2003 Mercedes-Benz C220 Reviews

The C 220 d is diesel version of the C 200 entry-level grade in the Mercedes-Benz C-Class range and it comes in two body styles: Sedan and Estate.

We've driven the entirely half-new Mercedes Benz C-Class - but was it fully up to our expectations?

The C-Class has become a top-seller for Mercedes-Benz, nudging some mainstream players for volume in the mid-size segment in Australia. So, this new model is a critical one for the three-pointed star.

The C-Class was the entry to the prestige segment and still resonates as a solid choice. New The Mercedes-Benz C-Class was conceived to compete with the BMW 3 Series at the entry level of the prestige segment. When the W204 series C-Class arrived in 2007 it had the common Benz trait of coming in a bewildering range of

Mercedes-Benz built an enviable reputation based on safe, solid, comfortable and reliable prestige cars, but in recent times it has had to add another element to its appeal: excitement.

Engine and TransmissionThe estate uses the same engine that powers its saloon sibling -- a super-charged four-cylinder engine that puts out 135kW and 250Nm, with power getting to the wheels via a five-speed automatic with paddle shifts on the steering wheel..Fitted with improved pistons and with modified engine management, the C200 estate boasts impressive performance and fuel consumption  at 8.3litres/100kms.ExteriorThe giant German marque has made sure to hold on to the distinctive Mercedes-Benz characteristics with C200 estate, whilst adding modern elements.The distinctive chrome three-louvered radiator grille and big centred badge plus chrome highlights on the bumpers, wings and doors help to retain the classic Merc presence. The body coloured bumpers, polished aluminium roof rails, an electric glass sun-roof and 17 inch, five twin-spoke, light-alloy wheels give it an edgy modern feel.The side profile highlights a creased waistline following the long rise from the bonnet, over the windscreen then gently down to the top of the tail gate where it drops abruptly and folds into a short rear overhang. The front wheels being pushed right to the front also give the car an athletic, purposeful stance.InteriorInside, the C200 has a sporty flavour with black floor mats and dash, contrasting with the door panels and arm rests in reef grey. The classic Merc heritage is never too far away though, highlighted by black bird’s eye maple and full leather upholstery.As always, quality and attention to detail is easily evident. Electronically adjustable driver and passenger seats with memory settings, three-zone automatic climate control, a Harmon/Kardon Logic 7 sound system and voice recognition functionality are all standard.SafetyFront airbags, window bags and side bags for the driver and front passenger plus window bags and side bags for the side passenger, together with Adaptive Brake Regulation with hillstart assist, ESP, ABS, crash-responsive active head restraints(for front seats) and a tyre pressure loss warning system, completes the substantial safety package.PricingThe C200 estate starts at $58,978.DRIVINGWigley saysAfter recently driving the C63 AMG I was a little apprehensive stepping into the standard wagon because I almost know I’d be let down. But I really wasn’t.Both cars are great in their own ways – the C63 is a performance powerhouse and the estate is a comfortable, refined family wagon – and a damn good one at that.The workmanship and quality of the interior as always is first class. Initially the seats felt a little small but I soon sunk into them and felt completely supported.The flat bottom boot fits a lot but the car itself looks compact from the outside.The revised suspension, especially with the three settings made driving a joy in all conditions.Power, although not mind numbingly raucous, was sufficient enough to be able to merge and overtake without a trickle of fear that you might get rammed.The one gripe I had was the legroom in the back seats. Even with the front seats forward, the back is only really big enough for two mid-sized teenages.Verdict: 8/10Halligan saysI am a big fan of the current C-Class.  The C200 wagon reaffirms this opinion once again. It's a great package and it just feels right when you drive it.It has ample power for its target market. Style, presence, quality and performance are all excellent and I only have one criticism of the C-Class in general. It needs just an extra couple of centimetres between the front and rear seats.While I am not a fan of models growing through their life cycle, I think the C can afford to do so. At the moment it is still virtually the same size as the first generation 190 I parked it beside in the family garage.Start-up families shopping in this price bracket should consider this car. Don't do the normal thing and buy a mid-size 4x4 without first looking at one of these. Do your sums and consider cost of ownership and depreciation. Service costs, tyres and depreciation on most mid 4x4 is ludicrous especially in this price range.Quality, presence and style. More people should consider one.Verdict:  8.2/10  

