Test drive Mercedes Benz C-class W204 since 2007 sedan

All photos Mercedes Benz C-class W204 since 2007

Vitamin C

Mercedes-Benz 190s was born a quarter of a century ago, in 1982. So a new compact class was born in the Mercedes-Benz lineup, which eventually became the best sold.

The name of the C-class was in use only in 1993. At the same time, four lines of executions were also designated: Classic, Elegance, Avantgarde, as well as Esprit, which has not been preserved. At the same time, the C-class design varies for the first time depending on the configuration.

The main difference between Avantgarde, a radiator grille with large lamellas and a huge three -beam star in the middle (like on sports models of the company), as well as AMG package (15 mm suspension, sports seats, aerodynamic body kit, aluminum pedaling, perforated brakes. discs). Elegance and Classic are more restrained, here the traditional grille of the radiator and the lack of body kit even in the rank of option. The parallels with the S-class, of course, are traced, but the younger model, of course, does not look so bulky.

Compared to the third generation in the body of W203, the novelty is larger, and its design is not so elegant. However, the proportions have been preserved. Elegant lines on the sidewalls appeared, visually lengthening the car. The front headlights were shifted, and huge rear LED lights go far on the sidewalls, touching the upper edge of the mentioned lines along the side.

Inside, a two -tone design, which is flawlessly combined with aluminum inserts (Avantgarde) or from various wood (Elegance and Classic). In the center of the instrument panel, behind the rotary cover there is a 4.9-inch color display of the information system and navigation (7-inch for versions with a multimedia system of the Command APS with voice control and musical server), which can be controlled using a round joystick on the central tunnel Or buttons on the left side of the steering wheel.

Ergonomics is beautiful. You occupy a comfortable chair in German, everything is clear and familiar, as if I had driven this car all my life. The three -spectacular multifunctional steering wheel, covered in leather, is asking for. Round devices (a large platform of the speedometer in the center is especially attractive) are well read. The floor gas pedal has a short move, to squeeze it to the kik downs once spit (unlike many other modern cars). Build quality at the highest level.

How have the running qualities changed? For the answer, I went to a test drive organized by Daimlerchrysler. The program included a route along the city and highway, as well as the stage at the Dmitrovsky auto policy to get acquainted with the behavior of the sedan in extreme situations.

I chose the Mercedes C200 Kompressor performed by Elegance the cheapest option at the moment (less powerful C180 Kompressor will appear in autumn dealers). It was 4-cylinder engines that have changed, six (2.8 liters, and 3.5 l) remained the same. Version C230 (V6, 2.5 L, 204 hp, 245 Nm) will also arrive in Russia in the fall.

The power of the 1.8-liter compressor power unit C200 increased by 20 hp. (184 forces at 5500 rpm), the moment is 250 nm, starting with 2800 rpm. The dynamics with such a motor is not amazed, but a lot allows on the road. In addition, there are obvious advantages compared to V6 weight and fuel consumption less.

The new C-class is like two cars in one. He can take you, delighting the usual stroke for Mercedes, not reporting nothing about how bad the road is under the wheels. At the same time, a 5-speed automatic will be slow and almost imperceptibly sorting through the transmission. But Baby-Benz is ready for pranks. A pair of short movements by the automatic transmission lever to the left (to throw off a couple of steps), and, having unscrewed the motor up to 6500 rpm, which the compressor sings fun, I fly up to the turn. Light movement of the steering wheel (transfer ratio 14.5: 1, approximately 2.7 turns from the stop to the stop), I fill the car into a turn simply as surprisingly how cleverly the C-class moves along the arc, it goes almost without rolls! This is the merit of the new Agility Control suspension, which regulates the stiffness of shock absorbers depending on the traffic mode. On this Mercedes, any overtaking or rebuilding into the joy, the capabilities of the motor are enough. There was no such sport before the C-class, but the damage of comfort is small. The car became tougher on the move and more acute in reactions, but under ordinary conditions the picture is traditional for Mercedes-Benz.

