Mercedes-AMG C 43 2023 Review

Priced from $134,900 before on-road costs, the 2023 Mercedes-AMG C 43 4MATIC sedan is now on sale in Australia, as the first of two high-performance AMG models to join the latest fifth-generation C-Class sedan range released last year.

It will be joined later in the year by the more powerful and more expensive new C 63 (or the Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Performance, to give it its full name), which will bring mind-blowing 500kW/1020Nm outputs from a plug-in hybrid version of the new C 43’s 2.0-litre four-cylinder mild-hybrid powertrain, and is expected to be priced above $200,000.

For now, the new Mercedes-AMG C 43 is the first electrified C-Class to arrive from the German brand’s AMG performance stable, representing a new direction for a marque that has, until now, been all about purely petrol-powered performance.

But the mild-hybrid 43 still brings credible performance. And, even though it can’t match rivals such as the BMW M340i xDrive (from $104,900) for outright pace or price, its high-tech equipment and luxe cabin go a long way to claw back points.

As for whether you’ll be able to get one anytime soon, Merc admits supply in general continues to be a challenge – particularly over the last month – and a spokesman for the brand said only that those who want one should “get in quick”.

The C 43 retains the five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty and 12-month/20,000km intervals of other Benz models, but Mercedes-Benz Australia is yet to finalise service pricing.

Watch the Mercedes-AMG C 43 video

Adopting the latest C-Class sedan’s classy new exterior, the 2023 Mercedes-AMG C 43 4MATIC brings some sportier features to help it stand out.

That includes an AMG-specific vertical-slat grille, AMG front bumper with extra air ducting, chunkier side skirts, a gloss-black rear bumper with diffuser, and quad exhaust outlets.

An AMG Night Package is standard, blacking-out certain elements of the exterior, along with 20-inch AMG alloy wheels. An option pack that switches out the gloss-black exterior trim for a carbon-look material is available overseas, but not here in Oz.

Importantly, the new C 43 adopts the all-new cabin layout debuted by the latest W206 C-Class in 2022, comprising Merc’s latest MBUX tablet-style infotainment system and a smarter, more comprehensive digital instrument cluster.

Standard equipment includes leather upholstery, a panoramic sunroof and heated front seats with memory function.

A sleek AMG steering wheel comes with more gloss-black buttons than you’ll know what to do with, while sports seats are standard and you also get the choice of several dash trim finishes including a $1700 carbon-fibre option.

Cabin space has also improved in the new C 43, thanks to its fresh MRA2 underpinnings, but more on that later.

If it’s not sporty enough as standard, you can spice things up with a Performance Ergonomic Package ($5200) that brings contoured Performance front seats, a sportier Nappa leather/microfibre-clad steering wheel and AMG Track Pace.

A $2400 Digital Light Package is also available, adding multibeam LEDs with ultra-range adaptive high-beam and a cornering function.

Although the latest Mk5 C-Class sedan was awarded by a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating, technicalities mean the same rating can’t be transferred to the new 2023 Mercedes-AMG C 43 4MATIC.

But the new C 43 brings the same extensive suite of driver aids and safety features, including 10 airbags, autonomous emergency braking, lane assist, park assist, blind spot monitoring and driver attention assist.

As mentioned, the 2023 Mercedes-AMG C 43 4MATIC is a tech haven.

The cabin immediately impresses, with a layout that feels lightyears ahead of its predecessor’s, thanks in part to borrowed tech from the bigger S-Class limousine.

An 11.9-inch central MBUX touch-screen brings more intuitive ‘Hey Mercedes’ voice-control functionality, which goes beyond obeying regular commands and tells some pretty good dad jokes. That central screen also brings augmented-reality navigation guidance, which is super-clever but perhaps a little distracting for the driver.

Display graphics are crisp, the touch-screen is user-friendly and responsive, and the new 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster delivers key information with plenty of customisation options.

A head-up display is another standard inclusion, along with dual-zone climate control, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite-navigation and wireless phone charging.

Ditching the previous sports sedan’s 3.0-litre twin-turbo petrol V6 for a new 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder (also with mild-hybrid tech), you’d be forgiven for thinking the 2023 Mercedes-AMG C 43 4MATIC has gone soft.

But that’s far from the case, with the downsized turbo four pumping out an extra 13kW of power at the expense of 20Nm of peak torque compared to the previous-gen C 43, now producing maximum outputs of 300kW and 500Nm.

That 2.0-litre engine debuted as the world’s most powerful four-cylinder in the Mercedes-AMG A 45 hot hatch, but Merc employed its Formula 1 motorsport boffins to design a new turbocharger that incorporates a tiny 6kW motor to keep the turbo spinning at low revs. That’s claimed to all but eliminate turbo lag.

