Mercedes-Benz C350 Reviews

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.

Malcolm Flynn road tests and reviews the 2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class C200, C250d and C300 Coupe, with specs, fuel consumption and verdict at their Australian launch.

Craig Duff road tests and reviews the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe with specs, fuel consumption and verdict at its Australian launch.

Plug-in hybrids are about as popular as parking inspectors in Australia but a version of Australia's best-selling private sedan aims to amp up the interest. The Mercedes-Benz C350e will go on sale locally late this year as part of a three-pronged bid (along with the GLE soft-roader and S-Class limousine) to convince

Mercedes-Benz has just launched an all-new C-Class model, so there's a good chance many owners of older models will be trading up. Meaning there could be a glut of used C-Class in Australia, giving you the chance to select between the many on offer, as well as the opportunity to select from the best of them. 

The small-medium Mercedes-Benz C-Class, while costing significantly more than many cars in its class, is becoming increasingly affordable by the standards of the prestige car market.Though it has been built down to a price when compared with upper crust Mercedes models, the price trimming has been done intelligently and you still get a car that’s well built and uses good quality materials.The C-Class is sold as a three-door coupe, a four-door sedan and five-door station wagon body. Coupes from 2008 to 2011 were called the CLC-Class in an attempt to give them a sportier image. That didn’t seem to work and with the new model of 2011 the C-Class coupe name was revised.This is a rear-wheel-drive car so those travelling in the back seats of sedans and wagons will find themselves a little squeezed unless the front seats are moved forward a notch or two. This situation has improved over the years as the C-Class cars have become slightly larger, but it’s still smart to take the family along during your pre-purchase road test to make sure it suits them.Boot space is good and the big bootlid in the sedans makes it easy to load. The wagon is of the stylish school, with a sloping tailgate that robs the load area of some cubic capacity.Naturally the back seats and boots of the coupes are on the cramped side, but that’s par for the course.Few cars come with such a staggering range of engines as the Mercedes C-Class. Four, six and eight-cylinder engines are offered. The latest petrol engines have direct petrol injection and are significantly better than the older units in terms of performance consumption and emissions. Look for the letters CGI in the car’s title, indicting the new-generation engines. The name Kompressor in the car’s title means it has a supercharged engine to provide extra torque. Later units use a turbocharger rather than a supercharger.The hot AMG models use the V8s and have tremendous performance, but this comes at a cost in high fuel consumption.Mercedes-Benz C-Class with turbo-diesel engines have been sold for many years, long before they became common in other European marques. They have either four or six cylinders. The newer diesels (look for CDI on the badge) are a big advance on the older diesel in smoothness and refinement and once the car is cruising at a steady speed we defy you to pick them from petrol powerplants.The great majority of C-Class Mercedes-Benzes will have an automatic transmission, though you will find some four-cylinders cars have a five-speed manual gearbox, they may cause real hassles at resale time.Luxury levels are Classic, Elegance, Avantgarde and Sport. The latter has firmer suspension for better road feel and will make a nice car for the enthusiastic driver.Spare parts, servicing and repairs are all expensive for a car of this size, but certainly not for a machine with the high prestige rating the Benz affords you. Insurance costs are generally reasonable for a car in this class.It pays to buy a used Mercedes-Benz which has been serviced throughout its life by an authorised dealer. Their mechanics are not only trained to high standards, but are in constant touch with the factory. A car with a full service history will almost invariably command a higher price but be sure the service books are genuine.Mercedes-Benz Australia offers a good used-car scheme on cars up to five years of age. The length of the warranty varies according to the workshop’s assessment of the car.WHAT TO LOOK FORBe sure the steering is positive with no unnecessary free play in the straight-ahead position. There were some problems with the early version of the Brake Assist System (BAS). These should have been rectified by a dealer after a recall. Contact the dealer or Mercedes’ head office to see if this work has been done.Do a visual check of the car inside and out for signs of damage or worse-than-average wear. Pay particular attention to the bumper-bar corners for signs of paint scrapes. Also have a good look at the condition of the seats.Always call an expert for the final say no matter how good the Mercedes appears to be after your own inspection. Either use a mechanic formally trained on Mercedes or a senior inspector from your motoring association. Noisy engines, or units that are slow to start may be about to rack up an expensive repair.CAR BUYING TIPIf you’re considering getting an old prestige car rather than a new, but somewhat mundane, car make sure your budget is up to the task of supporting the higher running costs of the upmarket machine. 

