2022 Mercedes C-Class review: From C to shining C

Singapore

IF YOU are going to borrow a few ideas, you might as well take from the best. Case in point: the new Mercedes C-Class, which reminds me of an S-Class that shrank in the wash.

At the moment, you have a choice of 2 variants (C 180 and C 200) in 2 trim lines (Avantgarde and the more racy AMG Line).

All of them have the misfortune of entering the market when certificate of entitlement premiums are flirting with six figures, so their prices are not for people with weak hearts. Don't say I didn't warn you, but the C 200 AMG Line tested here costs S$310,888.

Given the salty prices, it's some consolation that the C-Class has had the decency to up its game significantly.

It's not as plush or expansive as an S-Class, of course, but it's been upsized in every direction except vertically. It was elegant before, but the new one is particularly eye-catching if you're sporty-minded. You can almost forgive the fake exhaust tips because the power domes on the bonnet and constellation of stars on the front grille look so good.

Part of the reason it looks more torpedo-like now is because it's a good deal longer, which is also why there's a surprisingly generous amount of leg and headroom in the back. It's like someone forgot to tell Mercedes to make the C-Class a compact car.

But it's the dashboard that really makes it feel like a daughter of the S-Class. The same DNA is written into the cabin architecture, which is built around digital displays with an 11.9-inch portrait touchscreen taking centrestage. The user interface has menus galore so there's plenty to learn if this is your first Mercedes, but it works with some logic.

Switching between Apple CarPlay and the native Mercedes interface is only ever a matter of one tap, for instance, and the air-con controls are always in the same place so adjusting the temperature is never a faff.

More important than that, it looks slick enough to make your relatives intensely jealous when they check out your new Mercedes. Childish, yes, but the C-Class is nice enough to spark envy whether you intend to or not.

The infotainment graphics and cabin lighting are all endlessly customisable (so much so that there's a fingerprint sensor so different users can store and activate their own profiles), the interior is lounge-like yet modern, and the result is a car that's quite lovely to sit in.

Is it lovely to drive? Yes and no. The main flaw is a characterless engine that clatters and vibrates at idle, and sounds gruff when asked to flex its muscles. On the plus side, it has a mild hybrid system that adds noticeable punch, so the C 200 is certainly more energetic than any car with a titchy 1.5-litre engine has a right to be.

It's also tuned for frugality, which is handy now that petrol has become liquid gold. The engine shuts down automatically even if you're coasting along at speed, and it starts up again so quietly that you sometimes have no idea it ever left the party.

That said, I'm ashamed to admit I didn't come close to achieving Mercedes' fuel economy claims for the C 200. I blame the engaging way it drives. The handling is a treat, especially with the sport suspension, which lowers the C-Class by 15mm and puts it on firmer springs.

You'll definitely discover where all the ruts and bumps on a road are, and you might even wonder if a Mercedes saloon should ride more placidly than this, but you're also likely to have a jolly time taking aim at bends, making full use of the snappy steering and the poise of the thing.

Surprisingly, the C 200 has four-wheel steering, which helps it pull off impossibly tight turns. It's a feature you just don't see at this end of the market, and sure enough it migrated down from the mighty S-Class.

So, too, did the Augmented Reality navigation system that takes all the guesswork out of where and when to turn.

If you can do without the above and give up some horsepower, the C 180 is S$41,000 cheaper. It's worth considering, because it still offers all the style, ambience and roominess that comes with the new C-Class, plus the sense that owning one is something of a treat to oneself.

It also has the slick, shiny, showy digital cabin that makes the Mercedes flagship so appealing. While C-Class prices have risen painfully, at least the car has brought elements of the S-Class down to meet you halfway.

Mercedes-Benz C 200 AMG Line

Engine 1,496 cc, in-line 4, turbocharged Power 204 hp at 5,800 - 6,100 rpm Torque 300 Nm at 1,800 - 4,000 rpm Gearbox 9-speed automatic 0-100km/h 7.3 seconds Top Speed 246km/h Fuel Efficiency 6.8 L/100km Agent Cycle & Carriage Industries Price S$310,888 with COE Available Now