Mercedes C-Class Review
A few months ago, I had been to the Mercedes-Benz plant at Chakan and had driven the AMG tuned cars. If I had to pick one, I will blindly go for the C63 AMG. The C63 AMG is light, nimble and has the most ideal power to weight ratio. Under the hood of this beast is a 6.3-litre V8 engine which redefines the word ‘performance’. It is certainly the ideal track car but how many will actually get to drive it on the track and will it be a good city car? The answer is NO. Fret not, for all those AMG buffs out there, Mercedes-Benz has now introduced the C250 CDI AMG Performance Edition. So what is this all about, we take it for a spin and find out!
AMG is the tuning arm of the German manufacturer and they are known to convert luxury cars into performance spitting beasts. The top of the line Mercedes C-Class is the C250 CDI and Mercedes-Benz has gone ahead and given it AMG treatment, though superficial, it has resulted in the C-Class getting more sportier.
There is no AMG signage anywhere on the car, except the 17-inch AMG alloy wheels. The exteriors get the AMG body kit which includes a new front and rear bumper, side skirts and a stainless steel exhaust. The front bumper incorporates the typical AMG reverse air dam.
The side profile flaunts the 17-inch wheels and the side skirts add to the sporty character. The front disc brakes are perforated in this version.
There is a new rear bumper too, which is wider than the one seen on the regular C-Class.
Get inside and you are greeted with a 3-spoke multi-functional AMG steering wheel which is straight out of the C63 AMG and is fabulous to hold. Paddle shifts are provided and are fun to use too. The instrument cluster gets tapered surrounds. Built quality, fit and finish and materials used do justice to the word premium. The seats are comfortable and hug you from the sides making for a relaxed driving experience. Brushed stainless steel AMG sports pedals are part of the package.
Black colour AMG floor mats are standard in the C250 AMG Performance Edition.
Under the hood is the same engine without any modifications. This edition of the Mercedes C-Class is powered by a 2143cc, 4-cylinder diesel engine, which produces a peak power output of 204 HP at 4200 RPM and a peak torque output of 500 Nm between 1600 to 1800 RPM. Engine refinement and NVH is brilliant and it easily hits the redline at around 4200 RPM. This oil burner can hit upper three digit speeds without breaking into a sweat. It would rather be wrong to call it a performance edition in that case, as there is little difference in the performance between this car and the regular C250 CDI.
The engine is strong along the entire length of the rev meter and the 7G tronic gearbox does the job well and gets this German sedan from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 8 seconds. We expect this car to return about 10 km/l under average driving conditions. Mercedes Benz has incorporated a Eco mode, wherein the car Starts/Stops when one has come to a halt at the signal. This happens with utmost precision and helps improve the mileage.
There are certain good bits too. The C250 AMG Performance Edition gets adjustable suspension which is absolutely brilliant. This car has a composed ride and does not allow the bumps on the road to unsettle the passengers. If you love driving and want to have your share of fun, flick the sports suspension switch and the suspension now stiffens up. Throw the car into some twisties and you will love how this car handles. The steering feedback is exceptional and it weighs up decently at high speeds. In the regular C Class the Sports and Comfort setting is related to the gearing wherein the car will hit the rev limiter before shifting the gear in the sports mode. In this mode, ride is a bit harsh but do you really care as long as the adrenaline is pumping in your blood. Turn off the sports suspension if you prefer a relaxing drive. Braking is good and the tyres offer enough grip to stop the car from 100 km/h without any hassle.
The word ‘Performance’ may be a misnomer in this case but all the extra goodies which come along with this package are well worth it. The real performance machine (C63 AMG) costs more than twice the the amount you will shell out for this car. The AMG kit on this car is enough to be your neighbors envy and massage your ego from time to time, especially if all this comes at only Rs 80,000/- (approx) more than what you pay for the regular C250 CDI Avantgarde. Its a steal, isn’t it?