Try it, Mercedes C300d Mild Hybrid: unparalleled efficiency and comfort
Try it, Mercedes C300d Mild Hybrid
Introduced in 1993 as a compact version of the range of the Teutonic brand until the arrival of the A-Class, Mercedes-Benz C-Class now reaches its fifth generation with the W206 version officially debuted in 2021. There is little to discuss, the Germans know how to do it. sedans like few others and the star brand has managed to amaze us again by updating an already technologically advanced model like the C-Class, but equipping it with futuristic features without ever altering the DNA that has made it famous over the years.The lines may initially deceive an inexperienced eye, the new C-Class is indeed very similar to the S-Class flagship and this is a great compliment to pay to a car of a different segment; from the very first contact we have in fact understood that we are dealing with a product of extreme quality, capable of grinding kilometers like no car we have ever tried before. The engine we tested was the real star of the show, in fact it is the most powerful diesel offered in the range by the German house, the 265 hp mild hybrid four-cylinder that gives the name to the C300d trim.
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The front is threatening and the bumper is very low - definitely more than you can imagine - in fact, particular attention must be paid to the most protruding parts of the front lip when parking in the city because you risk damaging them by leaning them on the sidewalks or by touching lightly on the highest bumps. At the rear we find for the first time the elongated headlights shared between the tailgate and the rest of the car, this gives a modern and slender line also to the rear. The trunk can accommodate a considerable amount of luggage thanks to its 455 liters of capacity in the standard configuration.
The variety of materials and finishes is very wide, the air vents together with the LEDs around the passenger compartment can be illuminated in various colors and make the night atmosphere very welcoming and elegant. The panoramic roof can then be controlled via a touch slider or simply by asking the car to open it via voice commands; the audio system is signed by Burmeister and is able to guarantee very high audio quality at any volume level. The seats are enveloping and well made even if the touch controls on the door are difficult to operate without looking at them as they do not return clear feedback like the classic buttons used to date.
Federicovecchio.com Despite being a powerful engine, what surprised us most was its efficiency; fuel consumption, thanks to the 9GTRONiC gearbox, can be reached at 4.7 l / 100km on the motorway, guaranteeing approximately 1,200 km with a full tank. The presence of the 19 "AMG wheels makes the absorption of roughness not optimal, yet it behaves very well even on uneven surfaces, the behavior would improve significantly with a higher shoulder and a reduced diameter of the rim to the detriment of the external appearance. In general we were pleasantly surprised by this car, the balance between comfort, performance and efficiency makes it perfect for those who have to travel great distances with the best comforts.
Price? Starting from 58 thousand euros, a figure that tends to rise quickly with the installation of some accessories.
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ANOTHER C-CHANGE
4dr saloon / 5dr estate (1.6 diesel, 2.0 diesel / 1.6 petrol, 2.0 petrol, 3.0 V6 petrol / 4.0 V8 petrol)
Introduction
You may think you know this ‘W205’-series fourth generation Mercedes C-Class – but if you haven’t tried one featuring all the changes made as part of this model’s far-reaching 2018-era mid-term update, you probably don’t. What was needed here was a completely rejuvenated engine range –and that’s what we got, along with improved safety and connectivity. If you’re looking for a MK4 C-Class on the used market, then try and seek out one of these later versions.
The History
For years, Mercedes has talked about ‘democratising luxury’ and more than any other car the company makes, it’s their C-Class model that’s tried hardest to epitomise that approach. In the past in its earlier forms, this contender has sometimes rather struggled with the whole idea of delivering elements of ‘S-Class’-style opulence in a more compact form, but this MK4 ‘W205’-series design did better in meeting this challenging brief. Here, we’re going to look at the much improved version launched in the Spring of 2018.
By 2018, over 9.5 million C-Classes had been sold since the original first generation ‘W202’-series version was launched in 1993, with sleeker ‘W203’ and ‘W204’ second and third generation designs following in 2000 and 2007, before this ‘W205’-series fourth generation car first arrived in 2014.
By 2018, the C-Class didn’t have to be the cheapest saloon Mercedes made – that role in the range was by then occupied by a four-door version of the front-driven A-Class – so there was by the time of this facelifted MK4 model’s introduction a little more scope for this car to include pricier technology. And with this revised MK4 model, there was plenty of that as part of what the company told us was the most extensive update in the history of this model. Over 6,500 parts were changed – half of the car’s complete tally – to make sure that it could be a more complete rival for revitalised versions of its ‘D’-segment premium competitors.