THERE are more Mercedes coupes than descendants of the Romanovs and working out their lineage is almost as difficult.That's because Mercedes has been very un-Germanic about its two-doors and failed to line them up in a nice orderly fashion.So where its sedans come in three easy-to-understand sizes, C, E and S, the coupes have been all over the place. For example, there was the CLK, which can still be seen double-parked outside any establishment popular with ladies who lunch.It fitted somewhere between the C and the E. If you preferred gravy to jus there was the CLC, which is smaller than a C and, in any case, really a hatchback. Or the CLS, which stretches the definition even further because it has four doors.It's an E in running shoes. Then there's the retro SLS, which has wings instead of doors, and the CL, which is the rich uncle of an S.Obviously, even Germans were confused and for some time they've been trying to sort it out. First, Mercedes replaced the CLK with the E Coupe. It has mixed parentage, but at least you know where it stands.Now, in a sign it's getting the hang of the whole model family idea, Mercedes has ditched the old-tech CLC and brought out something unambiguously related to the C. It has even called it the C Coupe. It has two doors, different panels and grille, plus a unique rear diffuser. But it clearly carries the same genes as the C sedan and wagon.VALUEIt squares off against the Audi A5 and BMW 3 Series coupe but, unusually for a Merc, starts under them on price. The C180 BE, at $58,900, is designed to lure the price-conscious shoppers who would previously have gone for a CLC, which began just above $52,000.The C250 BE feels like the coupe sweet spot at this end of the market. It starts at $69,900, which would also buy a BMW 320d Coupe, with a four-cylinder diesel, or the Audi A5 2.0TFSI, which is the only front-wheel drive of the trio. With the C250 BE in the mix, the choice just got more difficult.DESIGNAll the coupes get the upgraded interior recently fitted to the sedans and wagons, which means it feels suitably premium for the money. The seats, with integrated headrests, are first rate and there's enough room in the back as long as you're no more than average height and your feet aren't too big. With the sunroof fitted, headroom is a bit cramped and, before you order one, make sure you can live with the mesh screen, which cannot keep out Australian sun.Access to the rear is fine, although that's partly because the doors are 30cm longer than the ones in the sedan. So you won't be able to get out in a car park.But the boot is as large as the one in the E Coupe and the two are closer than you may expect on some dimensions, such as wheelbase and width. If you don't need the extra presence, equipment and bling of the longer car, then the C Coupe may be enough.TECHNOLOGYI didn't sample the 180 BE on the drive program in Victoria this week, so I can't say whether it's any good. However, from the spec sheet it's clearly much slower and, amazingly, thirstier than the C250 BE, which uses a more powerful version of the same 1.8-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine.Mercedes believes the C250 BE will be the most popular variant and if you can live without a V8's ability to break traction on demand, or the better torque and soundtrack of the 225kW 3.5-litre V6 in the C350 BE, then it's worth a look. It certainly seems like value against the C350 BE, which is another $30,000.The BE stands for Blue Efficiency, which is Mercedes' suite of fuel-saving tricks. So it's also frugal, consuming 7.0 litres of premium for every 100km, even though it misses out on stop-at-idle, which is fitted to the diesel. The diesel four-cylinder C250 CDI is the same price as the petrol and with stop-start delivers impressive economy of 5.1l/100km and a slightly faster sprint time to 100km/h. But it didn't feel as quick and makes noises that verge on loud and coarse. With another 110kg of weight, it's not as pleasant on the road either.DRIVEIts acceleration won't impress HSV owners, but for a small four-cylinder it feels adequately feisty. Its 150kW mean a 0-100km/h time of 7.2 and it builds speed with conviction. And while the engine does emit a few odd noises, for a turbo four it doesn't sound too bad.On a twisty road you can have fun in this car. The steering is light but accurate and gets better when the sport button is pressed. You can turn quickly into corners confident it will hold its line and grip, even when the tarmac deteriorates. Its smallish engine helps it feel balanced and planted; it doesn't have the heavy nose feel of some bigger-engined cars.MERCEDES-BENZ C-CLASS COUPEPrice: From $69,900Engines: 1.8-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol or 2.1-litre turbocharged four-cylinder dieselOutputs: 150kW at 5500rpm and 310Nm at 2300rpm (C250 BE); 150kW at 4200rpm and 500Nm at 1600rpm (C250 CDI)Transmission: Seven-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive

Mercedes-Benz has bolted to the front of the mid-sized prestige field, helped by the recednt arrival of the new C-Class arrived a few months ago. And their position can only improved by adding the C-Coupe. This is a sweetheart of a car: stylish, lovely to drive, lavishly equipped and with some very frugal engines on offer.PRICE AND VARIANTSThe Coupe range arrives with one diesel and three economy-targeting ‘BlueEfficiency’ petrol engines -- all mated to an updated  seven-speed sequential automatic transmission – with a blistering V8 joining them in the C63 AMG next month.But for now the bidding opens with the $58,900 C180’s turbocharged 115kW/250Nm 1.8-litre, which delivers a 0-100km/h time of 8.9 seconds and fuel economy of 7.3 l/100km. That fuel figure puts it over the LCT bar, but with a penalty of just $331.The C250 petrol and C250 CDI diesel are both $69,900, and escape the LCT slug as their fuel consumption gives them a ‘home free’ card. The C250 carries a turbocharged 150kW/310Nm 1.8-litre, and gets to100km/h in 7.2 seconds with fuel consumption of 7L/100km.The C250 CDI gets a 150kW/500Nm 2.1-litre twin-turbo diesel that hits the 100km mark at a respectable 7.1 seconds, and delivers frugal economy at 5.1L/100km. It benefits from a stop-start system, and while similar technology is on petrol versions in Europe our petrol quality prevents them coming here.Topping the petrol coupes – at least until the $154,800 C63 AMG arrives shortly with its V8 – is the $99,900 C350’s 225kW/370Nm 3.5-litre V6, which slashes the 0-100km/h time to 6.0 seconds, with fuel economy of 8.3L/100km.DESIGN AND FITOUTThe newcomer works the coupe style well, with a short front overhang, sharply raked front and rear windscreens and a rising shoulder line towards the somewhat hefty tail. The optional panorama sunroof is shielded only by a blind, and while the glass is UV-shielding, you still notice the extra glare.Standard equipment levels are impressive, including a Comand control system with Suna traffic warnings in the C250 and C350, and the cabin is fitted with premium materials and finishes.It feels snug around the driver, but perhaps too snug in the rear seat where legroom is somewhat compromised. Perhaps the Merc engineers stole some of the space to donate to the boot, which is fantastic: deep, wide, easily accessible and just 50 litres less than the sedan.DRIVINGThe C250 we mainly tested feels taut and controlled on the road, and it’s easy to slip into the feeling of being part of the car. The engine sounded a little harsh on take-off, and there was some lag from low down, but once the turbo wakes up it streams along happily.Gears can be changed with the sequential shifter on the centre console. But it’s not needed in the face of the well-designed and positioned steering wheel paddles, with their tactile lip edge that almost urges you to keep tickling them from one cog to another. Changes are swift and smooth, and prompt you to wonder why anybody would need a twin-clutch transmission when a single can work this well.The diesel C250CDI on the other hand pulls strongly right from the start, and gives powerful response all through the rev range. The C-Coupe suspension is softer than you’ll find in the German rivals, but stops well short of wallowing. We hit some appalling rural bitumen that put extra bounce into its step, but didn’t ever cause it to step out of line.Would we buy one? Yes, and despite the better performance of the diesel, we’d probably go for the C250 petrol with its 110kg lighter weight and touch.

