Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe C250 BlueEfficiency Review: Vitamin C
The C-Class loses two doors and lowers its roofline to transform itself into a stylish coupe. Raymond Lai checks out if it offers the substance to match its newly-found style.
What we like:
Elegant proportions- well-executed cabin
- not significantly more expensive than the saloon
- balanced dynamics
- strong performance
What we dislike:
Slushy throttle response- engine can sound gruff at low speeds
- lack of rear headroom
Up front, the coupe gets the same, improved dashboard as the updated saloon’s while the driver is seated lower for more of a sporty coupe-like driving position. The new C-Class interior features a new dashboard that draws inspiration from its E-Class big brother’s. The LCD screen for the COMAND infotainment system now sits under the same cowling as the instruments and there are new instruments and a new multi-function display. The cabin is not lacking in the build quality and perceived luxury departments.
The front seats are unique to the coupe. They feature integrated headrests and look sporty and purposeful. Disappointingly though, the C-Class coupe doesn’t come with the convenient automated seat belt arms from the E-Class coupe. The car pictured here has its seats and door cards wrapped in sumptuous reddish brown leather to further lift the cabin ambience up another notch.
Ingress and egress to and from the rear is a relative cinch thanks to the long front doors while the front seat automatically slide forward when the seatback is pushed forwards to allow rear passengers to have more room to maneuver themselves in and out of the rear. The lower roofline obviously means compromises have to be made when it comes to cabin space. The C-Class coupe offers seating for two passengers at the rear. Legroom at the rear is just about average but the same can’t be said of headroom – taller passengers might find the lower roof and sloping rear windscreen in the way.
The C250 coupe offers a superbly well equipped package that includes bi-Xenon headlamps, LED daytime running lights, ATTENTION ASSIST, PARKTRONIC parking sensors, memory seats, split/folding rear seatbacks, Bluetooth handsfree phone system, rain sensors, PRE-SAFE among others.
Unlike the premium pricing of its E-Class coupe big brother, the C-Class coupe is a significantly more affordable coupe prospective while offering just slightly less presence and class as the former. Heck, the coupe doesn’t even come with a big price premium over an equivalent C-Class saloon, something that can’t be said about its most obvious rivals.
Credits: Story by Raymond Lai Photos by Yang and Raymond Lai
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