MERCEDES C200K
GERMAN BITE (2004-06-14)
With The C200K, Mercedes Claims To Have Produced A Sports Saloon and Estate To Take On The Worlds Best. Jonathan Crouch Drives It
If, like most, you see the term prestigious sports saloon as a byword for
BMW, then the Mercedes C-class is the car supposed to shock you into submission. Apparent proof comes not only in the pricier versions of the latest line-up but also in the form of the more affordable C200 Kompressor model featured here.
`Affordable is a relative term of course, given prices for this car which start at £22,880. Still, for petrol buyers, this 163 bhp variant represents only the second step on the latest C-class model ladder, just above the 143 bhp 2.0 litre C180 and just below the 192 bhp and 218 bhp C230K and C320. With only four cylinders however, the C200K appears at an immediate disadvantage to similarly priced six cylinder rivals from BMW,
Audi and
Rover.
| Build |
 |
| Comfort |
|
| Depreciation |
 |
| Economy |
 |
| Equipment |
|
| Handling |
 |
| Insurance |
|
| Performance |
|
| Styling |
|
| Value |
|
The ace up its sleeve is clever Twinpulse technology, which on the road, ought to be fairly readily apparent. Thanks to a specially developed Lanchester balancer shaft, refinement and acoustics are much closer to those of a six cylinder engine than those of a four. Go for the badge-delete option, take your colleagues out and see if they can tell that youve gone for the four cylinder model. Another part of the Twinpulse recipe is an Electronic Control Unit that through throttle pedal movements, recognises your driving style and adapts the drive characteristics of the engine accordingly.
If you fancy yourself as a racing driver, the ECU will do its best to accommodate you, improving throttle response. If on the other hand, the computer detects a driver looking for comfort rather than speed, it harmonises the engine settings to suit.
"The C200Ks supercharged unit could easily be mistaken for a larger capacity engine..."
This is a 1.8-litre four cylinder unit, but thanks to the `blower`, output is a hefty 163bhp - very similar to that of, say, a 2.4-litre V6
Audi A4. The performance is equally comparable, with rest to sixty attainable in 9.1 seconds on the way to 143 mph.
The only real drawback to original C200K models used to be the thirst, but thats now been improved by some 12%. Youll should now be able to average close to 35mpg, whether in the saloon or the versatile but hardly cavernous estate version that a third of buyers will choose. But what of the on the road experience? Well, as any owner of a current shape C-class will testify, this is a huge improvement on anything weve previously seen from Stuttgart. No rival rides better, but then that was something you could say of the previous shape C-class.
This one, however, is much more successful in providing insulation without isolation. It has crisp, sharp steering, very little bodyroll and an overall standard of composure that no car in its class can match. Whether these are the crucial ingredients for a sports saloon is of course another question. Manual models dont help the cause with a rather rubbery gearchange action despite a more sports-orientated set up.
Still, since most Mercedes buyers will opt for the excellent 5-speed automatic, that probably wont be much of an issue. This transmission has a manual mode, allowing you to flip up and down the gearbox yourself, but this auto responds so rapidly, you rarely find yourself needing to bother. Opting for the auto also means you dont need three feet to use the awkward foot-operated handbrake when accelerating from rest on an upward slope. In the mid-term facelift visited on the C-Class, the exterior has been altered but youll need to be a genuine spotter to make out the revisions.
The front bumper has been redesigned and theres a radiator grille with three louvres. This apparently gives a more powerful feel. Clear-lensed headlamps are also fitted as standard as are Sixteen-inch wheels and sportier side skirts on all the Classic models. A special scratch-resistant clearcoat finish has also been developed to further protect the paintwork.
Sophisticated electronics of this kind are everywhere around this car: ABS, Brake Assist, traction control and ESP dynamic driving control (to help you out if you enter a corner too fast) are all standard. So are no fewer than six front airbags (windowbags along with those at the side and the front). Plus all the usual executive basics and a vast options list (if your chequebook can stand it). Inside, theres the kind of quality cabin feel youd expect from the Three Pointed Star.
It benefits from better switchgear, modified seats and a little more visual flamboyance with chrome detailing and white, chronometer-style illuminated dials. Classic models feature fine wood trim as standard while Avantgarde models offer standard aluminium detailing with an option of Birds-Eye maple. This sporting version also offers an interesting
seat trim, being a mix of fabric and what Mercedes dubs ARTICO. All models feature a revised climate control system thats a lot easier to get to grips with and a vertically stacked information display that runs between the speedometer and the rev counter.
Equipment levels are reasonable, depending on the usual choice between Classic, Elegance and Avantgarde trim levels with optional SE packages for each one. Those opting for the most commonly selected Elegance model can expect to find air conditioning, alloy wheels, a CD radio, central locking and an alarm/immobiliser. A Sports Package with uprated suspension, exhaust and brakes, bigger wheels and tyres and a few interior goodies is also available as an option for Avantgarde models, or if your pockets are a liittle deeper, a more extreme AMG Sports Pack is also offered. In summary then, the classiest compact executive car you can buy, though not necessarily the most entertaining.
But when the charms of other cars have faded, this one will keep impressing you. Which for a Mercedes, is as it should be.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Mercedes C200K
PRICES: £22,880-£25,030 on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 13A
CO2 EMISSIONS: 185g/km
PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 9.1s / Max Speed 143mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 36.7mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front and side airbags / ABS/ ESP
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height mm 4526/1970/1426mm
<< Back to car reviews of mercedes-benz
<< Back to car reviews homepage
Find New & Used Cars in the UK |
New & Used mercedes-benz Cars For Sale UK
