When Gottlieb Daimler adopted the road “das Beste oder nichts” as his motto greater than a century in the past, it really meant one thing. The prolific German inventor pioneered the high-revving petrol engine as we all know it at this time, and even within the many years after his passing, the Mercedes-Benz firm he helped create set the benchmark for technical innovation, culminating within the futuristic (and absurdly costly) W140 S-Class.
That’s why it’s extremely ironic the model adopted the “the perfect or nothing” maxim as its slogan in 2010 – simply because it shed the final vestiges of its engineering-first philosophy. From then on, Mercedes grew to become extra fascinated about giving prospects essentially the most flash for his or her money than really constructing a superb automobile – Sensual Purity design and 64-colour ambient lighting took priority over issues like refinement or experience consolation.
A fantastic instance of this was the W205 C-Class. Launched again in 2014, it provided the suave fashion of the then-new W222 S-Class (each inside and outside, I’d add) at a fraction of the worth. But it surely evidently didn’t carry over its massive sibling’s serene driving expertise – on modestly-specced Malaysian fashions, a minimum of, it got here with rough-sounding engines and a experience that lacked any kind of sophistication in any way. Not that this ever harm the automobile’s gross sales efficiency in our image-conscious market, however I digress.
Tasked to redress that stability is the brand new W206, which was launched in February. Mercedes has positioned an enormous emphasis on the suspension this time, lowering the variety of choices and enhancing the few that stay – all whereas retaining these big-car appears and tech. However has sufficient been finished to impress this powerful critic? We take the automobile on a spherical journey to Desaru and again to search out out.
Hamstrung by preliminary CBU pricing – not that it issues
The W206 marks the fifth era of a automobile that took the baton from the 190E in 1993 as the standard entry level into Mercedes possession. Whereas Stuttgart has lengthy since expanded its lineup downwards, the C-Class continues to be extensively seen as the most cost effective “actual” Mercedes and as such maintains a stage of brand name kudos that its smaller siblings lack. No small surprise the C stays a vital mannequin in Malaysia.
Revealed to the world globally in 2021, the W206 arrived on our shores virtually precisely a yr after. Given the comparatively lengthy lead time, it’s maybe stunning that the automobile is obtainable as a full CBU import at first, with CKD native meeting solely on account of begin within the second half of the yr. Regardless of this and the pretty steep beginning worth of practically RM290,000, the CBU C-Class is already utterly bought out, which is encouraging information.
Two variants are presently being provided – the C 200 Avantgarde at RM288,334 and the C 300 AMG Line at RM330,681. These figures are practically RM40,000 greater than the equal CKD W205 variants, which could be attributed not solely to the brand new mannequin changeover and elevated package depend, but additionally the upper import tax and excise responsibility and the half-rate gross sales and repair tax (SST).
A few of that misplaced floor will probably be gained again by native meeting, however the CKD mannequin will include an enormous drawback – it received’t be eligible for the SST rebate, which ends on June 30 barring any extra exemptions. Count on any worth discount to be modest consequently.
A case of private progress
Just like the also-new W223 S-Class, the W206 is predicated on a revised model of the Modular Rear Structure (MRA 2) that underpinned the W205. There’s no wholesale revolution right here – as an alternative, Mercedes has labored on enhancing the prevailing package deal whereas piling on the applied sciences.
Even so, the brand new automobile has grown fairly a bit. Measuring 4,751 mm lengthy, 1,820 mm extensive and 1,438 mm tall, the W206 is 65 mm longer, 10 mm wider and 9 millimetres decrease than the W205, whereas its 2,865 mm wheelbase can be 25 mm longer. In opposition to its important rival, the G20 BMW 3 Collection, the Merc is all however an identical aside from its 42 mm longer size and 14 mm longer wheelbase.
On account of the elevated dimensions, the C-Class is now a correctly massive automobile, and it appears that means on the skin. Now not does Stuttgart’s smallest rear-wheel-drive sedan appear like the “child” model of its bigger siblings – it’s now very a lot its personal mannequin, with stretched-out proportions and an extended, much less stubby rear finish. The flip facet is that you just now not get the pleasing compactness of this automobile’s predecessors.
