5 years on, the W206 Mercedes-Benz C-Class has been given a facelift, conserving tempo with the electrical model that was revealed in April. This refresh brings with it a love-it-or-hate-it redesign (no prizes for guessing which camp this author is in), however it largely carries over the identical inside and options mildly warmed-over engines.
Identical to on the W223 S-Class, the outside revamp is lower than elegant, with a hodgepodge of design parts and a deluge of three-pointed stars. The brand new six-point grille is huge and takes up virtually the complete peak of the entrance finish; it’s additionally illuminated for the primary time (as is the dinner plate-sized star badge), and as earlier than you get a hot-stamped chrome star sample.
As is customary for a Mercedes lately, the headlights characteristic one other giant illuminated star; the non-obligatory Digital Gentle items get expanded high-resolution illumination and swivelling Extremely Vary excessive beams. Shoehorned between the lamps and grille is a black encompass that, whereas nonetheless showing contrived, does a barely higher job at tying the 2 collectively than a few of Stuttgart’s different latest fashions (I’m you, GLE and GLS facelifts).
The rear finish is usually unchanged, save for but extra stars within the taillights. Curiously, this doesn’t lengthen to the wagon (did they run out of cash midway by way of?), though that isn’t of a lot relevance to our market. The AMG Line package deal provides the standard sportier bumpers, together with some unnecessarily overwrought “nacelles” within the entrance bumper corners. For the primary time, a light-weight curtain tasks a sample on the bottom when the doorways are opened.
Surprisingly, the inside hasn’t been was a display screen fest, retaining a sober dashboard format. You continue to get a 12.3-inch instrument show and an 11.9-inch portrait infotainment touchscreen, though the latter now runs on a more moderen MB.OS with an AI-enhanced MBUX Digital Assistant, utilizing ChatGPT, Microsoft Bing and Google Gemini as fashions. Google Maps-based navigation with an non-obligatory augmented actuality perform has been added.
Elsewhere, the much-maligned capacitive contact controls on the steering wheel have been ameliorated considerably by bodily rocker and curler switches, whereas the non-obligatory 15-speaker, 710-watt Burmester 3D encompass sound system has been enhanced with Dolby Atmos help and now supply “larger spaciousness and depth.” There are additionally new beech brown and cherry purple color schemes, moccasin stitching and new wooden and metallic decor choices.
Beneath the bonnet lies a revised vary of two.0 litre turbo four-cylinder petrol engines, rechristened the M254 Evo. This ditches the 1.5 litre choice and positive aspects a brand new electrical auxiliary compressor to cut back turbo lag. A second-generation built-in starter-generator (ISG 2.0) supplies a marginal bump in accelerative enhance to 23 PS and 205 Nm of torque.
The C200 and C300 are joined by a brand new C250, however actually, the C200 and C250 are simply the previous C180 and C200 renamed. Each get an uptick in outputs, with the C200 producing 177 PS and 270 Nm (up 7 PS and 20 Nm over the C180) and the C250 churning out 218 PS and 320 Nm (up 14 PS and 20 Nm over the C200). The C300, then again, makes the identical 258 PS and 400 Nm as earlier than, and they’re all mated to the acquainted nine-speed 9G-Tronic auto.
In the meantime, the OM654 Evo turbodiesel with the identical ISG 2.0 is obtainable in an unchanged 163 PS and 200 PS variants. As for plug-in hybrids, solely the C400e will likely be accessible from launch, with elevated electrical help bringing outputs to 395 PS and 650 Nm, a 14 PS bump. A 19.54 kWh (usable) battery continues to offer as much as 100 km of WLTP-rated EV vary.
Whereas the powertrains are largely untouched, the C-Class does profit from a number of element enhancements. The chassis has been retuned for larger agility with out sacrificing consolation with stiffer mounts and revised adjustable damping to cut back physique actions. The automobile can also be quieter than earlier than, because of redesigned door mirror bases, an exhaust “cage” to cut back vibrations and elevated insulation.
As for security, the C-Class will get the newest MB.Drive suite of driver assists, with options together with the MB.Drive Help’s auto lane modifications, a brand new reversing assistant (solely accessible by way of a subscription, I’m afraid), an upgraded MB.Drive Help Plus that may brake for cease indicators and purple lights, and MB.Drive Help Professional with highly-automated freeway and metropolis driving performance. The latter will likely be provided in China first.
The facelifted W206 C-Class will likely be accessible to order in Germany beginning later right now, priced at €48,844 (RM229,600). What do you consider the brand new appears to be like and specs, and are you excited for this to return to Malaysia? Tell us within the feedback.