The new C-Class follows last week’s introduction of the new Estate (wagon) in three variants: C200K, 220CDi and 63AMG.The compact Benz carry-all arrives just as the C-Class rides high on a number of best car awards and sales head north.It’s an impressive car in any form.Even the entry level model looks good, drives well and has the all important three-pointed star on the bonnet.The fact Mercedes-Benz has been able to keep the price static for a decade would also help move metal.It’s essentially the same as the sedan underneath and back to the windscreen.After that the Estate is characteristically a wagon with a one-piece tophinged tailgate and long load space that can be expanded when the rear seats are folded.Mercedes-Benz doesn’t have a small SUV in this segment so the wagon has to cover quite a few bases and fend off plenty of competition from other all-wheel drive competitors.Benz has put a more practical focus on this newcomer, creating space in the back to fit in more stuff.It is available in three grades – classic, elegance and avantgarde with varying levels of standard equipment and exterior appearance.Like the sedan, the avantgarde version is the best looker thanks to its more aggressive front end styling and sporty body add-ons.The 200K runs a 135kW/250Nm supercharged four-cylinder petrol engine, the 220CDi is a 125kW/400Nm common rail turbo diesel and the 63AMG is a 6.2-litre, 336kW/600Nm petrol V8.Performance is not an issue with any of the variants, certainly not the 63AMG.Drive is to the rear wheels and the two fours have a five-speed auto with sequential change mode, while the AMG has a seven-speed auto, also with sequential mode.Fuel economy is impressive on the two fours with the 200K good for 8.3 litres/100km and the 220CDi capable of a mere 6.2 litres/100km.Prices start at $58,990 for the 200K rising to $141,300 for the wicked 63AMG variant which will arrive here in time.The cars are five-seaters offering plenty of passenger room and a swag of luxury goodies, including leather upholstery, premium audio, climate control and several electronic goodies.Plenty of options are offered to tailor the vehicles, but even with a standard trim, all variants are well equipped.We took the C200K estate variant for a drive last week and for all intents and purposes it felt just like the sedan, offering sporty performance and handling and plenty of feel for the driver.It is compact enough to fit into tight places, but it’s also roomy inside for four adults.Five would be a squeeze.The load space is big and there’s a full-size spare under the floor.A cargo cover is also provided to keep luggage from view.Bluetooth technology has been installed and there is a handy Speedtronic cruise control system.The interior on our test car was a little dull in grey on grey tones, but other colours are available.The dash layout is functional and attractive with a large television monitor in the middle.It remains hidden when not in use.All variants are fitted with comprehensive safety equipment including stability control, multiple air bags and hill-start assist, which means you don’t have to keep your foot on the brake while stopped on hills.We also like the idea of what Benz had called Pre-safe.It readies systems for maximum protection in an imminent crash. 

