After all, this side of the 362-horsepower C55, Mercedes offers its C320 featuring a 215-horsepower V6; a model which will
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| Let's just say that the cheapest Mercedes-Benz is not the least powerful. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
soon be replace by the 268-horsepower C350. It's a great deal more expensive, starting out at $53,970, and therefore completely out of the question for entry-level buyers. I should also mention that Mercedes makes a less powerful variant of the C-Class than the C230, dubbed the C240. It's a six-cylinder model that produces only 168-horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque, and ironically sells for more money than the C230, at $42,250. Confused yet? Before I wrap myself up in my own "inconceivable" intelligence, and start to sound like Wallace Shawn's Vizzini character from the movie A Princess Bride, let's just say that the cheapest Mercedes-Benz is not the least powerful. It's also finished similarly to the more expensive models, excluding some body-colour exterior trim, such as door handles which are matte black, or the use of a high-quality "pleather" and leather mix throughout the interior. The 2005 model's upgraded dash and centre stack is as good as the top-line C55, however, also much better than last year's C230.
My tester was equipped with an automatic transmission. While a top-grade 5-speed unit with manual shift mode, it seems odd that
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| The 2005 model's upgraded dash and centre stack is as good as the top-line C55. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
Mercedes didn't furnish base model's 6-speed manual, considering there are few cars the automaker produces that feature a do-it-yourself gearbox and that the diminutive four-cylinder would perform much better with a stick shift. Nevertheless, the automatic actuates gear changes as seamlessly as can be expected with a high-revving inline-four, even when pushing the engine's envelope. Zero to 100 km/h arrives in a respectable 7.8 seconds when the 6-speed manual is installed, which is about three seconds slower than the C55 and more than a second quicker than the C240.
