The new Mercedes C-Class holds true to its luxurious roots, while the exteriors share resemblance to the flagship S-Class that makes it even more desirable over competition.
With India being one of the more lucrative markets for the German auto major, Mercedes-Benz has launched the 2015 C-Class in the country, priced at Rs. 40.90 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi) earlier than originally anticipated. The company’s best selling product (20,000 units sold till date) in India, the C-Class has always been favoured by the classes in the entry-level luxury saloon segment and the fourth generation (fifth when the 190 is factored) model takes the attributes of luxury, performance and aesthetic appeal even further. The new C-Class has also grown in dimensions and comes with a plethora of tech wizardry and creature comforts on-board.
Design – The 2015 Mercedes C-Class has come miles ahead compared to the outgoing version, sporting a completely new design language. Based on the Mercedes Rear-wheel Drive Architecture (MRA), the 2015 C-Class comes with the curvaceous new styling reminiscent of the flagship S-Class that heavily enhances the appeal of the luxury saloon. The car comes complete with LED lights at the front and rear with extensive detailing, while the large three-pointed star sits boldly in the centre of the new front grille.
The side profile beautifully showcases the elongated dimensions of the 2015 C-Class and the rear gets those tastefully done curved tail lights with exhausts finished in a sporty touch. The new C-Class is now 95 mm longer, 40 mm wider and 5 mm shorter than the outgoing model that also equates to improved space inside the cabin. The boot capacity has also increased to 480-litres but it gets a space saver spare tyre which hampers usage.
Interiors – On the inside, the cabin offers considerably more room than before and is a completely new story over the outgoing model. The S-Class inspiration continues here as well with the well appointed cabin that sports a dual-tone dashboard done up in beige and black with wooden inserts on the centre console and the door trims. The gear lever however has been replaced by a selector knob on the new model.
In terms of tech, the 2015 C-Class is well loaded and comes with an 8.4-inch touchscreen for the COMAND infotainment system. You also get the 3D satellite navigation, phone connectivity, ambient lighting, push-button start with keyless go, 13-speaker Burmester sound system, three-zone climate control as well as front and rear panoramic sunroof. The seats are done up in ARTICO leather upholstery.
Engines – Mercedes is currently offering the 2015 C-Class only in the petrol C200 variant, which is powered by the 2.0-litre 4-cylinder engine producing 181 HP of power and 300 Nm of torque with power being sent to the rear wheels via the 7G-TRONIC PLUS gearbox. In terms of performance, the 2015 C-Class is capable of doing the 0-100 km/hr sprint in 7.3 seconds and comes with 5 driving modes namely Eco, Comfort, Sport, Sport+ and Individual.
Safety – The new C-Class comes loaded with safety equipment and driver aids including 7 airbags, ABS, BAS; ESP with curve assist and ASR. You also get rear view camera with guidelines, reverse parking sensors, hill start assist and Mercedes’ PRE-SAFE safety system.
Fuel Efficiency – Mercedes claims an ARAI certified fuel efficiency of 14.74 km/l on the new 2015 C-Class.
Competition – The 2015 C-Class locks horns primarily with compatriots, the Audi A4 and the BMW 3-Series in the segment along with the new Volvo S60.
Read The 2015 Mercedes C-Class Review
Being brought in as a CBU initially, the 2015 C-Class will only be available in petrol guise while the diesel version along with local assembly will commence early next year. The new C-Class has taken the play field to a whole new level, which other automakers are going to find it tough to match up to. Moreover, the resemblance with the S-Class only works in favour of the car that offers a more premium appeal with an escalated desirability quotient. India is one of the first right-hand drive markets to get the 2015 C-Class globally.