PARKING German luxury in your driveway has rarely been as affordable or as property-enhancing thanks to Mercedes-Benz.It may be the world's oldest car maker but it couldn't better capture style and elegance with wallet-cheating economy demanded by today's buyers. And with its pricing, you don't have to be a zillionaire to own one.Mercedes recently stopped production of its CLC and CLK coupes, now filling the gap with its newcomer, the C-Class Coupe. Though it has two doors, the coupe seats four, has a boot almost as big as the sedan and comes with a new generation of frugal four-cylinder engines - and one V6 - with an even more explosive AMG model ready for duty later this year.VALUEThe pretty coupe comes with a pretty price. There will be five models of the C-Class when the line-up is filled out by early next year. For now, there’s the C180 entry-level at $58,900 (which is only $400 dearer than the more compact CLC Evolution model); C250; C250CDI (the only diesel in the range); C350; and next year, the C63 AMG. The standard equipment level is as impressive as the prices, including a Command control system with Suna traffic management for the C250 and C350. Unusual for a new model poised to hit the market, Mercedes will launch Edition 1 - a limited edition package that costs $4360 extra (a bit extra for the C180) for gear including 18-inch seven spoke alloys and stitched leather upholstery in black.DESIGNThere’s a lot of CLK in the profile and indeed the way the C-Class Coupe is designed traces its predecessors intended clientele. The nose and front fenders are basically C-Class sedan, but externally the lines involve all new sheet metal and - in the case of the bonnet - aluminium. Trainspotters will note the Coupe’s two-bar grille, LED running lights and LEDs for the tail. There’s also a fat Mercedes star emblem within the grille. The cabin is from the C-Class range with the big exception of the sculptured two rear seats. Mercedes claims the boot shaves only 15 litres off the luggage area compared with the sedan. Trim and finish are excellent though there’s typical Mercedes restraint. The closest its gets to letting its hair down is the silver finish of the dash and door trim which is called "galvanised".TECHNOLOGYThe three four cylinder engines are a treat. They’ve been around in other models in recent times but Mercedes just keeps honing these comparatively small engines to get more economy and yet still deliver a smile on the driver’s face. The C180 and C250 petrols share the basics of a 1.8-litre capacity and a turbocharger. But tweaking lifts the C180’s 115kW/250Nm to 150kW/310Nm, cuts the 0-100km/h dash to 7.2 seconds from 8.9 seconds and yet the quicker, more powerful unit gets better fuel economy and puffs less emissions.The C180 claims 7.3 litres/100km and 169g/km CO2 while the C250 sips 7.0 l/100km and emits 163g/km CO2. The 2.1-litre turbo-diesel four is fractionally quicker to 100km/h than the C250, substantially more economical at 5.1 l/100km and 134g/km CO2 and delivers 150kW/500Nm. Otherwise, the Coupe is all C-Class sedan, including the "sports" button that firms the suspension. It is standard on all models and optional on the C180.SAFETYSame as the C-Class sedan and wagon, the Coupe gets a five-star crash rating and has the full suite of chassis and braking system electronics. You wouldn’t expect anything less.DRIVINGUnexpectedly, the C-Class Coupe feels like a much bigger car. Yes, it’s physically bigger than the CLC that it sort-of replaces and is smaller than the E-Class based coupe. But on the road, and indeed within the cabin, it feels the same size as the E-Class. Which is biggish. That means decent cabin room, reflected by the expansive width and ability to fit two adults in the rear. The design and placement of instruments and switches follow Mercedes style, which means familiarisation is needed.Crank the C250 petrol over and the idle is a bit harsh. The turbo makes it a lot quieter than the supercharger used on previous Kompressor models, but it’s still not the smoothest unit around. But there’s no complaints with the performance. There is a bit of lag off the mark but the seven cogs in the transmission make it easier and quicker to pluck the best from the engine’s powerband and get it to the ground. The gearbox is, by the way, excellent. Its rapid shifts feel more like a dual-clutch automated manual.While the C250’s powerplant is a surprise - Mercedes predicts it will be the biggest seller in the Coupe range - it is the diesel that is outstanding. Pity that most buyers will dismiss it because it is such a powerful performer and so easy to drive quickly - and economically. The C180 and C350 weren’t available to test. On drives through Victoria’s Otway mountain range and along the Great Ocean Road, the Coupe showed confident road holding and a compliant ride from a very rigid chassis.MERCEDES-BENZ C-CLASS COUPEPrice: $58,900 (C180); $69,900 (C250 and C250CDI); $99,900 (C350); $154,800 (C63 AMG)Warranty: 3-years/100,00km, roadside assistService interval: 15,000km/12 monthsSafety: 5-starEngine: (C250) 1.8-litre, 4-cyl turbocharged petrol, 150kW/310NmBody: 2-door coupe Weight: 1470kgTransmission: 7-speed auto, rear driveThirst: 7.0L/100km , 95 RON, CO2 163g/km"New star combines frugal engineering with sleek styling. C250 the one to watch''

