Weekend roadtest: Mercedes-Benz C 220 Sport Saloon

The oldest car-maker in the world proves its in step with modern trends in the shape of the latest Mercedes-Benz C-Class saloon.

Over 30 years ago, the big-car maker decided to bring its values and virtues into the medium sector with what was the first generation of the C-Class and now the fifth generation is about to make its mark. It is a significant 100KG lighter than the series it replaces and fitted with the newest petrol and diesel engines fuel consumption is down as much 20% while emissions are slashed as well, which instantly widens its appeal to business and fleet users who are expected to take a bigger slice of sales than before.

At launch this month there are C 220 and C250 diesels as well as C 200 petrol saloon but by the end of 2014 there will also be C 200 diesel and a C 300 diesel hybrid. The range will grow with a new estate version as well as coupe in due course, mirroring the current models.

There is now more aluminium used in the body, it’s almost half now, and despite being about just 10KG each, the doors still shut with a familiar MB solidity. Once inside you are surrounded by an extremely stylish piano black interior with bright detail highlights and high quality materials.

Many details have been brought over from the S-Class and that will include the availability of a Hybrid with diesel and electric motors this autumn. Petrol engines have the third generation direct injection and diesels come with spray-guided multiple injection and there are two new six-speed gearboxes available matched to power outputs and the 7G-Tronic automatic is further refined.

A new four-link front suspension improves handling while the rear multi-link aids ride and stability and for the first time in this segment you can specify self-levelling air-suspension.

Mercedes-Benz engineers have developed their own touch-pad and head-up display and it will even respond to handwriting in any language.  Appropriately, a nice reference is the Carl Benz script now found on the windscreen.

The air conditioning system inside the new C-Class includes the ability to detect tunnels and stop bad air entering as well as providing fragrances which smell pleasant but do not permeate clothing.

There will initially be SE, Sport for another £2,000 and AMG Line models are an additional £1,500 over the Sport. The initial 12-models cost from £26,855 to £34,355.

Fleet sales are expected to take at least 65%, automatic transmission is ordered by 83% of customers and the Sport versions will take over 40% of registrations with the 220 CDI accounting for nearly 40%.

Peter Kolb, MB senior test engineer, said extensive development showed the new C-Class to out-handle its predecessor adding, “We have taken the systems from the S-Class and other larger models and developed them for the C-Class so all their benefits are now brought to more customers at a lower price point. We are very pleased with the results.”

MB UK product executive Tom Corstjens added, “We are steadily making more and more conquest sales from other marques and also seeing our own customers moving up the brand. The new C-Class offers lower running costs so it becomes more attractive to private and business buyers.”

He added that MB UK expected the C 220 to take 60% of saloon sales while the C 250 and C 200 will each take about 20%.

When it arrives this autumn the estate versions of these will carry a price premium of approximately £1,200 at each point.

The original MB 180, which was the forerunner of today’s C-Class, was launched in 1982 and sold for ten years before the 202 Series arrived with the first estate derivative and continued until 2000.  Then there was a seven year run of the 203 Series and that was replaced by the most successful to date 204 Series and which has been delivered to 2.4 M customers globally and saw the arrival of the Coupe in 2011.  There is currently the new saloon, the estate and coupe.

First impressions

Whether you have breakfast, lunch or dinner there is always a ‘light’ option these days, but in the case of the new Mercedes-Benz C 220 Sport that is all you get.

And that’s no bad thing because the new Mercedes-Benz C 220 Sport is going to be a hard model to hand back to the salesman after a demo and you’ll want a second helping.

It does everything a larger MB does, but it’s more agile and importantly, affordable than its stablemates.

The powertrain is well matched to deliver strong acceleration throughout, to cruise quietly and to sip fuel. I averaged  a whisker over 50mpg in the C 220 and in the more powerful and responsive C 250 it dipped to 32.4mpg.

It rides very well and with the selectable settings it is firm or downright fun, handles confidently and turns tightly.

I would have liked still more rear seat legroom despite the fact it is a longer wheelbase than the previous series, but infront its roomy. Bootspace can be a bit tight for four cases but oddments room is very good.

There are two types of navigation available and the less expensive one on my test car was out of date regarding speed limits and even took me on a weird diversion for no visible reason. But at least I could enjoy a bit more time behind the wheel of what is probably the best C-Class so far.

For: Smooth, sophisticated, quiet, economical Against: Rear legroom, boot, old satnav.