The initial styling, characterised by twin headlights melding together like beads of mercury, has weathered well the passing of time.So much so that Mercedes has been able to make only token changes to the line-up for the second half of its model life, without risking a meltdown in demand.A nd that will do wonders for residual values of cars built over the past four years – endearing the model to buyers and prompting them to remain faithful to the marque.The educated eye will spot an increase in track which gives the C-Class a much broader, sporty stance. A redesigned front bumper with an enlarged air intake, new three-slat radiator grille and clear lens headlights combine for a fresh new look.Then there are new-design light-alloy wheels and, to beef up the appeal of C-Class to younger drivers, sporty side skirts and rear bumpers have been added to the Avantgarde.The cabin has come in for fairly dramatic change. Four chronometer-style instruments headline changes to the dashboard.Chrome trim has found its way on to the fascia, along with new switchgear.Even the base-grade Classic gets new wood trim around the centre console, with aluminium and maple optional on the Avantgarde.Under the skin, there has been fine-tuning to the suspension and steering to enhance the handling dynamics.The output of the C220CDI diesel has gone up from 105kW to 110kW.And to add even more sparkle to what already is a shining star of the Mercedes range, a long-lasting paint, claimed to offer greater scratch resistance, has been used.There are many other small changes which further add value to this exceptional package.C-Class continues to be made up of four-door sedans, two-door sports coupes and an estate, with engines ranging from a 105kW, 1.8-litre, four-cylinder to the fiery 368kW, 5.4-litre 55AMG range topper.Prices range from $51,790 for the six-speed manual 180K sport coupe to a heady $159,900 for the AMG.On test was the 200K Kompressor sedan, competitive at $63,990 for the five-speed automatic and $60,890 for the six-speed manual.Mercedes-Benz is a master when it comes to ride and handling and offers its owners a special version of the common road-feel characteristic of all German cars.The Silver Star has this knack of tuning suspension which is nice and compliant for top-level ride comfort yet firm enough to strap down the body for exemplary handling.And the steering ratio is cleverly fashioned to offer sharp response while still achieving good poise and road-feel at touring speed.The 200K uses the same cylinder head and block as the 180K, identical bore and stroke but a different compression ratio.This results in 120kW of power and 240Nm of torque as opposed to 105kW of power and 220Nm of torque.Zero to 100km/h is 9.1 seconds in the 200K and 9.7 seconds in the 180K, while the top speed is 234km/h compared with 223km/h.On paper, those values may not read like a major power boost. But when driven back-to-back, the C200 Kompressor – $7000 more than the 180K entry model – really feels substantially more powerful.With 1485kg to haul around, the multi-valve four hardly delivers muscle car performance.But when good use is made of the sequential automatic, the car can be provoked into quite respectable action – certainly fast enough for suburban use. Response to kickdown or manual down-changes is rapid enough to complete highway overtaking quickly and safely.This writer really likes the sideways action of the sequential manual shift.Even when revved out, the supercharged engine remains free from harshness and noise never reaches unacceptable levels.The suspension – a three link setup at the front with MacPherson struts and multi-link arrangement at the rear – works well for good handling when the car is driven hard on twisting country roads.Lock-to-lock manoeuvres fail to confuse the car. And the model is superbly stable and safe, with the help of anti-lock brakes, electronic brake assist and stability control.The comfort level of the cabin is right up to the Mercedes mark – and so are the multitude of features which make the difference.There was little, if anything, to criticise about the former model. But mid-life changes turn the interior into something quite special.Merc has always made good, supportive seats. Strangers to the marque may feel the seats are unnecessarily firm. But they feel more comfortable the longer the journey.At a glanceIT is interesting to watch the reaction of strangers to the world of Mercedes when one informs them the C-Class starts at $51,790. There was a time when the "cooking model" Merc 190 came with a few instruments, heater and none of the luxuries of life. The Silver Star was probably the car's prime attraction – along with its superior engineering and solid construction.The C-Class – the progeny of the 190 – now enjoys many hi-tech items handed down from the expensive models. Anti-lock brakes revolutionised deceleration in 1980 – and then it was available only in the S-Class.In sum, C-Class gets better and better. And competition in the luxury segment has ensured prices have remained at affordable levels.

How about Brizzy to Sydney – good too eh?Either is not a problem for the Mercedes-Benz C220 CDi turbo diesel.It is a real fuel miser that can consume as little as 5.5 litres/100km without trying too hard.Say what!That's right, the Benz oiler is as economical as a small 1.3-litre econobox but there the similarity ends.You won't have to put up with wimpy performance for a start nor will you suffer a lack of creature comforts, safety or satisfying dynamics.The 220 benefits from all the upgrades that came with the recent C-Class revamp – improved steering, suspension, paint, interior, freshened exterior look and it also gained more power now rated at 110kw/340Nm.Has great throttle response thanks to high torque output at low engine revs.Five speed auto shifts smoothly, has sequential manual mode.Engine is a four cylinder with high pressure common rail technology for low emissions and fuel consumption.Sounds like a diesel at idle, doesn't sound like anything once underway. Smooth and quite operation, has balance shafts inside engine.Impressive ride and handling for what is essen- tially a compact family sedan. Tenacious grip, flat cornering, supple ride, great brakes and steering.Weighs more than you think – 1540kg, doesn't feel that heavy.Has tight turning circle, large boot with auto open – look out, it opens fast.Seats are fairly flat, no lumbar adjustment but otherwise, good driving position.Interior is light and airy, easy to operate controls, good audio, efficient climate control.Like the auto-on headlights.Styling still has impact – classy, sporty, distinctively Benz.Five star European NCAP rating.Filling at diesel pump usually results in stinky hands. Take disposable gloves.Car feels like it will last years and it probably will. Buy one, keep it for 20 years.