Mercedes-Benz C-Class 2011 Review

A new transmission and classier interior have transformed Mercedes-Benz’s mid-sizer from a good car into a great one.

The seven-speed automatic linked to a stop/start system is the best bit of a 2000-part overhaul C-Class that is intended to future proof the class-leader against a double challenge from BMW’s 3 Series.

The W204 C-Class already enjoyed a massive lead in the luxury segment but some customers reckoned the quality of the interior had slipped - particularly the display screen which was criticised for being “tacked on” to the dash.

That’s now fixed. The latest generation telematics system is integrated under the instrument binnacle, with a separate TFT screen housed inside the circular speedo markings.

Opt for the larger Comand system and there’s a 10GB hard drive to rip music, Suna traffic advisory for the satnav and internet connectivity, though only while the car is still.

DRIVETRAINS AND PRICE

The four, four-cylinder models - two 1.8-litre petrols and a pair of 2.1-litre diesels - are on sale now ahead of the arrival of the six-cylinder engines around September. That’s also when the first high-performance AMG-enhanced C63 models should hit showrooms.

The starting price is unchanged at $58,900 for the petrol C200 and tops out at $67,900 for the C250 turbo or diesel engines. The wagon adds $2000 and the options list is huge if owners want to “individualise” their vehicles.

The only thing that may slow sales of the new models is a Merc itself - the C-Class coupe is due in July and the curvier roofline and two-door styling is certain to convert some sedan owners.

ON THE ROAD

Serene best describes the C-Class drive. It’s as though Mercedes has taken the acoustic tuning used to give its diesel engines some aural character and applied it right across the cabin to dial out surplus sounds.

So there’s a distant “whoosh” as the wind slides off the slippery sheet metal and a faint drone as something mechanical - it’s genuinely hard to pick the diesel from the petrol when cruising - generates the locomotion. The steering weight varies according to speed: there’s virtually no resistance at city limits, with the response becoming more direct as the pace picks up.

Right now, the C-Class is the benchmark prestige mid-sizer. BMW gets a one-two hit in the form of a facelift for the 3 Series in the coming weeks and a new model next year. Both will have to be right on the chin in terms of pricing and performance if it expects to make a mark on the segment champion.

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