Mercedes-Benz C-Class

COMPACT THREE-POINTED STAR ADVANCES TO THE POINTY END

- DYLAN CAMPBELL

SPECS

COTY TEST REPORT (C300)

0-100km/h 6.0 seconds

WEIGHT 4kg heavier than claimed weight

NOISE 67.1db at 100km/h

Price $90,400

Engine 1496cc 4cyl turbo petrol

Power 190kW @ 5800rpm

Torque 400Nm @ 1800rpm

Transmission 9-speed automatic, RWD

Weight 1744kg

Fuel 7.3L/100km, 95RON

Length/width/height 4751/1820/1437mm

Wheelbase 2865mm

Safety Untested

HOPES DON’T COME much higher than for the new, fifth-generation W206 Mercedes-Benz C-Class which, after several delays, could have driven off the boat and straight to our Car of the Year testing.

Its timing was such that we didn’t have the opportunity to consider which variant would best represent the range, so we included both currently available – the C200 and C300, powered by turbo four-cylinder engines. We’d have to figure it out as we went.

And the bookies would be right placing narrow odds for this car. As the most popular Mercedes-Benz model of the last decade, nearly 60,000 examples of the previous generation W205 C-Class sold in Australia alone. No pressure, then.