The C230 sport coupe demonstrates that size isn't everything, at least in terms of engines. Its four-cylinder engine generates 189 horsepower and 192 pounds-feet of torque, making it more powerful than the C240 sedan. The C230's supercharged engine is impressive. Mercedes claims the C230 coupe can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 7.2 seconds with the six-speed manual transmission, and 7.5 seconds with the adaptive five-speed automatic. That's reasonably quick. Moreover, the engine is very responsive to throttle commands. Its more responsive than other four-cylinder engines, and its powerband is nicely suited to a small sport coupe. However, the supercharged engine in the C230 is the roughest in the C-Class line. The V6 engines are much smoother. The supercharger makes pleasant mechanical sounds, and it looks like mechanical sculpture under the hood. Yet one person's sounds are another's noise, and the C230's four-cylinder vibrates more than the V6 both at idle and at high revs. Plus, the four-cylinder engine isn't the best match for an automatic transmission. The automatic zaps much of its zest, and tends to leave only the engine's courser qualities. In other words, the C230 works best with the six-speed manual.
The C320 offers a nice balance of ride and handling. The suspension is well damped, giving it a comfortable ride. There's no bouncing after hitting a dip in the road. It most closely replicates the traditional Mercedes ride quality, and it may be our favorite package. It isn't a sports sedan in the classic sense, but it's likely to best suit the tastes of most buyers. It's never stiff, but it won't wilt if you push it.
The C230 and C320 sports sedans are livelier and turn in for corners more responsively. The rack-and-pinion power steering, the sports seats, and the beefy steering wheel make you feel like you're in command. If you start to lose that command, the electronic stability control system (ESP) can help put things right by applying the brakes to one or all of the wheels. Nonetheless, the substantial weight of the sports sedans and the C-Class coupes makes them feel heavier than comparable BMW 3 Series and Audi A4 models. This heavier transitional feel will be familiar to longtime Mercedes owners, but first-time buyers seeking a sports sedan might want to test the alternatives.
Blasting along at 80 mph, all C-Class models are reasonably quiet. Both the sedan and coupe are slippery cars, and very little wind noise penetrates the cabin. Yet there seems to be more engine and rear-end noise in the sport coupes. It might be an issue of insulation or body design, and in a world of high-wattage auto stereos, it may not matter much.
Mercedes-Benz puts as much effort into its braking systems as some makers put into their whole cars, and it shows immediately in the driving. All C-Class models get big brakes (11.8-inch discs up front and 11.4-inch discs in the rear, except the C32 AMG, whose brakes are even larger). The sports sedans have four-piston calipers and cross-drilled rotors in front, and all feature Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist. Electronic Brake-force Distribution automatically distributes brake pressure among the four wheels, adding more to wheels that are gripping best. Brake Assist senses a panic braking situation and helps ensure full braking force even if you make the mistake of relaxing pressure on the brake pedal. In normal driving, the C-Class brakes are progressive in pedal feel; in more serious situations, the anti-lock brakes are enormously powerful and allow the driver to maintain steering control of the car.
The C-Class wagons and standard sedans offer all-wheel drive, which Mercedes calls 4MATIC. The system uses electronic traction control to vary torque distribution to all four wheels individually. The system is fully automatic and on all the time; there aren't any buttons for the driver to push, nor is there anything special he or she needs to know. Mercedes-Benz claims that even if three wheels lose traction, 4MATIC can directpower to the one wheel with traction to keep the car moving through slippery conditions. The compact system adds less than 200 pounds to the weight of the vehicle, and does not compromise passenger or luggage space. It does dampen engine response and slow acceleration slightly, but not adversely so.
The C32 AMG is a sports sedan in the truest sense, capable of amazing acceleration and handling. Retailing for $51,400, it's built in limited numbers. It's great fun, but your problem may be finding one. Next Page