Super TestCar reviews - Mercedes-Benz - C-Class - sedan rangeMercedes-Benz modelsC-Class 180E sedan 190E sedan 200 C180 Classic sedan C180 Esprit sedan C200 C200 CGI sedan C200K Avantgarde Estate C200K Sports Coupe C220 CDI Classic sedan C250 Bluetec Estate C250 Coupe Sport C300 Coupe C300e C320 Avantgarde sedan C320 CDI sedan C55 AMG sedan C63 AMG Edition 507 C63 AMG S C63 AMG S Estate C63 AMG sedan Cabriolet Coupe Estate range Estate wagon range sedan and wagon range sedan range Research Mercedes-Benz OverviewMercedes-Benz launches an all-new C-class like we've never known - or have we?26 Jul 2007 By CHRIS HARRIS STUNG by critics blasting the previous model for being too uninvolving to drive and un-Mercedes like in quality, the Germans have created a different type of C-class – one in which a BMW driver might feel at home one that rivals Audi for ambience and cabin presentation and one that won’t be left too far behind by Lexus’ compelling value pricing. The question is though: Is the new W204 a new and better type of compact luxury car for the marque, or is it closer to the old Mercedes ideal of bank-vault design and engineering? Model release date: 1 August 2007 to 1 May 2010 All car reviewsAlfa Romeo Abarth Alpine Alpina Audi Aston Martin BMW Bentley Chevrolet Chery Citroen Chrysler Dodge Cupra Ferrari DS Ford Fiat FPV Foton GWM Great Wall Holden Haval HSV Honda Hyundai Hummer Isuzu Infiniti Jeep Jaguar Lamborghini Kia LDV Land Rover Lotus Lexus Maserati Mahindra McLaren Mazda Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-AMG Mini MG Nissan Mitsubishi Peugeot Opel Proton Porsche Renault Ram Rover Rolls-Royce Skoda Saab SsangYong Smart Suzuki Subaru Toyota Tesla Volvo Volkswagen Previous modelWith its shrunken S-class styling and vast array of engines, the W203 should have been a Benz classic. And the many new-to-Mercedes buyers would be happy with the dynamics, speed, driveability and space that the good-looking and well-proportioned sedan offered. But the cabin quality not only lagged behind Mercedes’ previously rock-solid levels, the competition seemed to build their cars better. A bewildering model array was offered, from the early (2000—02) 95kW/185Nm 2.0-litre petrol four, and its 105kW/220Nm C180K and 120kW/240Nm C200K 1.8-litre supercharged Kompressor successor, to the smooth 125kW/240Nm 2.6-litre C240 V6 and 160kW/310Nm 3.2-litre C320 Turbo-diesels also figures strongly, with the 105kW/315Nm 2.2-litre C220 CDI remaining throughout the W203’s almost seven-year run. For performance fans, there was also the 260kW/460Nm 3.2-litre supercharged V6 C32 AMG until 2004, when a thorough facelift for the whole range saw the 270kW/510Nm 5.4-litre V8 C55 AMG replace it, as well as a 150kW/245Nm 2.5-litre V6 C230 and 200kW/350Nm V6 C350 in the more mundane V6 models. |
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