There’s also a belt-driven starter-generator that Merc says will deliver an extra 10kW of power to the all-wheel drive sedan, bringing outputs up to an A 45-matching 310kW, if only for brief bursts.

The C 43 also employs a SPEEDSHIFT nine-speed automatic transmission (with a wet clutch instead of a torque converter) for the first time, along with rear-axle steering and AMG ride control adaptive dampers.

But the new W206 C 43 is 75kg heavier than its predecessor, meaning its on-paper performance credentials aren’t much more impressive than before.

AMG says it’ll launch from zero to 100km/h just a tenth of second quicker than before, in 4.6 seconds, which keeps it on the backfoot compared to rivals like the BMW M340i xDrive (4.4sec).

Nevertheless, the German performance marque insists the F1-inspired engine technology in the new C 43 will be a huge selling point for the junior AMG sedan.

Fuel economy has never been a big selling point for AMG, but the performance-focussed brand is now keen on emphasising the perks of electrification and it all starts with the 2023 Mercedes-AMG C 43 4MATIC.

Mercedes-Benz claims the new C 43’s mild-hybrid powertrain will sip 9.1L/100km on the combined cycle – down from 9.5L/100km for the old car with its 3.0-litre V6.

While that doesn’t sound like a huge difference, we managed to hit an average fuel consumption figure as low as 8.1L/100km on test, after a long highway stint from Bathurst to Sydney.

According to the German brand, the 2023 Mercedes-AMG C 43 4MATIC was designed to feel like it’s powered by a bigger engine than it is, and admittedly it does a decent job of that.

That new wet-clutch auto brings a Race Start launch control feature for the first time, and while acceleration off the line isn’t jaw-dropping, there’s enough thrust to pin you back in your seat and put a smile on your dial.

Adding a bit more drama, it also makes some quirky, futuristic sound effects during the build-up to launch.

Speaking of sound effects, if you’re less than impressed with its tinny idle from outside the car, once on the move the electrified turbo four has a really nice soundtrack with some pops, crackles and farts during fast shifts.

But the new auto, while smooth and responsive on the move, is too clunky around town for our liking. In particular, it produces a harsh jerk as it shifts down from second to first gear when you come to halt.

The C 43’s all-new chassis is much more convincing, with outstanding dynamics that make it feel really well tied-down on road. Steering feel is crisp and the addition of rear-wheel steering goes a long way in making the mid-size luxury sport sedan feel super-nimble on road.

It’s a firmly damped machine, even in comfort mode, and while you don’t tend to feel its hefty 1856kg kerb weight on road, you quickly get a sense that the suspension could do with a little more tuning.

It absorbs uneven road surfaces well, but hit a bigger bump and the body can feel like it’s bouncing around on the rebound.

Low-profile rubber on 20-inch alloys makes the cabin susceptible to a bit of road noise on coarse-chip road surfaces too, but the overall driving experience is mostly positive and pretty rewarding.

The 2023 Mercedes-AMG C 43 4 MATIC’s cabin is gorgeous, with the sort of design, fit, finish and material quality that befits its $135K price tag.

A low-slung driving position and thoughtful placement of key buttons and controls means everything is right at your fingertips. Multiple ambient interior lighting combinations will keep the creative busy, while soft-touch materials throughout the cabin add to its luxe feel.

Mercedes-Benz says new the MRA2 platform under the fifth-gen W206 C-Class range liberates more space for passengers inside the cabin.

In the second row, two adult passengers should be able to travel comfortably, but taller passengers might have trouble with the panoramic sunroof eating into headroom. Rear-seat legroom and amenities are mostly good, however, those in the back get air-vents but no power outlets.

The 2023 Mercedes-AMG C 43 4MATIC certainly makes a positive first impression, thanks to fantastic dynamics, an opulent cabin and respectable power outputs, all of which make it worthy of its AMG badge.

But for a high-performance premium sports sedan, we expected a little more pandemonium, so in that respect the new C 43 feels slightly underdone.

If you want something truly soul-stirring, we reckon it’ll be worth waiting for the incoming C 63, as long as you’re willing to part with at least another $65K for the privilege.

To us, the new Mercedes-AMG C 43 feels luke-warm rather than spicy-hot, but – for many – the newest C-Class AMG will be more than enough.

2023 Mercedes-AMG C 43 4MATIC at a glance:
Price: $134,900 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Powertrain: Mild-hybrid 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Combined output: 300kW/500Nm
Transmission: Nine-speed wet clutch automatic
Fuel: 9.1L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 206g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: NA