Last year I drove the revised 2005 C-Class and found a much improved car over the 2001. Apparently Mercedes wasn't done with its revisions, though, as the car gets all-new engines for 2006. The supercharged four is history. The C230 Sport Sedan is now powered by a 201-horsepower 2.5-liter six. Similarly the entry-level Luxury Sedan--now the C280 rather than the C240--gets a 228-horsepower 3.0-liter V6, and both upper-end models--now C350 rather than C320--get a 268-horsepower 3.5-liter V6. The coupe is gone.
While I'm no big fan of model names that misrepresent the differences between models, an old BMW trick, I do tend to prefer sixes to fours. So the changes for 2006 seem positive on the whole. A friend of mine has long been interested in this car, so we took an automatic C230 for a test drive to see how much of an improvement two extra cylinders make.
Styling
The small sedan's styling has not changed. It remains a very attractive car, especially with the body kit and large wheels of the sport models. But it might be too clean a design to be noticed by the general population. In contrast, the current 3-Series is less attractive but more distinctive.
The C-Class' interior is also stylish, but even more than that of other Mercedes feels cold and antiseptic to me. Something to do with the colors and textures. Some bits of the instrument panel would vastly benefit from an upgrade to softer materials. An E-Class feels much richer inside. I suppose that's what the extra thousands buy you.
Accommodations
This is a compact car, so don’t expect stretch out room in the front or rear seats. That said, the front seats are generally comfortable and supportive. The driving position is very good, with a more open view over the instrument panel than in the other German compacts. The standard seat has power recline and height and manual tilt adjustments. All of these adjusters are on the side of the seat, where they are very hard to reach without opening the door. Get the optional 10-way power driver seat and the seat controls move to the door where they are much easier to operate. This $600 option also includes power adjustments in place of manual ones for the steering wheel and memory. This power seat is a great value, especially compared to most Mercedes options. The sports seats in a 3 with Sport Package are even better, though.
The rear seat remains quite tight, with little room for adults over my height of 5-9. The bottom of the front seatbacks could be more comfortable against one’s shins. At least the seat cushion is far enough off the floor to provide a hint of thigh support. The back seat in the new 3 is roomier and more comfortable.
The trunk is on about average for a compact, i.e. a bit tighter than in the average car. A folding rear seat is a $290 option. I continue to be puzzled why this tends to be an optional feature in premium sedans but is standard on the lowliest Korean subcompact.
On the Road
When I drove a C230 last year only the salesperson and myself were aboard. Adding another person put the new six at a disadvantage. The new engine is much smoother and has a more upscale soundtrack than the old four. But even with seven speeds to choose from with the new automatic, performance seemed merely adequate. BMW has an unfair advantage here: the current 325 has three liters under the hood, giving it a half-liter advantage over the small Benz. On paper the BMW engine produces only four foot-pounds more twist, but it feels considerably spunkier.
The standard six-speed manual might have helped. In my experience, horsepower is less necessary with a stick. But unlike BMW dealers, Mercedes dealers never seem to stock manual-transmission cars. If you want one, you'll likely have to order it, and perhaps put down a non-refundable deposit as well.
While I applaud Mercedes for making the least expensive C-Class a sport model, complete with the tasteful body kit and sharp wheels, I must wonder why the weakest engine is in the sport while the least expensive luxury trim, destined to be driven by people less interested in performance, is powered by a 3.0-liter. The C-Class Sport Sedan is also available in C350 form, but it's about $7,500 more expensive and, with 268 horsepower, could well be overkill for many people. A 3.0-liter Sport Sedan that splits the difference in price would make a lot of sense, as would a $30,000 2.5-liter Luxury Sedan.
My friend found the engine's performance sufficient for his taste, but he's not an aggressive driver. He did not, however, approve of the transmission's behavior. Mercedes seven-speed automatic makes its way to the C-Class for 2006. With so many gears to choose from, sometimes the transmission seems to have trouble choosing. In the slushbox's defense, like most these days it's an adaptive unit and could have been confused by a series of drivers with dramatically different driving styles.
I was less enamored by the C-Class' handling this year than last. Maybe Mercedes softened the suspension, or the new engine's extra weight (about 150 pounds) has thrown off the car's balance. But a more likely cause is the new 3-Series. After driving the new small BMW, my expectations have risen. The small Mercedes handles well, certainly much better than the larger E-Class, but the brilliant new BMW carves curves with superior feedback and precision. It's the difference between good and great.
The Sport Sedans have firmer suspensions than the Luxury Sedans. Still, while the C230’s ride is certainly firm it is never harsh and generally lacks the jiggly quality that often afflicts stiffly sprung sedans. As in a BMW, the tradeoff between ride quality and responsiveness is excellent.
Mercedes have long been known for an extremely solid body structure, and the C230 adheres to this tradition. You can feel this solidity when closing a door or simply driving down the road. Only a BMW begs comparison.
Safety
I include a safety section when a car has an impressive list of equipment. For a compact, this one does, including three sets of side airbags and stability control—all standard. All-wheel-drive has been an option since last year, but unless the roads are truly dreadful the stability control should be sufficient. Even here in Detroit most C-Class sedans continue to be rear-wheel-drive.
Mercedes C230 Price Comparisons and Pricing
The C230 lists for about $1,000 less than the 325i with Sport Package, and adjusting for feature differences doubbles the gap. I'd personally spend the extra money for the BMW.
Prices change frequently, and differences will vary based on feature level. To quickly generate this and other comparisons with the specific features you want, visit my Web site, www.truedelta.com. (It's the only site that provides true "apples-to-apples" price comparisons.)
TrueDelta's page for the C-Class:
http://www.truedelta.com/models/C-Class.php
Last Words
I continue to like the C-Class' exterior styling and solid feel, but enjoyed driving the car less this year. The new engine is very smooth, but a sports sedan need more thrust. A 325i performs and handles significantly better. Given the similarity of price, that's the car I'd buy.
Enthusiasts who simply want the Mercedes might find the C230's performance sufficient if equipped with the never-to-be-found six-speed manual. Stil, they will likely be much more satisfied with the 3.5 in the almost as rare C350. BMW stocks plenty of 330i's, but Mercedes dealers seem to have found that the C-Class doesn't sell well when its sticker approaches forty grand.
A Note on Mercedes C230 Reliability
I cannot practically cover reliability within the context of this review. However, many people are interested in such information, so I've started collecting my own data. Results, once they are available, will be posted to my site, www.truedelta.com, with updates every three months.
Unlike other sources, TrueDelta will clearly identify what difference it will make if you buy a C230 rather than another vehicle by providing "times in the shop" and "days in the shop" stats (among others). You will be able to specify the number of years, annual miles, and types of repairs to include in Mercedes C230 reliability comparisons.
Before I can report results, I need data on all cars--not just the C230--from people like you. To encourage participation, those who help provide the data will receive
free access to the site's reliability information. Non-participants will have to pay an access fee.
For the details, and to sign up, visit www.truedelta.com.
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Some of my reviews of related vehicles:
Audi A4 2.0T review
BMW 3-Series review
Cadillac CTS review
Infiniti G35 review
Jaguar X-Type review
2005 Mercedes C230 Kompressor review
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