Mercedes knew it had to substantially improve the available engine range, so that’s where much of the effort was directed as part of this fourth generation model’s mid-life package of changes. The diesel variants got the vastly improved 2.0-litre unit and in addition, the mild hybrid 48V technology filtered its way into this car, transforming the power and efficiency proposition of the mid-range C200 petrol model. There were also plug-in petrol and diesel units too – and updates to the top AMG performance models. Across the range, C-Class buyers also got smarter looks, upgraded cabin infotainment technology, extra safety kit and fresh elements of autonomous driving tech. The C-Class sold until an all-new fifth generation model arrived in the Spring of 2021.
What You Get
From a casual glance, you certainly won’t appreciate the vast scope of this MK4 model’s mid-term update. Indeed initially, you might struggle to see that anything’s changed at all from the original 2014-era version of this ‘W205’-series C-Class design. At which point your seller will draw your attention to this updated car’s revised bumper with its wider central lower air intake. Go for a car with the ‘AMG Line’ level of trim and the corner inlets get twin black strakes on either side, along with a ‘Diamond’-style radiator grille that incorporates shiny chromed pins.
You’d expect the interior to really sell you on a premium model at this price point – and this one doesn’t disappoint. The smart silvered vents, the classy compartmentalised centre console, the elegant analogue clock. It’s really not that far from here to an S-Class.
The boot in the saloon model is usually 455-litres in size, but that figure falls to 435-litres in the C200 thanks to the mild hybrid EQ Boost hardware. Choose a C-Class estate and the boot capacity is normally 460-litres (or 440-litres in a C200 variant).
What To Look For
We found plenty of satisfied C-Class customers, but also a few rogue examples. Check that all the electrical items work and that the air conditioner is effective. Make sure the transmission works smoothly and that there are no suspension rattles. The engine should pull smoothly and the auto kickdown should be effective. Insist on a full Mercedes dealer service history, especially for the most recent models whose lengthy warranty - effectively for the life of the car - is dependent on proper servicing by an authorised agent. Check that all the accessories work and watch out for cosmetic damage which can be expensive to correct. These are popular family cars, so check for wear and tear in the rear. Also look for the usual signs of wheel kerbing and poorly repaired accident damage.
On The Road
The cutting-edge engine technology that was so notably missing from the original version of this ‘W205’-series fourth generation C-Class design was very much in evidence in this much improved car. The key changes related to the two volume variants. The C200 petrol model we’d recommend got the brand’s latest 48-volt mild hybrid ‘EQ Boost’ technology. And the C220d best selling derivative at last ditched its long-standing 2.1-litre diesel in favour of the far cleaner, quieter and more sophisticated 2.0-litre ‘OM654’-series powerplant. In a ‘C’, this unit was capable of up to 61.4mpg on the combined cycle and up to 117g/km of CO2. All the main C-Class variants come fitted with a smooth auto transmission, a ‘9G-TRONIC PLUS’ 9-speed ‘box which replaced the 7-speeder fitted across the range at the original launch.
As with the original version of this design, the saloon and estate C-Class line-up we’re looking at here kicked off with a couple of 1.6-litre models, the petrol C180 and the diesel C200d, these being the only variants in the line-up available with manual transmission, both of which could from the showroom be ordered with optional 4MATIC all-wheel drive on request. If these versions of this car aren’t powerful enough for you, there are the C300 petrol and C300d diesel derivatives. Then come the C300e and C300de Plugin models, and finally there are the rip-snorting Mercedes-AMG high performance street racers, the V6 C 43 4MATIC and the rear-driven V8-powered C 63 variants.
Overall
In summary, the 2018-era model update gives used buyers a reason to give this fourth generation C-Class a second look. It used to be easy to pigeonhole buyers amongst the three main protagonists in this sector; a 3 Series for the driving enthusiast, an A4 for the technophile and a C-Class as a compromise badge-equity choice. In this form, this Mercedes is now a great deal more than that. It blurs those boundaries. And makes your choice in this segment just that little bit more pleasantly difficult.
