Mercedes-Benz C-Class Saloon

My review is with reference to the 318i M Sport that I also rented for a recent overseas trip. I had the C180 in Avantgarde trim for 6 days. It came with 9G tronic. For whatever reason, the suspension was awful. It transmits everything on the road into the cabin, and has poor absorption of the bumps. The car does ok for low-speed bumps but it thumps uncomfortably on high-speed bumps. Road noise is also a big problem at speeds above 80km/h. The car was fitted with Bridgestone Turanza T001 run-flats and they are meant to be comfort tyres. Super noisy. The 318i M-Sport that i drove before the C180, came with 18" Wheels and was quieter and more comfortable than the C180. Shocking. The 9G-Tronic gearbox wasn't smooth at all. It shifts hardly into gears quite often, unlike the smooth gearbox in the 318i. The C-Class has an off-set steering wheel, and the seats were very uncomfortable for long drives, lacking in lumber and thigh support. Poor ride, poor handling, poor refinement... In comparison to the 318i M-Sport. And you thought those should be all the negatives? Nope. The cabin may be nice, with nice choices of materials for the switches. But the gloss black center stack scratches easily and feels absolutely cheap. There was a constant rattling near the driver's side A-pillars even though there was only 20,000km on the car. The 3-series felt better built with better fit-and-finish. The boot has a wider opening than the 3-series so it is easier to fit your luggage through the opening. The C Class is supposed to be the most comfort-oriented car in the Compact Executive class, and it's premium pricing vs the rest raises expectations. I am putting this car right at the bottom of the class.... Read More

Good representation of Mercedes class design, both exterior and interior. Details are just exquisite. C180 similar to BMW 318 and A4 in terms of engine size to looks. Merely sufficient. C200 would be just nice. Smooth 9 gears transmission and only one with passenger memory seat in its class.... Read More