The C 300d has always held a special place in the hearts of enthusiasts. Yes, diesels aren’t exactly hailed by ‘petrolheads’, unless of course, we’re talking oil burners with six cylinders or more. But despite its relatively humbler four-pot engine, the C 300d has even had automotive journalists give it a big thumbs up with its torquey feel and overall performance. But with the market moving away from diesels and towards petrol, hybrid and electric powertrains, it isn’t surprising that Mercedes-Benz has axed the oh-so-affable C 300d.
But good news is, the German luxury car maker has replaced it with the C 300 petrol! This is a different motor though and not the AMG C 43’s four-pot turbocharged petrol engine (codenamed M139). It is of course, a 2.0-litre, four cylinder turbocharged petrol engine (codenamed M254) and boasts peak outputs of 258PS and 400Nm. Yep, the numbers are down from the C 300d’s 265PS and 550Nm. Reason to complain? A couple of days of driving the C 300, including a round trip to Mumbai sprung up some interesting surprises.
First things first, the C 300 is on offer only in the ‘AMG Line’ trim, meaning you get nice-looking bits including skirtings, 18-inch AMG wheels and the larger, star-studded grille. Interiors are draped to match the sportiness with a carbon fibre like finish and an AMG steering wheel. These are besides the overall rich feel inside, thanks to the abundance of leather and high-quality plastics, as also the brilliant looking, 11.9-inch touchscreen that has a portrait orientation, and the classy-looking ambient lighting.
You also get a fair amount of kit including a Burmester audio system with 3D surround sound, wireless Apple CarPlay, 360-degree view and a dual-pane sunroof. There’s seat ventilation for the front seats, besides which the driving position is sporty yet comfortable. Legroom and kneeroom at the rear aren’t generous and taller occupants might just want some more space though. That said, the C 300 is a C-Class for those who drive themselves, and more importantly, for those who enjoy driving. And the 2.0-litre engine under the hood is up for the job, at all times. It is quick to respond and to build revs, helping it offer a likeable feel from the word go.
Performance is smile-inducing, as claimed 0-100kmph time is a mere 6 seconds. As you build revs the engine also manages to sound sporty, though it isn’t exactly loud and the exhaust note is merely meant to compliment the car’s sporty demeanour. The engine also loves being revved and pulls well, even beyond 6,000rpm. The 9-speed automatic gearbox is quick to respond too and I even enjoyed tugging at the paddle shifters. The C 300 is a brilliant car for highway runs as well – I’d made a round trip to Mumbai and back in it from Pune and boy, did it impress. Not just with the strong engine performance and the effortlessness that comes with it, but also the stellar fuel efficiency, but more on that later.
The engine helps the C 300 feel well-suited to spirited driving, be it on open roads or around corners, as power delivery is linear and there’s barely any turbo lag, courtesy the ISG onboard that offers an additional 23PS and 205Nm. This is besides the ‘overboost’ function that offers 27PS additionally, for up to 30 seconds. I didn’t quite get a chance to experience the overboost, as the engine was supplying ample shove at all times, helping me cover ground quickly, especially on the Pune-Mumbai Expressway. It made my dash to Mumbai feel effortless, but more importantly, without guzzling fuel.
The round trip had the car return a shade over 18kmpl on the day, which is very impressive, besides which, when I got back to Pune, the fuel gauge had only dropped to half and the tank range was still at 400km! Talk about having your cake and eating it too. The C 300 also handles well and offers a confident feel, even if with just a bit of body roll. It’s got poise and stays planted, be it around corners or in a straight line. Turn traction control off and the C 300 is also willing to hang its tail out to let you go sideways, though ESP is quick to kick back in and cut power. Ride quality is plush, as you would expect in a Mercedes-Benz and overall, there’s a good balance between ride and handling.
In a nutshell, the C 300 is pretty much the one to look at if you are shortlisting the C-Class as your next set of wheels. The car retails at Rs 69 lakh ex-showroom which makes it the range topper, but it is a Mercedes-Benz which means the three-pointed star on the hood get you respect, besides which the car also has the go to match its show.
