direction for Mercedes. A
direction that sees it move away from headlights with the
interlocking circular shapes of the last decade and into new
territory.
The new C-Class Classic and Elegance models retain a slightly
conservative grille design, with the Benz three-pointed star
mounted on the front of the bonnet. You need to buy a $62,690
C200K Avantgarde version if you want the Mercedes star inset in
the grille in the manner of the sports models in the Mercedes
range.
New Mercedes C-Class, launched in Australia in September 2007,
is larger than its predecessor. Clever engineering means that
despite the extra size, weight has been reduced marginally.
But the new class isn’t as large as it looks. Somehow there's
the impression that this is a large car, almost in the limo class.
In actual fact it’s only a small-medium machine. As such it’s
better used by adults in the front and children in the rear as
some will find rear headroom and legroom are restricted if four
Aussie sized blokes are being carried.
Another feature is an optional information/entertainment system
called Comand APS which includes satellite navigation, four
gigabyte music server and six-disc CD player including MP3, DVD-player,
Bluetooth interface and voice activation. Comand APS is a $3900
option on Classic models and standard on Elegance and Avantgarde.
There is good all-round visibility with a large windscreen,
relatively narrow A-pillars and bigger side mirrors than in the
previous model making it easier to see out of than many of today’s
trendy designs with their pushed-forward windscreens.
Suspension enhancements in this new-generation C-Class have
improved its driving dynamics. Steering is even more precise than
before and the C-Class corners safely and positively. Ride comfort
remains very good even with the slightly sporty nature of the new
car.
Our test car came with the 1.8-litre supercharged four-cylinder
petrol engine, not a 2.0-litre engine as the ‘200’ in the
title suggests.
This engine has enough performance for most drivers, but anyone
who likes a bit of sporty punch in their cars may not be over keen
on it.
Fuel consumption is a real bonus from an engine of this type.
Around town most drivers will use only nine to ten litres per
hundred kilometres, while country trips can see this figure drop
as low as the mid sevens if you pay a bit of attention to economy.
Also on offer in the C-Class range are a 3.0-litre
naturally-aspirated V6 and a pair of turbo-diesel powerplants, one
a 2.1-litre four-cylinder, the other a 3.0-litre V6. All are
significantly more expensive than the C200K we tested, principally
due to their being priced above the luxury car tax threshold.
Mercedes has pushed strongly on the safety front for over half
a century now and the latest C-Class comes with no fewer than
eight airbags. Stability and traction control systems are
standard, as are ABS brakes. Mercedes’ renowned Pre-Safe system
activates when the car senses an impending collision to tighten
the seat belts, close the windows and sunroof and put the seats
into the best protective position for a potential collision.
Those who can afford a Mercedes-Benz C-Class will immediately
find themselves elevated in the social scene as the image and
prestige offered by these cars is immense. And who’s to know
that your new Merc cost you less than $60,000?
AT A GLANCE
MODEL RANGE
C200 K Classic 1.8-litre four-door sedan - $56,990
C220 CDI Classic 2.1-litre diesel four-sedan - $60,274
C280 Elegance 3.0-litre four-door sedan - $84,974
C320 CDI Elegance 3.0-litre diesel four-door sedan - $92,800
FEATURES
ABS Brakes: Standard in all models
Air Conditioning: Standard in all models
Automatic Standard in all models
CD Player: Standard in all models
Central Locking: Standard in all models
Cruise Control: Standard in all models
Dual Front Airbags: Standard in all models
Front Side Airbags: Standard in all models
Stability Control: Standard in all models
Traction Control: Standard in all models
SPECIFICATIONS (Mercedes-Benz C220 CDI 2.1-litre diesel
four-door sedan)
ENGINE:
Capacity: 1.796 litres
Configuration: Longitudinal, four cylinders in line
Head Design: DOHC, four valves per cylinder
Compression Ratio: 8.5:1
Bore/Stroke: 89.9 x 78.7 mm
Maximum Power: 135 kW @ 5500 rpm
Maximum Torque: 250 Nm @ 2800-5000 rpm
DRIVELINE:
Driven Wheels: Rear
Manual Transmission: Not offered
Automatic Transmission: Five-speed
Final Drive Ratio: NA
DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT AND CAPACITIES:
Length: 4581 mm
Wheelbase: 2760 mm
Width: 1770 mm
Height: 1447 mm
Turning Circle: 10.8 metres
Kerb Mass: 1505 kg
Fuel Tank Capacity: 74 litres
Towing Ability: NA
SUSPENSION AND BRAKES:
Front Suspension: Three-link, anti-dive, coil springs,
gas-pressure shock absorbers, anti-roll bar
Rear Suspension: Independent multi-link, ant-squat, anti-dive,
coil springs, gas-pressure shock absorbers, anti-roll bar
Front Brakes: Ventilated Disc
Rear Brakes: Disc
PERFORMANCE:
0-100 km/h Acceleration: 8.6 secs
Standing 400 Metres: 16.0 secs
FUEL CONSUMPTION/EMISSION RATINGS:
Type: Petrol 95RON
Combined Cycle (ADR 81/01): 8.2 L/100km
STANDARD WARRANTY:
Three years/unlimited km
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Marque Publishing Company
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