Sometime back we reviewed the new C-Class with its diesel engine but in markets like Delhi -NCR and in other cities, a shift is seen towards petrol and with a luxury car like this, a smooth petrol might be the better buy? Let us have a look.
This is the new C-Class C200 petrol and here the engine is not a 2.0l turbo as you’d expect instead, it is a 1.5l turbo along with a mild hybrid system for added power. How much if you would ask? Well, it’s 204hp and 300Nm while the mild hybrid 48V boost adds in 21PS and 200 Nm when needed.
While the engine size may be small on paper, the power output actually beats some of its rivals with a larger 2.0l engine! The gearbox which is standard in the C200 is the usual 9-speed automatic. This engine is fairly quick but has been tuned to give a smooth luxury driving experience and not be a hardcore driver’s car. This is not an AMG and the driving experience suggests that. Power is built in a linear way and you would love to cruise around like typically all luxury cars end up mostly doing. The gearbox and the engine are perfect for low-speed city use and it is relaxing to drive with very good refinement at low speeds- as you would expect. Add in a light steering along with a plush ride and this is a mini S-Class of sorts which Merc is actually calling it!
Up the speed and then you notice that it is not meant for driving enthusiasts, unlike its C300d AMG sibling. The engine gets a bit vocal and the gearbox also does not like to be rushed. It is indeed best left to cruise around in comfort but if needed, that quick overtake does happen effortlessly but it is not a sedan to drive aggressively around corners.
The new C-Class with the C200 petrol also rides a lot better than the C300d due to smaller size wheels and also is more practical in the way that it does not scrape even the highest of speed breakers. The ride is plush and it feels almost like an S-Class at cruising speeds.
For petrol, the figure of 10 kmpl in the city is not bad at all and actually better than some rivals.
In other ways, the cabin of the new C-Class remains its big highlight and also its lovely exterior styling. It looks bigger and it is, but the lines along with the standard non-AMG look actually make it more elegant.
We love the interior though and it is a step forward as a class benchmark here with its open-pore aluminium lines wood trim along with that huge 11.9-inch LCD touchscreen. The display, clarity and functions are way above anything else at this price and it even gets fancy S-Class-like features like fingerprint recognition and a personalized voice assistant along with the latest MBUX.
The new C-Class is also more spacious than the earlier one but taller folks will still find the rear seats a bit of a squeeze. Overall, the cabin is a special place to be.
The petrol C-Class then is the one to buy as a self-driven luxury car with its looks, tech and interior quality while also offering a driving experience expected from a plush Merc. If you want performance, the diesel is clearly the one but the petrol is better suited as a luxury car. Priced at Rs 55 lakh, it might be more expensive than rivals but it does offer a solid resale value and a better snob value with its ‘mini S-Class’ status.
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