Few if any other European manufacturers have been bold enough to put forward a diesel as their range topper in the small/medium class. But taking a drive in the C320 vindicates Mercedes' decision because the car is simply superb to drive and uses minimal fuel into the bargain.A C350, 3.5-litre V6 petrol variant is available overseas but realistically, it is unnecessary in the face of the smooth and powerful diesel V6 model. We have seen this engine before in other Mercedes vehicles and it works well in all. That's partly due to a prodigious 510Nm torque output, which is on par with a large capacity V8 petrol engine. Even better is the fact that all this grunt is available in the Benz from just off idle speed.Maximum power is a creditable 165kW and along the way to delivering this hefty whack of power and torque, the 3.0-litre turbo diesel sips a frugal 7.4-litres/100km.In pure performance terms, the C320 is no slouch putting away a 0-100kmh sprint in 6.9 seconds.Drive is to the rear wheels via a seven speed automatic transmission that offers sequential change mode side-to-side on the gearstick. A button shift on the steering wheel is optional.Priced from $92,800, the C320 is well specified for the money offering Pre-safe crash protection, eight air bags and Electronic Stability Program (ESP), three zone climate control and variable suspension called Agility Control as standard.A comprehensive list of options is available including an exceptional audio system with a four gigabyte music server on which owners can save a large selection of music.On the road, the C320 shines in all environments but especially when touring country backroads where the bumps and rough stuff are ironed out like they don't exist. Long distance touring is enhanced due to the smooth, silent engine and superb throttle response.Overtaking is achieved in a blink and cruising at high speed registers a mere 2000rpm on the tachometer.In practical terms, the C320 has the same tight turning circle as all C-Class models, a large boot with full size spare underfloor, seats for five in the roomy interior and easy to operate controls housed in a stylish dash.Mercedes offers the C320 in the sporty Avantgarde spec' as well as the Elegance model. Avantgarde has been a runaway hit with new C-Class buyers.Coinciding with the C320's arrival is the new ML500, a brutally quick luxury Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) powered by a 285kW/530Nm, 5.5-litre V8 petrol engine. The previous ML500 had a 'mere' 5.0-litre V8.Weighing in at a well-grounded 2310kg, which doesn't affect the ML's performance out of the blocks where it puts away a 0-100kmh sprint in 5.8 seconds. And this is without gobbling large amounts of fuel. It will deliver an average of 12.9 litres /100km with normal steady driving.Transmission is a seven speed auto with sequential shift. A permanent all wheel drive 4Matic system apportions power to the wheels with most traction. Air suspension controls ride and handling and the ML500 is equipped with a wide range of practical and luxury goodies. And  in case you were wondering, yes, it will comfortably go off road; though why you'd want to take a $120,874 SUV bush bashing is beyond us.