Nameless appears, regardless of extra overt Mercedes cues
Mercedes has additionally cleaned up a few of the physique facet traces (not that the W205 was very cluttered within the first place) whereas sustaining the fullness of the surfacing. Nonetheless, there’s a high-quality line between a minimalist design and a plain one, and a few of the outdated automobile’s distinctiveness has been misplaced.
Not serving to issues is the shortage of definition across the entrance finish, making for a barely blobby look. That is very true of the Avantgarde mannequin with its nameless hexagonal grille and (very clearly faux) bone-shaped “air consumption”.
In the meantime, the AMG Line’s trapezoidal grille is sort of excessively extensive and it comes with a borderline obnoxious Three-pointed Star sample. The C 300 additionally has giant twin exhaust ideas for a extra aggressive look, however like on all current Mercedes fashions, they’re utterly faux. This development must cease – if Volvo could make interesting vehicles with out having to resort to seen tailpipes, then so can Stuttgart.
There are some particulars I do like, such because the sporty AMG Line entrance air consumption design and the triangular two-piece taillights, the latter giving the automobile a pointy and good-looking look from the again. Nonetheless, I’m not too certain concerning the 19-inch alloy wheels on the C 300, that are lacking the highway racer look usually seen on AMG Line multi-spoke rollers. The 18-inch five-spoke objects on the C 200, however, are ace.
A word concerning the headlights, that are the fundamental LED Excessive Efficiency objects on each fashions. Sure, you now not get the array of cheap-looking reflectors on the earlier C 200 (the low beams at the moment are projectors), however the lamps nonetheless lack the subtle dual-projector look of the fancier Digital Gentle models.
It should be mentioned that the pure efficiency (ha ha) of the headlights is past reproach, with a superb quantity of throw each forwards and in direction of the verges. However whereas computerized excessive beam is customary fitment, the shortage of any kind of matrix high-beam blanking is a disappointment, particularly on the C 300’s worth. However hey, it’s the identical story with the common 3 Collection, so a minimum of the C-Class isn’t lagging behind.
S-Class-style show works wonders, wi-fi CarPlay and Android Auto a godsend
If this was a clickbait article, it will be titled, “Bigwigs Hate This Automotive!” That’s as a result of the C-Class comes with an identical inside design and far of the identical applied sciences as the brand new S-Class, which itself went on sale simply final month. Put a photograph of the dashboard of the 2 vehicles facet by facet and until you might be an avid fan of The place’s Wally you’d wrestle to note the distinction
Each fashions include an identical waterfall-style centre console, on which sits a big portrait-format touchscreen. The C-Class’ show isn’t an OLED panel and is an inch smaller at 11.4 inches, nevertheless it hardly issues – this can be a big display, regardless of the way you slice it.
Ostensibly, the C-Class runs on the Mercedes-Benz Consumer Expertise (MBUX), the usability of which was a bit hit-and-miss when it debuted within the A-Class. However two issues have utterly modified how the interface works, and for the higher – the primary is that the centre console slopes gently and is lastly angled in direction of the driving force, placing the touchscreen a lot nearer to your hand.
The additional display actual property has additionally enabled the house display icons to be greater and allowed extra of them to slot in a single web page, making it work way more like a smartphone – the way in which Mercedes has at all times envisioned it to be. The expansive show additionally makes utilizing Apple CarPlay and Android Auto an sudden delight, and better of all, the corporate has lastly added wi-fi connectivity for these capabilities. What’s extra, it comes with the automobile at no further price! Would you have a look at that, BMW?
Positive, there are nonetheless a number of gripes, just like the overly-dense settings menus and a pull-down notifications and favourites menu that someway doesn’t go away by swiping up. I additionally nonetheless don’t like the truth that the local weather controls at the moment are within the touchscreen, though a minimum of the “buttons” are massive right here.
The show can be slightly low-resolution for its measurement – it appears fuzzy even from a distance, and in vivid daylight, the system forces Apple CarPlay right into a low-contrast mode that makes the display look pixelated (it isn’t). Total, nevertheless, that is by far and away the perfect premium infotainment system within the enterprise, which is a testomony of how a easy change can have such a huge impact.
