Mercedes C220 BlueTEC Avantgarde saloon review (4/7/2014)

IN THE motor business, competition is generally at the heart of all things good. That is very definitely the case when it comes to the viciously competitive compact executive segment where the scrap for top dog status is fought with unrestrained aggression by Audi, BMW and Mercedes, with a little sprinkling of Lexus and Volvo thrown in for good measure.

Here in Ireland in recent years, the Audi A4 has been at the head of affairs in this segment, with the BMW 3-Series and the Mercedes C-Class locked in a mortal combat to topple it from its pedestal.

But the game is changing very rapidly and the arrival in Ireland at the end of May of a new C-Class is a precursor to the battle lines being redrawn for an unprecedented scrap between the main players for dominance of this vital segment.

Early next year we will see new versions of both the 3 Series and the A4 and that is going to set off the automotive equivalent of a bar brawl. The arrival of the new C-Class is about to set the lion amongst the zebras for a number of reasons. For a start it has been introduced with an entry price pretty similar to the car it replaces — and this despite the addition of considerable amounts of technology and kit.

This means BMW and Audi know they will have to raise their game considerably if the new generation of their contenders in the segment are going to be as successful as the old ones. Audi has held the whip hand in recent years — the numbers of A4s on the road being reflective of this — and to the end of May nearly 700 of their model were sold here, while BMW shifted just over 600 3-Series machines.

In the same period Mercedes only moved some 200 C-Class units, but the imminent arrival of the new car went a long way to explaining the disparity between it and its’ main competitors. Now the new car is here, expect Mercedes to close the gap in spectacular style.

I believe that will be the case and between now and the end of the year the C-Class will almost certainly be the class leader. I would be very surprised if it pans out any differently.

I tested the C220 BlueTEC Avantgarde saloon — the one that differentiated by having its’ three-pointed star incorporated in the grille rather than being sited atop the bonnet — and I have to say that from the moment I clapped eyes on it, it was immediately obvious now much Mercedes had upped its’ game with the car. Not only does the C-Class now look like a fully downscaled version of its’ big brother — but it now also has many of the technological highlights first seen in both the E- and S-Class models. A long bonnet, short overhangs and detail touches such as the chromed twin exhaust design are evidence of the ‘family’ design, while considerable packaging work, including an 80 mm longer wheelbase, 95 mm longer body and a frame which is 40 mm wider, all allow for more passenger and cargo space. Rear seat passengers are the real beneficiaries, where leg room and shoulder room are particularly important.

Stuff like the infotainment display, the interactive touchpad and apps which allow you access all sorts of data — weather, traffic, route planning etc — you’d expect in a car which has a younger audience in the crosshairs. Somehow, though, I don’t expect to see many Irish buyers going for the more fancy-dan options such as the ambient lighting system with three colours and five dimming levels, or the ‘air balance’ feature which allows you ‘perfume’ the car to your satisfaction.

All this for the same money as the previously less sophisticated version.

Add that the fact the whole underpinnings of the car have been comprehensively redesigned to provide the sort of handling and ride you only get in bigger cars only underlines how serious Mercedes has got about beating the opposition to a pulp. The only whimper of complaint I had about the car was the four cylinder turbodiesel engine which seemed to me to be out of sorts with the rest of the package.

Verdict

C220 BlueTEC Avantgarde saloon

****

The Cost: €47,940 — €51,629.

The Engine: 2,143 cc with 170 bhp and 400 Nm of torque. 0-100 kph in 7.8 seconds and top speed 233 kph. 4.3 l/100 km (65.1 mpg) and 110 g/km (tax band A 3 — €190). Excellent figures but refinement lets down the rest of the package.

The Specification: Well loaded with features such as Collision Prevention Assist, Bluetooth, air con., auto lights and wipers, cruise control, reversing camera and LED running lights. Adding extras is an expensive pursuit, however.

The Overall Verdict: A game-changer from Mercedes which will require a smart response from its rivals.