We recently spent time with the latest and long awaited
Mercedes-Benz C220d. This good-looking
Sedan impressed me in terms of ride quality and exceptional fuel consumption, here are some things that you need to know.
The latest
C Class now features the same design language as seen on other
‘Benz products. We particularly like the front design which on the
Avantgarde model is a little less sporty than on the
AMG Line. The
C Class remains eye-catching, and the design of the
C Class does follow that of the new
S Class. The car’s feature LED headlights with a new digital headlight option. This is more advanced than the LED units and provides further reaching visual benefits. The rear has also been enhanced with LED taillights.
The interior of the new
C Class has also been drastically enhanced which left us impressed from a visual standpoint. One of the most eye-catching elements is undoubtedly the new, large infotainment screen which is slightly angled for ease of use. It features the 2nd-generation
MBUX software which is standard across the range and measures in at 30.2cm diagonally. The display offers clear and high-res graphics and the system performs functions quickly. It features the latest in smartphone connectivity which is wireless.
Unfortunately the car only has
USB Type C ports but there is a wireless charge tray which is a great feature. There is also an all-digital instrument cluster, new steering wheel and a new fascia design. Visually, the interior is on another level compared to its competitors due to its technology and use of space.
Seen here is the
C220d which develops 147kW and 440Nm of torque from its diesel fueled power plant. It also features a 48V electrical system that operates an electric motor capable of adding 15kW and 200Nm to the outputs. This extra shove provides decent acceleration and not once was I lacking forward propulsion.
One of the biggest highlights about this car is its fuel consumption. I saw figures of as low as 4.7l/100km and when it was time to return the vehicle I had a remaining range of 530km, after completing 860km - all of this without once refueling. That is some of the best consumption that I have ever experienced in a luxury
Sedan such as this.
The new
C Class was indeed worth the wait, however I can’t help but wonder if the
GLC or even the
GLB is a better option considering the fact that SUV’s are the talk of the town at the moment. While the
C Class is great, it is limited on practicality from a luggage perceptive and you do risk the chance of scraping that sculptured front bumper more than you would in an SUV for example. That said, the new
C Class should definitely be on your list, and this
C220d should be at the top.
Credit: Justin Jacobs