Mercedes C-Class (W205) C400 4matic: driving test and video
Posted on 24-03-2014 at 16:00 by CasperH – 69 Comments”
Mercedes sold of the previous generation C-Class 2.4 million copies (since 2007). His successor should so very well, and that we tried for you.
[ First look, then read? Watch the video HERE! ]
Let’s start with the door in the house fall: yes, he also seems to be in the really on the new S-Class. Not only in appearance, but more about that later. The new C-Class W205 is has grown considerably, by almost 10 inches in length and four inches in width. That extra space is for the benefit of the interior space and kofferbakruimte, which is also grown compared to its predecessor. Yet the new C-Class is 100 kilograms lost compared to its predecessor, thanks to a hybrid steel / aluminum composition of the body and the chassis and the now much talked-of “great tank“-trick) .
What the looks, I have little to criticize on this new C, it is a nice car. Yes, there is a lot of “borrowed” the S-Class, but that is a nice car, so that you can feel free to be a compliment to call it. If your criticism would have to give it would be that the model is a bit on his rear seems to lean, thank god, is that not up to CLA-like proportions of the case. No, I find it quite a nice appearance, especially with the AMG pack, the car a slightly sportier and thicker appearance. Very nice detail, I like the DRL’s that the lines of the grille flow in the flanks, very nicely done.
The lines are also optimized to be as smooth as possible, look to achieve: to minimize air resistance was the goal, and it worked. Especially if you are the Elegance designs: the slats of the grille blows then automatically close to reduce aerodynamic drag to 0.24 Cw. The thickest versions without dichtklappende plates (and with wider wheels, etc.) also score is still fairly modest with a drag of 0.30 Cw. Our testauto is also still with the AMG package will run, making him just a tad thicker and sportier look.
The interior is in line with what we already know from the A-Class and S-Class: flowing lines, beautiful materials (in our case, red leather, aluminum-look) and black wood) and an iPad-like multimediascherm that randomly on the dashboard gekwakt seems to be. I’m not sure why Mercedes this has chosen, in an a-Class, you can still explain it as “playful, for the younger generation,” but in this case I think it actually just cheap eyes. Certainly in our (very luxurious) testauto had a beautifully integrated multimedia system, a tidier been over this device-with-suction-cup-like screen on the dashboard seems to be stuck. If you the screen can take, I would still be able to understand, but that is not the case.
The number of buttons on the dashboard is reduced to only the essentials that you direct for hands. The rest is to operate with the menuknopje on your steering wheel or controller with a touchpad in the center console. This serves, however, a different menu than the menu on the steering wheel, simply put, you can operate with the unit on the steering wheel the menu that between the counters appears. With the Touchpad controller in the center console, you can operate the multimediascherm which oa your navigation and vehicle settings are displayed. Sounds confusing? That is also sometimes, for example, if you have the ESP off. You expect that setting to be found in the “Agility” settings, or perhaps the vehicle settings to you via the central display in may, but there should be the menu on the handlebar for use.
The controller with the touchpad is the direction that Mercedes has chosen and what concerns me is that a good decision. I previously worked with a similar system in the Audi A3 Cabriolet, and that pleased me well. With the system of Mercedes, however, I have a little quarrel, the input that you are using the touch pad is not processed quickly on the screen. When turning on the button under the touchpad, for example, other music from my phone through the Burmester (oorporno-alert!) stereo to pump, happens to me a few times that I with the palm of my hand the touch pad touch. With some getting used to, it will undoubtedly be easier to work and it is a nice system, but the first encounter is quite difficult.