Clunky instrument show and steering wheel contact controls
Not so spectacular is the 12.3-inch digital instrument show, which continues to amaze and frustrate in equal measure. The Normal format works properly sufficient, sporting the same old analogue speedometer and rev counter, and you may entry a wealth of options by merely swiping up and down on the suitable steering wheel touchpad (though it’s not the work of a second – extra on that in a bit).
The Sport show, in the meantime, switches the sweeping tachometer needle for a digital rev readout. Whereas the tunnel-like design is cool, the shortage of a clearly-defined redline makes it troublesome to know when it is advisable to shift gears in guide mode, oddly making it much less conducive to sporty driving.
And whereas it’s nice that the navigation map and driver assists get their very own separate, full-screen show modes, you continue to have to get to a particular sub-menu to have the ability to change the radio station or skip songs utilizing the steering wheel controls, which is infuriating to say the least.
All that is made much more annoying by the touchpads on the ‘wheel, that are each unresponsive to your contact and so wildly inaccurate that nearly each swipe is registered within the mistaken course. The left touchpad is made redundant by the wonderful new centre touchscreen, however the suitable touchpad is the one option to navigate the instrument show. The icing on prime of this undesirable cake? Quantity and velocity changes (the latter for the cruise management, which continues to be a passive system) are additionally now touch-based. Good luck.
Materials high quality is a combined bag, however added house compensates
The challenges of providing excessive tech at a (comparatively) low worth have additionally taken its toll on the fabric selections. A few of them have taken a decisive step forwards – the highest half of the cabin is roofed in Nappa-like Artico fake leather-based with a a lot smoother grain than earlier than, and the Artico on the seats is now virtually as supple as BMW’s actual Vernasca cowhide, whereas being infinitely extra sustainable.
Nonetheless, the decrease elements of the dashboard (together with the glovebox cowl) and door playing cards are made out of onerous plastic, the place they was mushy to the contact. The shiny carbon fibre-like trim within the C 300 additionally appears quite low-cost, and don’t get me began on the plain patterned plastic within the C 200, which regarded prefer it was hydro-dipped in somebody’s yard – and never very properly.
The bottom misplaced to the W205 by way of perceived high quality has been greater than made up by the enhancements in cabin house. The outdated automobile wasn’t cramped by any means, however the appreciable further size has freed up a beneficiant quantity of legroom, particularly on the rear of the automobile. The C-Class additionally continues to offer first rate headroom, even when the C 300’s panoramic sunroof does reduce into the house considerably.
As for the seats, they’re lots supportive sufficient for lengthy journeys and provide loads of adjustment that may then be saved in your person profile (and introduced up utilizing the centre console fingerprint reader). The rear seat squabs are additionally for much longer than earlier than, vastly enhancing consolation for these on the again.
Elsewhere, the jettisoning of the aforementioned centre touchpad has freed up house for a big storage compartment on the centre console, though it may well get a bit congested with the (detachable) cupholders and Qi wi-fi charger all situated in the identical house.
One space that hasn’t been improved is the boot – the truth is, it’s been downgraded because of the shortage of a hands-free perform for the powered bootlid. As soon as open, you get 455 litres of house, which is similar as earlier than, and 25 litres down on the three Collection. That could possibly be all the way down to Mercedes having to package deal a big lithium-ion battery to juice the now-standard 48-volt delicate hybrid system.
Extremely clean delicate hybrid system
Talking of which, the W206 enters Malaysia with two electrified engines, each turbocharged four-cylinder models from the newest M254 household. The C 200 will get a 1.5 litre mill that produces 204 PS from 5,800 to six,100 rpm and 300 Nm of torque between 1,800 and 4,000 rpm, which is on par with the runout W205 AMG Line mannequin with a bigger 2.0 litre M264. So outfitted, the automobile will get from zero to 100 km/h in 7.3 seconds and achieves a mixed gasoline consumption determine of 6.6 litres per 100 km.