Finally, we are at the training ground, where I am waiting for an acquaintance with 6-cylinder versions. It was raining, which, in my opinion, only facilitated the task of understanding the car. For journalists, the organizers prepared four exercises: a moose test, an imitation of a detour of an obstacle to braking (for example, they did not have time to notice the tail of the cork), a passage of a small ring with turns of different steepness and a snake and (separately) snake on the basalt coating.

The detour of the obstacle was carried out on braking from about 120 to 80 km/h. Immediately intervened ABS, Adaptive Brake (this system creates pressure in the brake system in advance when the driver abruptly throws the gas pedal, and also squeezes the brakes for weak drivers, or dries the pads when wet), and ESP. The newcomer borrowed electronics from the S-class, so she works excellently. The anti -lock system does not convey the vibration to the pedal, the slowdown on the slippery coating is confident.

With emergency braking, the C-class is a bit to the movements of the steering wheel. If you hit the brake pedal, the car will warn you follow you about the danger to the stop-signals with the hazard, and after the stop will turn on the emergency gear itself.

ESP acts unobtrusively sometimes even impossible to understand whether the electronics intervened in the control, but it is still effective that the snake has proved on the basalt. It is unlikely that it will be possible to drive it faster, turning it off, for this we need sports piloting skills. And together with the stabilization system, such an inexperienced driver energetically perform such an exercise.

As part of the elk test, two tasks were set. The first is, in fact, to go around the moose, the second to evaluate the operation of the PRE-SAFE preventive security system, which is equipped with the C350 in the database, and the rest of the modifications are additionally. Having revealed the probability of an emergency situation, Pre-Safe pulls the belts, puts the passenger’s chair in the optimal position and closes the windows and hatch, leaving small gases exit, which the airbags of airbags (seven) are triggered when the pyrotechnics is triggered.

After the races on a small ring track, where I managed to make the company C280 and C350, I finally made sure that C200 Kompressor was the best option for a trip to Dmitrov. If you want crystally clean handling, then the easier C-class is what you need. Of course, six -cylinder cars have another good trump card excellent dynamics.

Returning to Moscow with a charge of vigor and a load of positive impressions, I thought about who should give sympathies in a situation of choice between modern BMW 3 series, Audi A4 and a new C-class. And he decided that Mercedes claimed the role of my favorite with the greatest basis. This is if compared 320i, C200 and A4 2.0. Of course, all-wheel drive modifications will be pulled up in autumn, the Advanced Agility sports package will appear with the possibility of choosing a sports or comfortable mode of operation of electronics, checkpoints and suspension. That is, the C-class will appear in options that are even closer to perfection. But competitors in this case will already be others

Prices and configuration
Mercedes C-class can be bought with three gasoline engines to choose from: a 4-cylinder compressor volume of 1.8 liters (184 hp, C200 Kompressor), 6-cylinder 3.0 liters (231 hp, C280) and C280) and 3.5 l (272 hp, C350). For C200, a 6-speed mechanics and a 5-speed automatic is proposed, for C280 the same mechanics and automatic transmission 7G-Tronic, C350 is serial 7G-Tronic. There are Classic, Elegance and Avantgarde execution lines. Prices for C200 Kompressor Classic start at 34,100, and the most expensive version of C350 Avantgarde with 47 800. Elegance execution, in particular, contains alloy 16-inch wheels (17-inch for Avantgarde), alloy wheels 7j X 16 (7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 5j x 17), tires 205/55/r16 (225/45/r17), lateral aluminum moldings, rear row with a central armrest, a multifunctional steering wheel covered with skin, a 4.5-inch display on the instrument panel, a gray radiator from a gray radiator with chrome inserts (Avantgarde has a grille of a frosted silver radiator with chrome inserts and a Mercedes star), a special salon lighting system, foglight headlights with chrome framing (and double lamella), transmission levers of the IACP/leather control lever with leather decoration, protective lining, protective lining, protective lining, protective lining, protective lining, protective lining, protective lining, protective lining The lid of the trunk with chrome inserts, wood decoration elements (for Avantgarde made of aluminum). In the fall of 2007, models of model with 1.8 liter engines (156 hp, C180 Kompressor) and 2.5 l (204 hp, C230) will enter the Russian market. At the same time, all-wheel drive versions of 4-Matic and the ADVANCED Agility sports package will appear.