2012 Mercedes C-class test drive

I don’t know why but Mercedes cars never enough fascinated me or tickled my nether regions as most of the other Germans do. Might be due to the fact that I have been seeing Mercedes cars from the time I was born. My grandpa had an old generation (obviously) Mercedes E class whereas now my brother in law has a SLK. So when I was asked to check out a Mercedes car, I was a bit apprehensive. Mercedes cars don’t have the same image which they had earlier. Or that’s what I thought. So without my heart set on driving the new 2012 Mercedes C-class, I was actually goaded for the job. But then, as they say, a job is a job. So off I went for the 2012 Mercedes C-class test drive. Not for the car itself but for the prospect of visiting Spain’s Canary Islands. Yes, Mercedes haven’t yet released this car for us North Americans but has rather called the automobile scribes to Spain for a test drive. Once the vehicle sets its pair of wheels on the US soil, a more comprehensive review would be done.

Oh ya, it looks very much like how a Merc should look like. Stately to the core and with those 4 horizontal grilles for the front fascia and the 3 pointed star on the hood, the C would be mistaken for its more swankier E-class model. Those running strips of LEDs masquerading as fog lamps are an Audi copy whereas the very much Volkswagen like head lamps look slightly misty instead of the clear lens which they are supposed to have. The bonnet is now a slightly curving and bulging unit. 17 inch rims are typical Mercedes units and actually a carry over from the previous gen car. Mercedes Benz should actually now change the design of the wing mirrors as they have been the same since time immemorial. Nothing much has changed on the dimensions front and the car is overall of the same length and width as the outgoing model. Only LED tail lamps distinguish the old model from the new one.

About the interiors, it is similar fare to the earlier model with a sort of Volvo like instrument cluster. Wonder which company took the inspiration from the other. There is a piece of oak wood running across the length of the dash. A mix of beige and gray signified the upholstery combination but for the US models, it would mostly be charcoal gray or the muddy brown that Mercedes usually offers. The 2012 Mercedes C-class now gets Bluetooth pairing as standard plus the 6 CD music system with USB and Aux input. The one that I had for the test drive was the C350. There is high-resolution (800×400 pixel) seven-inch screen as also an integrated navigation system. However the smoothness which is prevalent in other German entry level luxury models though is missing from the baby Merc. The COMAND system required several filterings before one could arrive at the object of one’s attention. The front seats in the meanwhile are comfortable and the particular version that I had with me had some S class type side bolsterings. The rear is as good or cramped, whichever way you look at it, in this segment. Seating three abreast wouldn’t be a problem however leg room or the lack of it for taller passengers would definitely create problem. Dual zone climate control would however ensure that they maintain their cool in such situations. Boot space is the same as the previous model and no significant increment was noted on this count.

What Mercedes have done is, to get the handling of this car near BMW like. BMW have always been the benchmark as far as handling is concerned. The new stiffened suspension bushes and their overall dynamics extend a general dose of toughness while the 2012 Mercedes C-class goes around a corner. Pushing my luck and that of the rear wheel driven car revealed that there is a slight under steer however the madly flashing ESP unit of the car reins things back in. However due to the new found tautness in the handling stakes, the new cars loses some of its fun to drive character from the earlier model. Some amount of wind noise is present at around higher speeds. Ride quality however is now better than before with the car not losing its composure on the straights or at the odd bump that I encountered.

4 Engine options are available and 3 of them use the direct injection technology. However I would be talking only about the C350 which I have with me as of now. The 3.5 liter V6 engine develops 302 Hp of power and 273 pound feet of torque. It is mated with a 7 speed auto transmission. No manuals for US though. The feel of this V6 unit via the accelerator pedal was good and it felt lively but isn’t a patch on BMW’s straight 6. The transmission now hold onto gears longer and is quick on the kickdown as well. Well couldn’t put a timer to the acceleration figures but then Mercedes quoted a 5.1 seconds figure and I have no reason to disagree. Fuel efficiency figures of 18 mpg and 24 mpg for the city/highway cycle were being floated around. As far as safety is concerned, all of Mercedes’ new safety technologies are either available as standard or as an option. Brake feel is same as that of the earlier car and can be described as wooden at the best with good braking power though.

2012 Mercedes C-class Photo Gallery

Back from Canary Islands and after taking in the wonderful view afforded by the sun kissed islands, I am back to reality. Does the Merc achieve what it has set out for? Not really but then its goal isn’t to upset BMW’s apple cart with the fun to drive tag. It always wanted to achieve a good balance between the ride and handling stakes and that it does. Interior options are as stingy as Mercedes can get. Well, the prices are yet to be announced however knowing Mercedes, they are bound to be more than the outgoing model. Expect the model to be launched by this fall.

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