The central controller provides access to the set of the various driving modes. The car we have is fitted with air suspension, an option that Mercedes as a first says to offer in this class. There are four presets available: Eco, Comfort, Sport and Sport+. Eco and Comfort are pretty soft in terms of suspension, choose your Sport then you get a tight frame, choose your Sport+ the whole kneiterhard. Especially the step between Comfort and Sport is, however, quite large, it fits intuitively with a step in between in terms of damping. Other matters to be set if you have a certain drive mode select, the throttle response and the behaviour of the vending machine. The machine folds pretty on in the Sport and Sport+ mode and also the accelerator pedal (especially in Sport+) is very sensitive. Fun, but not necessarily pleasant. Luckily, you can also manually things look, making a fine mix can be found.
The car we have is a C400 with AMG sport package. A beautiful 3.0 V6 is located in the fore cabin, and provides, if desired, up to 333 hp and 480 Nm of torque, the BMW 335i and Audi S4-like values. It is a smooth block that also happens to sound good. Of course, in the distance, because it remains a Mercedes: it must be a bit quiet, to stay within. Without too much effort you going to go with this car and because we are on winding roads along the way (in the near of Marseille), I decided the Sport mode to use. The chassis is perceptibly harder and the bowl turns spicy. With the flippers behind the steering wheel can I use any of the automatic override, and I notice that I often do. The vending machine remains active so if you are a bit too long, nothing to do with a flipper then turns to the thing itself, and that irritates me sometimes. I maintain that machines like this simply have the option to offer it for yourself to switch. Especially because this seven-speed sometimes makes decisions that I don’t have been waiting for. The kick-down a few times not at home when I gas deep press.
The car feels sharp and stable, especially in the sportier driving modes. Our car is equipped with 4MATIC all-wheel drive so there is no lack of traction, not even on the dusty roads in the South of France. The car, even in Sport+ mode does not tempt to small drifts, which have the ESP in this setting according to the display. Using the menu using the steering wheel to operate the ESP at all to throw out, but if you abruptly of the gas goes off disables the auto the system will automatically turn on again.. because this as a panic situation is recognized.
This car gives confidence, not only during the better steering, but also during “normal” use on, for example, busy highways. Attention Assist and Collision Prevention Assist Plus ensure that you stay awake and help you e-stops to make if you do not sit on to watch out for. On a safe test track, we should test this, and it is astonishing how precise and efficient the system out of the craziest situations and knows how to save. Stops someone unexpectedly in front of your nose then from 200 kilometers per hour autonomously apply the brakes and stop the car. This ensures the car there, however, that he this is as close as possible on your predecessor is doing, so there behind optimal space remains for any following traffic. Optionally, there are also things like Distronic Plus with stuurassistent and Stop&Go to order. And there is, for example, a system that helps you suddenly crossing pedestrians to recognize and in time for them to stop. Also optional is the 360-degree camera to get a picture about the car shows, in particular, for easy parking in tight spots, for example.
All in all, the C-Class is a fine car that is definitely the fight to the BMW 3 and the Audi A4, of course, the two main competitors where this car will need to measure. Mercedes follows a new path that younger audience should draw and I think they are largely a lot better but still, I don’t know, there nibbling at something. The small details like the vending machine that is not completely flawless works (in two different cars, so not exemplary) and the touchpad, the input of your fingers which are slow processes annoy me. Do the competitors actually better, if we are honest. At the same time they have in a number of areas now have an edge on the competition: the tremendous bowl to well-functioning safety measures, and a number of comfortverhogende things like air suspension and a parfumsysteem to the interior to the desire to smell. That you can at the same competitors do not get.
The new C-Class is available from € 36.995 euro, for that money you got a bare-bones Mercedes C180 with 156 hp and 20% tax liability. Dieselen can also with a 20% additional tax liability from 42.995 in the 170 hp C 220 BlueTec. Both the instapbenzine if diesel get 20% tax liability after their name. What is the C400 that we have tested should go cost is not yet known, that we hear as the car around the turn of the year comes to the Netherlands. There will also be two smaller 1.6 diesel and a C300 hybrid and plug-in hybrid version, all engines for the Dutch market are going to be important. Movie!
Gallery: Mercedes C-Klasse W205 C400 4Matic
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