The C 300 bumps the displacement to 2.0 litres and pushes out 258 PS at 5,800 rpm and 400 Nm (up 30 Nm from earlier than) from 2,000 to three,200 rpm, enabling it to hit 100 km/h in six seconds flat; the automobile can be able to a gasoline consumption determine of seven.0 litres per 100 km. Each variants are rear-wheel drive and include a nine-speed 9G-Tronic computerized gearbox as customary.
A 1.5 litre engine, a gentle hybrid system – this all sounds very very similar to the 2018 C 200 that was swiftly dropped for the two.0 litre non-hybrid mannequin lower than two years later. However the M254 is a really totally different kettle of fish, principally as a result of its design has extra in frequent with the M256 straight-six, together with the bore and stroke within the 2.0 litre model.
This, amongst different issues, has enabled it to ditch the belt-driven starter generator (BSG) of the 1.5 litre M264 in favour of the M256’s extra environment friendly built-in starter generator (ISG). This slim electrical motor is sandwiched between the engine and transmission, which recovers kinetic power often misplaced below braking and shops it in a lithium-ion battery; this power can then be used to energy the air-con compressor and supply engine-off coasting, serving to to scale back gasoline consumption.
However the largest draw is the motor’s potential to near-imperceptibly cease and begin the engine, in addition to the extra accelerative enhance it offers, serving to to plug any holes within the turbocharged engine’s torque curve. The outputs of the motor itself has been boosted by 6 PS and 40 Nm of torque to twenty PS and 200 Nm.
I requested Mercedes-Benz Malaysia’s (MBM) vp of gross sales and advertising and marketing Michael Jopp through the journey whether or not the corporate was assured the reliability points that troubled the corporate’s previous delicate hybrid fashions (S 400 h, E 300 BlueTEC Hybrid and the aforementioned W205 C 200) had been resolved right here. He mentioned the system within the new C-Class has benefitted from three generations of improvement to iron out any faults, including that prospects will as an alternative get pleasure from the advantages of the ISG.
These advantages could be felt the second you thumb the beginning button, the M254 flicking into life with none starter whirr or vibration – an impression that continues after the actual fact because of the engine’s exceptional smoothness. When you get going, the four-pot cuts out and in seamlessly, a occasional delicate tremor being your solely clue that the automobile is beginning up from a standstill. The automobile’s tendency to roll again barely on an incline with the engine off is usually a little annoying, however that’s the one draw back.
Engines present ample energy, acceleration blunted by appreciable weight
As for the engine itself, it’s decently tractable and vice-free, whether or not you go for the C 200 or the C 300. Energy supply is predictable, buying and selling high-rev histrionics for usable mid-range grunt, with the C 300 clearly being noticeably punchier. Nonetheless, the sense of velocity is blunted considerably by the burden of those two vehicles, being round 200 kg heavier than the equal 3 Collection.
Even with electrical help, the 2 vehicles take a fraction of a second longer to get to 100 km/h than their Bavarian counterparts. The additional mass additionally explains the slight laziness from low revs, regardless of the ISG doing its greatest to compensate for some turbo lag. Even so, these vehicles should not gradual – specifically, the C 300 is deceptively fast, the velocity readout rising quicker than what the seat of your pants suggests.
The C-Class’ trigger isn’t helped by the gearbox, which appears to actively get in the way in which of any type of spirited driving. The model within the W205 was clunky, vulnerable to sending an audible thud by the cabin on downshifts. Whereas it’s significantly better within the W206 on this regard, it’s nonetheless very hesitant to downshift until you completely ground the throttle, even in Sport and the C 300’s Sport+ modes.
Higher to cruise alongside and benefit from the seamless shifts once you’re not gunning it. The engine can be quite quiet in most conditions, though the same old inline-four roar does develop into audible at greater revs. Some speaker-led augmentation does happen (giving it a bit extra bass), however Mercedes hasn’t tried to make the mill sound something aside from what it’s, even within the extra aggressive drive modes. Whereas wind noise is minimal at freeway speeds, tyre roar continues to be slightly too surface-dependent for the W206 to be correctly isolating.
