Mercedes Mercedes-Benz C-Class 220 CDI 170 CV BlueEfficiency, road test (Part II)

We arrive at the second part of the road test of the Mercedes C-Class, a premium saloon equipped with the best-known engine of the C-Class: the 170 CV 220 CDI diesel engine, which has now become somewhat greener and more fuel-efficient and is named BlueEfficiency. We discussed its engine, automatic gearbox and handling in the first part of the road test, and in this second part we will cover the exterior design of the C-Class, the interior design, build quality and space.

One of the areas where the Mercedes C-Class stands out is the quality of its finishes, and an interior where, as soon as you sit in the C-Class, everything is within reach, of good quality, and you get a sense of space when you sit behind the wheel. Moreover, as a BlueEfficiency model, it also features exterior details that help reduce consumption and emissions, such as special 16″ tyres to improve aerodynamics; in fact the C-Class has one of the best drag coefficients in its segment (Cx of 0.25 on the BE versions).

Exterior design

The exterior lines of the Mercedes C-Class are quite distinctive, especially since the change it underwent with the last generation in 2007, when the design gained straighter and less traditional lines than we were used to from it. Externally it is a muscular car with more pronounced lines and two exterior trims that set it apart, mainly in the grille and a few other elements: Elegance and Avantgarde (the trim our test unit is equipped with).

The BlueEfficiency units are recognised externally by the logo placed on the sides and by specific wheels designed to optimise consumption, since the BlueEfficiency units come as standard with 205/55 tyres on 16″ rims, equipment that our test unit includes as standard with 7-spoke alloy wheels (see detail). The wheels are also a curious point: checking the documentation that Mercedes always sends us with the test cars (price, optional equipment, range…), I saw that all C 220 CDI BE models, with or without automatic gearbox, pay only 4.75% registration tax, except if they do not fit these wheels as standard and fit others (either 225/50 R16 tyres or larger sizes), in which case they pay 9.75% tax.

Also regarding the exterior design, the lights on our test unit were bi-xenon with cornering light function, and also fog-light assistance in bends. It is an extra, but the lighting it offers justifies the investment (1,393 euros), and the rear lights are worth highlighting for their LED technology.

Interior design

As soon as you step inside, we see good-quality materials across the whole centre console, the plastics are pleasant to the touch and we barely find any material that clashes in terms of quality. The driving position is very comfortable, with good visibility both to the rear and to the front, and the large mirrors also help keep everything under control (and if not, there is always the optional rear-view camera -see detail- to see better when reversing).

Most of the controls are within easy reach, and from the steering wheel we can also control the radio and the on-board computer, which shows information on consumption, navigation, settings, or even the sound system. The navigation system is an option and is available in different versions with larger or smaller screens, but all share a very practical feature: as soon as you switch the car off, it hides under a practical cover, avoiding temptation.

Also, from the instrument panel we can also monitor instantaneous and average consumption, or the position of the automatic gearbox, on an fairly simple instrument panel, with the on-board computer screen bringing together many functions that are really useful for keeping everything under control or having vehicle information at a single glance.

One detail we do not like very much is the mix of stalks on the left-hand side (see detail) (a house style of the German manufacturer), and it takes some getting used to, especially at first, that the wiper and indicator stalks share the same lever on the left, with the cruise control and speed limiter on top of it.

But as I mentioned at the beginning, the driving position is very good. It has comfortable front seats that we appreciate on long trips in the C-Class; in our case they have electric adjustment and lumbar support. Another detail that still catches my attention, and is a real trademark of Mercedes, is the foot-operated parking brake, which also saves space on the centre console and allows that space to be used for a practical glovebox.

As for the rear seats, they are comfortable for travelling, but their comfort is somewhat reduced by the legroom; still, within the premium segment and compared with rivals such as the BMW 3 Series or the Audi A4, all three sit at roughly the same dimensions. In addition, the panoramic roof (also optional) gives the interior a lot of light, and rear passengers travel comfortably, especially if only two people sit in the back, and they have independent climate control (an extra) with temperature and fan-power adjustment.

For long journeys, the interior space, the comfortable seats and the well-calibrated suspension make it a perfect distance-eater, and you can travel with it without tiring as much as with other models in the segment (we completed two 600 km trips). Seats that I still like (and I already commented on them at the time of the GLK test) since they are not fully leather but a mix of fabric and artic leather, which makes them comfortable and means we do not have to suffer the drawbacks of leather in low or high temperatures.

As for storage, it is also very complete, with a glovebox of normal size, the spaces in the centre console where we can keep quite a lot of things, and the door pockets of a suitable size. And there are details we cannot overlook: for example, at night there are courtesy lights in the door handles to help you see them better, and the two LED lights under the interior mirror that give off a white light like a map light and are very practical.

Finally, there is the boot, which has fairly regular shapes, and the pleasant surprise of a spare wheel under the boot floor (see detail); its capacity of 475 litres is a normal figure for the segment (A4 480 litres and 3 Series 460 litres). In the next part of the test we will talk about the price of the C-Class, its equipment, and, as always, our overall assessment of the model.

Photos | David Taboada