The C-Class suspension comes as standard with variable damping, Agility Select and a terrific toggle switch to pick one of the five modes – Comfort, Eco (covered earlier), Sport, Sport+ and Individual. Each modifies the characteristics of the throttle response, speed-sensitive power steering, transmission gearchanges and, most importantly, the dampers.
“Comfort” provides the most, well, comfortable compromise, while “Sport” makes the machine feel keener on the move and more capable in corners.
“Sport+” is the track-attack mode that also makes the steering unnecessarily heavy, which is where “Individual” comes in – this mode can be configured via its “Adapt” sub-menu to the driver’s preference, so you can keep the steering well-assisted and easy to twirl while the suspension and powertrain are made sporty.
If the driver leaves the car and restarts it within four hours, the previously chosen Agility Select setting is reactivated. If the stop is longer than that, the system reverts to “Comfort” mode.
The C-Class even offers Airmatic air suspension as an option (for a reasonable 1,100 euros in Europe), which is a first in this category. Airmatic brings electronically controlled, continuously variable (in fractions of a second) damping at the front and rear axles, all-round self-levelling for the optimum ride height always, plus extra ground clearance at the push of a button for rough roads or ridiculous ramps. Equipped with Airmatic, this saloon has an even broader motoring bandwidth – plush and calm in “Comfort” mode, firm and fun in Sport+.
It’s a modern Mercedes, so the C-Class comes with a reassuring array of safety features. In addition to multiple airbags that cushion the occupants in an accident, there are advanced driving aids that try to prevent accidents in the first place, such as Collision Prevention Assist Plus, Active Lane Keeping Assist, Active Blind Spot Assist, Pre-Safe Brake, Steer Control and Crosswind Assist. The automaker groups all its clever safety systems under Intelligent Drive, which is so safety-conscious that the driver has to be pretty unintelligent to get into a crash anyway.
Aged towkays and new-age technopreneurs alike would feel relaxed inside this compact, classy and comfortable Mercedes saloon.
Mercedes-Benz C250 2.0 (A)
ENGINE 1991cc, 16-valves, inline-4, turbocharged
MAX POWER 211bhp at 5500rpm
MAX TORQUE 350Nm at 1200-4000rpm
GEARBOX 7-speed automatic with manual select
0-100KM/H 6.6 seconds
TOP SPEED 250km/h
CONSUMPTION 18.9km/L
CO2 EMISSION 123g/km
PRICE INCL. COE $230,888 (January 2018)
Mercedes-Benz C200 2.0 (A)
ENGINE 1991cc, 16-valves, inline-4, turbocharged
MAX POWER 184bhp at 5500rpm
MAX TORQUE 300Nm at 1200-4000rpm
GEARBOX 7-speed automatic with manual select
0-100KM/H 7.3 seconds
TOP SPEED 235km/h
CONSUMPTION 18.9km/L
CO2 EMISSION 123g/km
PRICE INCL. COE $216,888 (January 2018)
Check out our review of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe here.
Read what we have to say about the Mercedes-Benz C300 Cabriolet here.