A lot-improved experience fixes W205’s largest downside
To this point, the brand new C-Class isn’t a revelation by any means, however experience consolation is the one space the place the W206 desperately wants to indicate a decisive enchancment. The outgoing mannequin, a minimum of on the passive Agility Management suspension fitted to most vehicles in Malaysia, had a peerless low-speed experience however was frankly horrible in every single place else, with springs that had been too mushy to truly take up the bumps and dampers that had been incapable of controlling any of the bouncing movement that ensued.
For the brand new mannequin, the suspension variants have been trimmed, with engineers as an alternative spending their time refining the remaining choices. Airmatic air springs are now not provided globally (they’re nonetheless fitted on the rear of the plug-in hybrid fashions), and whereas the native C 200 and C 300 retain the usual Agility Management setup, the excellent news is that the experience high quality is much extra acceptable this time round.
The springs are noticeably firmer than earlier than and the result’s that the automobile is now not glassy clean over minor floor imperfections and small velocity bumps. However the commerce off is much larger composure at something aside from strolling tempo, all whereas retaining a deft suppleness over potholes and bigger bumps. There’s a satisfying stability struck right here, even when the automobile nonetheless feels slightly under-damped given its weight – a trait that makes itself identified by the slight porpoising exhibited at very excessive speeds.
And identical to with many Mercedes fashions, it’s nonetheless means too straightforward to scrape the underside of the W206 on velocity bumps, the suspension unable to cease the physique from heaving below its personal weight. Even so, that is lastly a correctly snug child Merc, and with newest BMW 330i producing a surprisingly stiff experience, the W206 could be the compact government sedan to advocate.
Succesful dealing with, however a 3 Collection beater this isn’t
With the elevated physique management the suspension offers, you may count on the brand new C-Class to be an incisive and involving sports activities sedan, and also you couldn’t be additional than the reality. That is nonetheless a automobile extra suited to prowling Jalan Telawi quite than being caned up Ulu Yam – fling it right into a nook with any kind of verve and also you’ll be met with a wholesome heaping of physique roll.
To its credit score, the W206 now not will get thrown off line on the mere suggestion of a mid-corner bump, and there’s a superb quantity of grip even from the C 200’s modest Bridgestone Turanza T005 tyres (the C 300 will get extra aggressive Goodyear Eagle F1 Uneven 5 rubber). However this isn’t the kind of automobile that sniffs out the apex of a bend, and the sluggish turn-in has a lot to do with that.
The steering additionally isn’t precisely sharp, though it delivers first rate, constant weighting throughout the rack, significantly within the sportier drive modes. All which means that the C-Class is more proficient at cruising round – that’s at all times been the case, however the distinction is that it lastly has the consolation to match.
Verdict: Not the ground-breaker we had been hoping for, however ok
If it appears like I’m heaping faint reward on the W206, that’s as a result of I’m. There are a number of faults, in fact, not least the competent however insipid dealing with, the gradual gearbox and the suboptimal package listing (which can be fastened on the CKD mannequin).
A cynical means of taking a look at it’s that that is what the earlier mannequin ought to’ve been like within the first place. The enhancements made in experience consolation has solely introduced the C-Class on par with the competitors and there hasn’t been a commensurate enhance in driver involvement to take the category lead.
However I’m taking the optimist’s view right here – this can be a C-Class whose highway manners lastly match the expectations set by the swanky, high-tech inside. There’s a newfound sense of smoothness to the way in which the automobile operates that’s bolstered by the well-integrated delicate hybrid system; the brand new person interface additionally provides some much-needed usability to the highly-polished cabin. All in, the C-Class is lastly on the sharp finish once more – one thing followers of the Three-pointed Star could have been ready to listen to for the longest time.
The W206 Mercedes-Benz C-Class is priced at RM288,334 for the C 200 Avantgarde and RM330,681 for the C 300 AMG Line, though it’s presently bought out. These figures are on-the-road with out insurance coverage and embody the 50% gross sales and repair tax (SST) rebate legitimate till June 30, in addition to a four-year, unlimited-mileage guarantee. Browse full specs and gear on CarBase.my.
GALLERY: W206 Mercedes-Benz C 300 AMG Line
GALLERY: W206 Mercedes-Benz C 200 Avantgarde
