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The engine is refined, silent and has a strong mid-range
Performance – The Mercedes C-Class is available with three engines – 2 diesels and 1 petrol. In this review, we will focus on the C220d which uses a new 2.0-litre oil burner that belts out an impressive 194 HP (24 HP more than its predecessor) while torque output is the same as the old 2.2-litre unit at 400 Nm but is produced in a wider rev range. This new diesel motor is BS6 compliant on BS4 fuel, it’s very refined, a big step up in NVH over the pre-facelift model and has a good amount of punch lower down, pulling in a linear fashion. The mid-range is strong and power tapers off in the top-end with the redline coming in at around 4500 RPM.
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The 9-speed dual-clutch transmission offers lightning fast shifts
The new engine offers better performance and is efficient at the same time
The motor does get vocal past the mid-range but in a sporty way while the 9G-TRONIC dual-clutch gearbox offers seamless shifts and is very quick to respond to throttle inputs, you can also manually change cogs using the steering mounted paddles but the car won’t hold onto a gear and will upshift. There are 5 driving modes which alter the engine, gearbox and steering feel, these are Eco, Comfort, Sport, Sport+ and Individual. Traction control can be turned off but you have to go through the menu for the same, not a one-button operation. Once TCS is off, the car does spin its rear wheels with an aggressive launch.
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The ride and handling of the C-Class are suited for Indian roads
Driving Dynamics – Underpinned by the MRA platform (Modular Rear Architecture), the Mercedes C-Class is a light car and offers the same feel as well. It is set up on the stiffer side and due to the lower weight over the third generation model, Mercedes has stiffened both the chassis as well as the suspension and the same can be felt over bad roads. The ride does get better as the speed increases and the car does remain glued to the road at high speeds. Even road and tyre noise is kept out of the bay. The C-Class is an eagle handler, it offers good feel around the corners with the steering having a lot of feedback too, weighing up as the speed increases. Body roll is well contained and the brakes on this vehicle offer surefooted stopping power.
