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2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Review
Small cars from the sublime to the ridiculously fast.
2002 C-Class Review Summary & Specifications
It's almost impossible to believe that Mercedes-Benz can offer a high-style coupe with so much standard equipment and so much safety equipment at a starting price of $24,950 and still make money. Of course, a well-optioned version of the C230 Sports Coupe will run up over $30,000, and the lease or payment monthly will rise accordingly, but this looks like the entry-luxury coupe bargain of the year from our perspective. The sedans have been deliberately and carefully equipped and priced to sell well against European and Japanese competition, but having driven it, we don't recommend the C240 sedan because the engine is weak. The C320 V6 is a much more satisfying ride. The C320 wagon weighs about 200 pounds more than the sedan with the same engine, so performance is less brisk, but the wagon is a high-style, high-function piece. And the C32 AMG? At $50,000, it's the high-performance bargain of the year, capable of absolutely amazing acceleration and handling. Your problem will be trying to find one that's not already spoken for.
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| Vehicle Category | Luxury Cars |
| Editor | Jim McCraw |
| Model Lineup | C230 Sports Coupe ($24,950); C240 Sedan ($29,950); C320 Sedan ($36,950); C320 Wagon ($38,450); C32 AMG ($50,000) |
| Engines (standard) | 2.3-liter sohc 16-valve V8 |
| Engines (optional) | 192-hp 2.3-liter sohc 4-valve inline-4; 170-hp 2.6-liter sohc 3-valve V6; 218-hp 3.2-liter sohc 3-valve V6; 354-hp 3.2-liter sohc supercharged 3-valve V6 |
| Transmissions (standard) | 5-speed automatic |
| Transmissions (optional) | 6-speed manual; 5-speed automatic |
| Safety Equipment (standard) | ABS, traction control, ESP, front, side, rear and roof airbags |
| Safety Equipment (optional) | |
| Basic Warranty | 4 years/50,000 miles |
| Assembled In | Bremen, Germany |
| Manufacturer Phone | 1-800-FOR-MERCEDES |
| Manufacturer URL | www.mbusa.com |
| Base Price MSRP | 24950 |
| Model Tested MSRP | C230 Kompressor Coupe ($24,950) |
| Standard Equipment | power windows, power mirrors, air conditioning, ABS, traction control, ESP (electronic stability program), tilt/telescope wheel, AM/FM/cassette system |
| Options as Tested (MSRP) | automatic transmission ($1300), panorama roof ($995) |
| Destination Charge | 615 |
| Gas Guzzler Tax | |
| Price as Tested | 27860 |
| Layout | rear-wheel drive |
| Horse Power | 192 @ 5500 |
| Torque | 200 @ 2500 |
| Fuel Economy | 22/29 |
| Wheelbase | 106.9 |
| Length/Width/Height | 171/68/54.3 in. (Coupe); 178.2/68/55.7 (Sedan and Wagon) |
| Track Front/Rear | 58.8/57.6 |
| Turning Radius | 35.3 |
| Seating Capacity | 4 |
| Front Head/Hip/Leg room | 38.5/52.8/42.0 |
| Middle Head/Hip/Leg room | |
| Rear Head/Hip/Leg room | 36.3/51.7/33.0 |
| Trunk Volume | 10.2 |
| Payload | |
| Towing Capacity | 2000 |
| Front Suspension | Independent |
| Rear Suspension | Independent |
| Ground Clearance | 5.8 |
| Curb Weight | 3401 (Coupe); 3597 (Sedan); 3729 |
| Stock Tires | P205/55R-16 (Coupe); P225/55-16 (Sedan); P245/45ZR-17/P245/40ZR-17 (C32 AMG) |
| Brakes Front/Rear | disc/disc with EBFD and ABS |
| Fuel Capacity | 16.4 |
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2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
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