A Classical Elegance, Almost Neoclassical

Among automotive media professionals, the new Mercedes-BenzC-Classis receiving exceptionally high praise. Synthesizing the accounts from acquaintances who attended the international press drives, its appeal seems to distill down to two main points.

The first is the design and quality of the interior and exterior. Gordon Wagener, who has overseen the design of models such as the new CLS-Class featuring the latest LED technology,CLS, the new A-Class,A-Class, and the B-Class,B-Class, and the S-Class,S-Class, excels at expressing a classical elegance, almost neoclassical, through modern techniques.



Particularly with the interior, the adoption of successive new design approaches, rarely seen before, seems to have brought about significant advancements not only in form but also in quality compared to previous Mercedes models.



Looking at the released photos of the C-Class, one can see Wagener's artistry in full bloom. The styling, reminiscent of a scaled-down S-Class (though surprisingly, there are many differences upon closer inspection...), seems to have instantly redefined the standards of the highly competitive D-segment, projecting a strong sense of premium.



What's more, it's not just a matter of 'new design'; the overall coherence is excellent, resulting in a creation that can be genuinely called 'beautiful.' I can easily understand the desire to buy the C-Class based on its design alone.

The Balance Between Ride Comfort and Handling

Another touted appeal of the new C-Class is its combination of agile handling and comfortable ride. Personally, I found that Mercedes models since the A-Class retained a certain choppiness characteristic of run-flat tires, which prevented me from giving them high marks for comfort.



I myself have experience with the previous generation BMW3 Series (E90)for about three years, so I'm well aware of the pros and cons of run-flat tires. Especially considering the peace of mind they offer in the unlikely event of a tire blowout at high speeds, their security is invaluable.


However, I suspect that few people would be willing to sacrifice comfort in exchange for that. BMW has spent years, with the company's full effort, to finally overcome this challenge. In comparison, it's understandable that Mercedes, having only recently started working with run-flat tires, lags slightly in refinement.



Indeed, the A-Class was remarkably well-executed for an early effort. Nevertheless, it's an undeniable fact that Mercedes is still developing in this area.



However, members who participated in the new C-Class's international test drives reported that the suspension setup is exceptionally good. In particular, multiple sources consistently mentioned the exquisite balance achieved with agility, an area Mercedes has been diligently focusing on recently.

An Aura That Transcends the D-Segment Norm

First, a brief explanation of the test vehicles: both the C180 and C200 were in the AVANTGARDE trim. Only the C200 was equipped with the AMG Line, a type of optional package. Both are powered by the latest four-cylinder direct-injection turbo engines, but the displacement difference is significant, with the C180 at 1.6 liters and the C200 at 2.0 liters, more so than their model names suggest.



Equally noteworthy is the suspension setup. The new C-Class offers five different suspension types depending on the trim and whether the AMG Line is equipped. The C180 AVANTGARDE features the Agility Control suspension, with dampers that vary damping force based on stroke speed (also used in the previous C-Class), and its ride height is 10mm lower than the standard C180. It uses conventional coil springs.



Meanwhile, the C200 AVANTGARDE with the AMG Line is equipped with the luxurious AIRMATIC electronic control air suspension. While it's difficult to generalize due to the variable spring and damping rates depending on conditions, its ride height is 15mm lower than the standard C180, suggesting an even sportier positioning than the C180 AVANTGARDE.



Incidentally, the tires fitted were Bridgestone Turanza TR01 (225/50R17 front and rear) for the C180, and Bridgestone Potenza S001 (225/45R18 front, 245/40R18 rear) for the C200. Both, of course, are run-flat specifications.

Mercedes's Philosophy and the C-Class's Characteristics

Regarding the ride comfort, while it's far more refined than the A-Class or B-Class due to the difference in class, my honest impression is that it still needs some improvement in terms of harshness.



However, the air suspension significantly improves this aspect, making the choppiness barely noticeable. Although there are various opinions regarding the durability of air suspension, for new car comfort, the version with air suspension is undoubtedly recommended.



The handling did feel agile, but being a Mercedes, it remains within the realm of natural human senses, without any surprising over-sensitivity for the driver.



Therefore, frankly speaking, I didn't perceive a distinct personality in the handling. If an average person were to drive it casually, they would likely feel no particular discomfort. This 'colorless and transparent' tuning, designed for universal appeal, seems to be precisely what Mercedes intended.



Another point worth mentioning about the new C-Class is the abundance of safety features. With the optional Radar Safety Package, which includes Distronic Plus (with steering assist) that can be considered semi-autonomous driving, BAS Plus (with cross-traffic function), PRE-SAFE Brake (with pedestrian detection), rear CPA (collision prevention assist plus), Active Blind Spot Assist, and Active Lane Keeping Assist, occupants are protected by the latest technology in all 360 degrees.



Incidentally, these features are nearly equivalent to those in the latest S-Class. This approach to safety seems to most clearly reflect Mercedes's philosophy and the characteristics of the C-Class.


Mercedes-Benz C 180 AVANTGARDE

Body Dimensions: Length 4,690 × Width 1,810 × Height 1,445 mm

Wheelbase: 2,840 mm

Tread Front/Rear: 1,565 / 1,550 mm

Vehicle Weight: 1,510 kg

Engine: 1,595 cc Inline 4-cylinder Turbo

Max Output: 115 kW (156 ps) / 5,300 rpm

Max Torque: 250 Nm (25.5 kgm) / 1,200-4,000 rpm

Transmission: 7-speed AT

Drivetrain: FR

Suspension Front/Rear: 4-link / Multi-link

Tires Front/Rear: 225/50 R17

Brakes Front/Rear: Ventilated Discs / Solid Discs

Trunk Capacity: 445 Liters

Fuel Economy (JC08): 17.3 km/L

Price: 4.67 million yen



Mercedes-Benz C 200 AVANTGARDE

Body Dimensions: Length 4,690＜4,715＞ × Width 1,810 × Height 1,445＜1,430＞ mm

Wheelbase: 2,840 mm

Tread Front/Rear: 1,565＜1,575＞ / 1,550 mm

Vehicle Weight: 1,540＜1,590＞ kg

Engine: 1,991 cc Inline 4-cylinder Turbo

Max Output: 135 kW (184 ps) / 5,500 rpm

Max Torque: 300 Nm (30.6 kgm) / 1,200-4,000 rpm

Transmission: 7-speed AT

Drivetrain: FR

Suspension Front/Rear: 4-link / Multi-link

Tires Front/Rear: 225/50 R17＜225/45 R18＞

Brakes Front/Rear: Ventilated Discs / Solid Discs

Trunk Capacity: 445 Liters

Fuel Economy (JC08): 16.5 km/L

Price: 5.24 million yen ＜AMG Line package option: 350,000 yen＞

＜ ＞ indicates when AMG Line is equipped



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