Motoring

CAROLINE GETS MOTORING

Bunclody native Caroline Kidd brings us reviews of the latest new cars to arrive in Ireland. Caroline is the founder and editor of the online automotive magazine Changing Lanes and a jury member for Irish Car of the Year. Find out more about her editorial and commercial copywriting services at www.changinglanes.ie

MERCEDES-BENZ C-CLASS

Mercedes-Benz has returned with a new generation of the perennial C-Class. This car is undoubtedly a pillar of the Mercedes-Benz brand, with a strong lineage that comes from a time when saloon was king. These days saloons are under pressure from SUVs – but the timeless quality of the C-Class means it's a car that still has plenty of relevance in today's market. In the last decade, the C-Class was the highestvolume Mercedes-Benz model, with over 11 million sold worldwide.

There are two themes the motor industry loves right now – digitisation and electrification. Naturally, the new C-Class touches both. It's electrified thanks to plug-in hybrid and mild hybrids to improve efficiency. Inside there is also a significant improvement to digitisation with a new display and operating concept adopted from the latest S-Class.

The new C-Class goes on sale in Ireland priced from €57,580 for a C 200 d (diesel), from €59,385 for a C 180 (petrol), and from €68,430 for the C 300 e (plug-in hybrid). It's available as a Saloon or Estate.

For this new generation, the C-Class has a new look inspired by the S-Class but with more sporty and dynamic proportions. For the first time the rear lamps have a twopiece design. The C-Class undoubtedly has kerb appeal, especially in AMG Line trim, with further sporty enhancements to the interior. Inside, the C-Class manages to feel even more luxurious than before. Cool ambient lighting sets the tone, while the new aviation style air vents give a sporty feel to the interior. Leather upholstery comes as standard. The dashboard and central display are also now slightly tilted towards the driver.

Other highlights include latest generation MBUX infotainment and ‘Hey Mercedes’ multimedia systems with voice-activation and touch screen functions, alongside a 12.3 inch digital instrument cluster. All models get a stunning portrait style, 11.9 inch media display in the centre of the dash. Ventilation controls are now accessed through the screen, but it’s quite simple to use.

Driver comfort and safety features include distance assist, steering assist, lane keeping assist, improved surround sensors, emergency braking functions, and a feature that can detect and raise the body height in anticipation of a collision. Slightly longer and wider than the car it replaces, the new C-Class has improved headroom, elbowroom and kneeroom for passengers. A large transmission tunnel in the rear means it’s a car most comfortable for two adults in the back. There’s 455 litres of boot space in the Saloon, rising to 490 litres in the C-Class Estate for even more practicality. The engine range at launch includes four cylinder petrol and diesel models, which all come with mild hybrid technology and an excellent 9-speed automatic transmission. The C 200 d for example uses a 2.0-litre diesel engine to produce 163 hp and 380 Nm. It offers healthy if not stunning performance in the new C-Class, but there’s also the more powerful C 220 d available. Efficiency is good with my average fuel consumption over a week of driving working out at 5.5 litres per 100 km. The insulation of the car gives you a nice buffer from the sound of the diesel engine. The new plug-in hybrid can be charged and driven electric now for over 100 km. Interior

On the road the Mercedes-Benz C-Class shows where your money goes with a beautiful ride comfort balanced with an athletic turn through corners and precise steering. The 3 Series would still have the edge on overall driver involvement. But the C-Class is a tidy performer with a lush cabin experience and smooth ride that makes you forgive it anything it might lack!

This latest C-Class is an elegant return for the popular compact Mercedes saloon. Clever styling and packaging means that it many ways, it's a junior S-Class. It certainly has presence on the road with the technology on board to back it up. It stands out for comfort and refinement, keeping the market alive for premium compact saloons. Model tested: Mercedes-Benz C 200 d Saloon AMG Line Price: €61,196 Engine: 2.0-litre turbo diesel Power: 163 hp Torque: 380 Nm 0-100km/h: 7.7 seconds Top speed: 230 km/h CO2 emissions: 120 g/km Motor tax: €190 per year n

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