With more than 37,000 units sold in India since 2001, there is no doubt that Mercedes-Benz India will look to add significant volumes with the launch of the new-generation Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Mercedes has begun manufacturing the 'baby-S', as it is fondly called, at its plant in Chakan, Maharashtra. With three variants on offer, the company has already begun taking bookings for the new C-Class and deliveries will begin June 2022 onwards as the new 'C' looks to cement its legacy as the sportiest, comfiest C ever.
Also Read: 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Review
Prices of the older generation C-Class began at Rs. 50 lakh or so. With the new C decidedly sportier, getting more engine options and a bunch of features and technology, we expect the prices of the new-gen C-Class starting at about Rs. 55 lakh, for the C 200 petrol variant. The C 220d and the C 300d are likely to be more expensive, with the top-spec C 300d being closer to Rs. 65 lakh. Anything lower and the C-Class is likely to give tough competition to the likes of the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series, Jaguar XE and the Volvo S60.
Also Read: Expect This Year To Be Mercedes-Benz India's Best Ever Year: Martin Schwenk
(The C 200 is expected to see more demand with the latest generation and the EQ Boost really gives the small 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol motor a lot of punch)
Like we said, Mercedes-Benz India will offer three engine options on the C-Class. The C 200 petrol, C 220d diesel and the most powerful engine, the C 300d. The sole petrol engine on offer is a 1.5-litre unit, while the diesel mills are 2.0-litre units. In addition, all three engine options get an integrated starter generator (ISG) with EQ Boost, which provides a significant 15 bhp of extra power and up to 200 Nm of extra torque.
| Specifications | C 200 (Petrol) | C 220d (Diesel) | C 300d (Diesel) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 1,496 cc | 1,993 cc | 1,993 cc |
| Power | 201 bhp at 5,800 - 6,100 rpm | 197 bhp at 3,600 rpm | 261 bhp at 4,200 rpm |
| Torque | 300 Nm at 1,800 - 4,000 rpm | 440 Nm at 1,800 - 2,800 rpm | 550 Nm at 1,800 - 2,200 rpm |
| Transmission | 9G-Tronic | 9G-Tronic | 9G-Tronic |
| Claimed Mileage | 16.9 kmpl | 23 kmpl | 20.37 kmpl |
| 0-100 kmph | 7.3 seconds | 7.3 seconds | 5.7 seconds |
| Top Speed | 246 kmph | 245 kmph | 250 kmph |
Our time spent with the new-gen C left us impressed, especially with Mercedes employing its 'Sensual Purity' design language on the car. The exterior in particular, works very well, with the pulled back cab-rearward design, power bulge on the bonnet and the AMG trim on the C 300d along with the Avant Garde line on the C 200 and the C 220d make it the sportiest, most evocative model of the C-Class yet.
(The C-Class comes to us in two trims - AMG Line and Avant Garde - and the former gets two-tone AMG alloys, sharper bumper and diffuser and the star-studded front grille)
Also Read: Mercedes-Benz Sees Strong Demand For Diesel Vehicles
Along with the exterior design, the S-Class inspired themes are more pronounced on the inside. The highlight is the new 11.9-inch vertical touchscreen which gets the latest generation of the MBUX based on NTG 7. It is a connected car, along with a bunch of ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) features like active brake assist and active parking assist. The new C also gets a feature called 'Car-to-X', which is similar to a social network of cars, where Mercedes cars with MBUX can communicate with each other and share information on a real-time basis. The top-spec C 300d also gets Mercedes' smart digital lights which use up to 1.3 million pixels for lighting and can be configured according to the direction of traffic.
(The C-Class runs MBUX 7NTG, while the model also gets a host of ADAS features including automatic emergency braking, park assist and more)
Coming to the dimensions, the highlight is the wheelbase, extended by 25 mm to 2,856 mm with the overall length of the car going up by 65 mm. The width of the car goes up by 10 mm too. And yes! That does translate into more space for the occupants.
(The legroom is substantially more on the new C-Class, while the highlight on the C 300d is the Burmester 3D sound system)
Like most modern premium cars, the touchscreen has almost all in-car controls and therefore, giving the dashboard a clean, sophisticated look. Another highlight is the HD instrument panel, with different themes and settings. The touchpad controls on the steering are now more flush. You get the Burmester sound system, ambient lighting, a connected car telematics suite that works with the Mercedes me app, wireless charging, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and either Alexa or Google home integration. Do note, that some of these may be available only on the C 300d.
