GIMLI, Manitoba - Introduced at the Geneva Auto show in the spring of 2011, the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe came to Canada in the fall of 2011 as a 2012 model.
Canadians get to choose between two powerplants; first on the list is the 2.0L inline-four that produces 201 horsepower. For those who believe that "if some is good, more is better," a 3.5L direct-injected V6 with a power output of 302 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque is also available.
According to Mercedes-Benz, about 95% of all C-Class sedans are currently ordered with 4MATIC, which is Mercedes-Benz's all-wheel drive system. The latter has been available in Mercedes products for 25 years, and the 4th generation of the system debuts in 2012. The C 350 Coupe 4MATIC is being added to the line-up as we're writing these lines.
The new 4MATIC sets a milestone in AWD systems because unlike the C-Class's main competitors, the Audi A4 quattro and the BMW 3 Series xDrive, 4MATIC does not carry a fuel consumption penalty. According to Transport Canada's Fuel Economy Guidelines, ratings are the same for both the rear-wheel drive and AWD C-Class models.
One of the most alluring aspects of the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C 350 Coupe 4MATIC is its overall design. When you first see the car, your reaction will be "wow!" Your second reaction will be "that can't be a Mercedes, it looks too good!" Get used to it; Mercedes-Benz is joining the leading edge of design without resorting to hanging lots of bling off the car.
Inside, the front seats are fully adjustable, form-fitting bucket seats. Mercedes has definite opinions on what is a proper driving position, so if you are a lounger or a squirmer, you are going to have to get used to a new way of sitting in a car. Steering and all controls do fall readily to hand, but activation of some controls such as the windshield wipers is different and takes getting used to.
Climbing into the back seat can be a bit of an exercise in a two-door, and the C 350 4MATIC is no exception. Once you fold either front seat forward, though, that seat will come forward on its track to provide plenty of room to make entry and exit much easier. For me, getting in was a breeze and the back seat was very comfortable.
I can see where sitting in the back could make someone feel a bit claustrophobic, but I didn't feel closed in. My problem was getting out; the rear seat is so far back and down low that it is difficult to get your legs under you so that you can stand, turn and step out through the door.
Back in the driver's seat, the first thing you notice is that shifting the electronically controlled 7-speed automatic into drive is done with a small paddle on the steering column. This takes a bit of getting used to, but it works well and makes as much sense as putting a stick in the centre console. Control feel such as steering input and brake pedal effort were firm and solid feeling, and are noticeably different from competitors such as the BMW 3 series and Audi A4.
Once in drive, the C350 4MATIC handles different road surfaces with ease. Driving took us from potholed city streets, to smooth pavement, to ice covered highways that you had difficulty standing on. Then we went out onto Lake Winnipeg where the instructors for the Mercedes-Benz Winter Driving School helped us learn how well 4MATIC aided us in everyday driving.
The 4MATIC system is a full-time, fixed-ratio setup with a 40/60 front/rear bias, which lets the C 350 retain many of the driving characteristics of a rear-wheel drive car. This includes a tendency to understeer with massive amounts of throttle required to get into an oversteer situation. With 4MATIC engaged and all the other stability aids in place, this was difficult to do. What the all-wheel drive system did aid in is keeping the car drivable on a slippery surface (such as ice) that I had difficulty standing on.
With all driving safety systems off and using just 4MATIC, judicious use of the throttle and steering brought back the ability to do massive and well controlled slides. The one caution on doing this is that it takes lot of practice to be able to do drifting right, so practice in safe remote areas and leave the nannies engaged on the road.
It is hard to think of a Mercedes-Benz, with a reputation for being stuffy, boring and conservative, as being fun to drive; that goes to show you can't judge a car by its looks or a company by its reputation.
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Canadians get to choose between two powerplants; first on the list is the 2.0L inline-four that produces 201 horsepower. For those who believe that "if some is good, more is better," a 3.5L direct-injected V6 with a power output of 302 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque is also available.
According to Mercedes-Benz, about 95% of all C-Class sedans are currently ordered with 4MATIC, which is Mercedes-Benz's all-wheel drive system. The latter has been available in Mercedes products for 25 years, and the 4th generation of the system debuts in 2012. The C 350 Coupe 4MATIC is being added to the line-up as we're writing these lines.
The new 4MATIC sets a milestone in AWD systems because unlike the C-Class's main competitors, the Audi A4 quattro and the BMW 3 Series xDrive, 4MATIC does not carry a fuel consumption penalty. According to Transport Canada's Fuel Economy Guidelines, ratings are the same for both the rear-wheel drive and AWD C-Class models.
One of the most alluring aspects of the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C 350 Coupe 4MATIC is its overall design. When you first see the car, your reaction will be "wow!" Your second reaction will be "that can't be a Mercedes, it looks too good!" Get used to it; Mercedes-Benz is joining the leading edge of design without resorting to hanging lots of bling off the car.
 |
| One of the most alluring aspects of the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C 350 Coupe 4MATIC is its overall design. When you first see the car, your reaction will be "wow!" (Photo: Charles Renny/Auto123.com) |
Inside, the front seats are fully adjustable, form-fitting bucket seats. Mercedes has definite opinions on what is a proper driving position, so if you are a lounger or a squirmer, you are going to have to get used to a new way of sitting in a car. Steering and all controls do fall readily to hand, but activation of some controls such as the windshield wipers is different and takes getting used to.
Climbing into the back seat can be a bit of an exercise in a two-door, and the C 350 4MATIC is no exception. Once you fold either front seat forward, though, that seat will come forward on its track to provide plenty of room to make entry and exit much easier. For me, getting in was a breeze and the back seat was very comfortable.
I can see where sitting in the back could make someone feel a bit claustrophobic, but I didn't feel closed in. My problem was getting out; the rear seat is so far back and down low that it is difficult to get your legs under you so that you can stand, turn and step out through the door.
Back in the driver's seat, the first thing you notice is that shifting the electronically controlled 7-speed automatic into drive is done with a small paddle on the steering column. This takes a bit of getting used to, but it works well and makes as much sense as putting a stick in the centre console. Control feel such as steering input and brake pedal effort were firm and solid feeling, and are noticeably different from competitors such as the BMW 3 series and Audi A4.
 |
| Steering and all controls do fall readily to hand, but activation of some controls such as the windshield wipers is different and takes getting used to. (Photo: Mercedes-Benz) |
Once in drive, the C350 4MATIC handles different road surfaces with ease. Driving took us from potholed city streets, to smooth pavement, to ice covered highways that you had difficulty standing on. Then we went out onto Lake Winnipeg where the instructors for the Mercedes-Benz Winter Driving School helped us learn how well 4MATIC aided us in everyday driving.
The 4MATIC system is a full-time, fixed-ratio setup with a 40/60 front/rear bias, which lets the C 350 retain many of the driving characteristics of a rear-wheel drive car. This includes a tendency to understeer with massive amounts of throttle required to get into an oversteer situation. With 4MATIC engaged and all the other stability aids in place, this was difficult to do. What the all-wheel drive system did aid in is keeping the car drivable on a slippery surface (such as ice) that I had difficulty standing on.
With all driving safety systems off and using just 4MATIC, judicious use of the throttle and steering brought back the ability to do massive and well controlled slides. The one caution on doing this is that it takes lot of practice to be able to do drifting right, so practice in safe remote areas and leave the nannies engaged on the road.
It is hard to think of a Mercedes-Benz, with a reputation for being stuffy, boring and conservative, as being fun to drive; that goes to show you can't judge a car by its looks or a company by its reputation.
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