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C for chic In contrast to its predecessor, the new C-class has soft, organic lines that have been stretched to deliver a more bold and confident shape, with strong straight lines dominating

Now, the third-generation Mercedes C-class launched in April will come here soon. It is a fresh new design, looks great and has all the required essentials that a luxury car buyer in India will look for. So how good is the new C-class? Read on to find out.

In contrast to its predecessor, the new C-class has soft, organic lines that have been stretched to deliver a more bold and confident shape, with strong straight lines dominating. The new Merc is also larger than the car it is replacing; it is 55mm longer, 42mm wider and 18mm taller and the wheelbase too is larger but only by 45mm. Though the increase in the wheelbase is small, it has improved rear legroom which was a shortcoming on the earlier car. Another reason why the new C-class is bigger than the earlier car is because Mercedes had to offer this car with more safety features and a lot more comfort and refinement-enhancing materials.

The suspension consists of conventional MacPherson struts at the front and a multi-link set-up at the rear. Trick dampers are offered as standard on the new Merc and are dubbed the Agility Control suspension; the dampers have the ability to alter the ride depending on road conditions and driving style. To make the car more inclined towards India, the version coming here will get what is called ‘rough road’ suspension. The suspension has been raised and tweaked to suit Indian roads.

The quality of interiors on the new C-class is way ahead of the car that is being replaced. And, it should be. The owners should feel the luxury when inside, both at the front and the rear. The new C-class has better fit and finish than the older car and the dashboard plastics have a nice, soft feel. The buttons and switches are sturdy and the dark wood finish and hints of chrome lend an air of elegance to the cabin. Even comfort and space on the new C-class are better.

The cabin is more spacious as the car is bigger. In addition to increased legroom, there is also more shoulder room. The rear seats are more comfortable in the new Merc but we felt the backrest is a little upright. The front seats are comfortable too and offer adequate thigh support.

The 2.2-litre turbocharged common-rail diesel puts out 170bhp and a staggering 41.8kgm of torque from 2000rpm.

That’s 27bhp and a massive 9.7kgm up on the previous C. To get to these figures and to improve overall levels of refinement on the engine, Merc has gone to town, fine-tuning its four-cylinder diesel like never before. Upto 90 modifications have been carried out on the motor. They lowered the compression ratio to make way for added boost and better smoothness; shorter connecting rods and new pistons are used for added punch; and the airflow of the motor has been improved towards this cause as well. Sadly, India doesn’t get the 7G-tronic seven-speed gearbox; the normal five-speed auto box is provided instead. While the 7G-tronic would have been the gearbox of choice, the five-speed box acquits itself quite well. It kicks down almost instantly for those quick bursts of power and the shift is quick and pretty seamless as well.

Even though there is an increased power output, Mercedes claimed that the new C-class would be more fuel efficient than its predecessor. In fact it actually is, though by a small margin. The new Mercedes C-class delivered 9.5kpl in the city and 12.6kpl on the highway.

The new C-class has taken things to the next level. It has sharp styling, looks good and modern, has better passenger space than the older model, the seats are more comfortable and it drives excellently too. In addition, the amazing suspension soaks up the worst of roads with ease.

Though the new Mercedes is a generation ahead of the car it replaces, it still isn’t as much fun to drive as the BMW. However, what it does do is transport the passenger in a relaxed and calm manner, which is typical of a Mercedes car. In several ways, the new C-class is like a compact E-class and this should please customers.

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