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THE
Mercedes-Benz C-Class has always been a good premium
sport compact sedan, but when ranged against its
archrival—the BMW 3 Series—it became more of an option
than a top-of-mind choice. But with the current 3 Series
having yet to display major changes, can the new C-Class
exploit its rival’s lack of presence?
Outside,
the C180 Kompressor Elegance is a far cry from its
predecessor in terms of design aesthetics, carrying more
of the muscular profile of its bigger siblings. Sharp
creases in the hood and quarter panels make the car look
chiseled instead of sculpted, while a wider track both
front and rear plus a stretched wheelbase make the
overall stance far more assertive. The peanut-shaped
headlights are gone. In their place are rectangular ones
that give it a slight scowl. The rear, on the other
hand, looks like it paid too much homage to the previous
SportCoupe. Nevertheless, the overall look is more rugby
than soccer player.
The
cabin layout is clean, but with much attention to
ergonomics. The dashboard gauge cluster has aluminum
outer arcs for a sporty look, with large fonts for easy
reading and there’s one touch up/down power assist for
all windows. The Bluetooth-ready Harman Kardon Logic 7
in-car entertainment has a hidden screen above the
middle aircon vents, a simple layout for the steering
wheel controls, and clarity that can rival the Bose ICE
on the Chrysler 300C 3.5L V6. On the other hand, it can
be hard to operate using the COMAND (Cockpit Management
and Navigational Device) system knob, but this can be
done away with familiarization.
 Despite
its wheelbase, length and width increase, the cabin
still felt cramped. Put two six footers up front, and
there’s comfortable room for just one in the rear.
Storage for small items can be a love-hate matter, as
the cupholders can only hold a 250-ml bottle, yet the
glovebox can swallow two Bibles and two 250-ml bottles.
Fortunately, storage for bigger items is a plus, as the
rear backrest can fold flat to accommodate two golf
bags.
The C180
is surprisingly fast, despite the low displacement and
the narrow powerband. The middle and top end of the
power curve is robust, though, due to the supercharger
that wakes up at around 3,250 rpm and hits full boost at
5,500 rpm. The tranny is willing to downshift at
one-half pedal effort, but pedal resistance (be it gas
or brake) is strong and there’s a delay in gear movement
using the Touchshift mode. You need lot of effort to
work the gas pedal and get decent acceleration from
rest. The top speed is 231 kph and consumption is 7.08
km/l in four days of mixed driving.
The C180
is nimble, thanks to self-adjusting dampers that
Mercedes-Benz calls Agility Control. Traction breaks at
90 to 100 kph sans electronic stability, and when the
bends are longer and faster, you just lean on the stiff
chassis and wait for the mild understeer to appear. When
you move the steering wheel off center, you get a direct
yet progressive level of resistance that gives the car a
precise feel at high speeds. |
