Mercedes-AMG C 43 Coupe 2017 Review

What’s it all about?
Not unlike David Hasselhoff, the C 43 AMG Coupe is big, bold and of German heritage. Unlike 'the Hoff', it's a sophisticated, elegant individual. Okay, so the price of admission pushes into six-figure territory but considering the level of sporty extravagance within the cabin and all the high-tech gear it comes with – on top of exciting dynamics – it's not bad value.

Designed to give AMG a more attainable C-Class, the twin-turbo V6-powered AMG 43 will overtake the AMG C 63 (circa-$160,000) as Australia's most popular Mercedes-AMG.

And why not?

Slotting in underneath the E-Class and above the CLA-Class, these new AMG models are based on garden-variety C-Class vehicles. Only with more visual, mechanical and tactile attitude. They exist so the German company can earn enough moolah to bankroll its insane F1-powered Project One hypercar. They will sell like hotcakes, and deservedly so.

How much will it cost?
There are four variants of the Mercedes-AMG C 43 including this one, the Coupe ($105,615). The sedan, wagon and convertible are priced at $101,900, $104,400 and $119,900 respectively. I've spent time testing the sedan too and overall prefer it for the extra practicality, but you sit lower in the coupe and it feels more special as a result.

All these models attract a fair bit of the luxury car tax and drive-away deals on vehicles in this range aren't always easy to come by. It comes with a huge number of standard features – think intelligent LED headlights, head-up display, panoramic glass sliding sunroof, 19-inch alloy wheels, premium Burmester surround sound system and sat-nav infotainment system.

No matter the C 43 flavour, be sure to consider the Performance Ergonomic Package. It costs $4990 and adds beautifully sculpted power-adjustable sports seats (with air-bladder adjustable bolsters!) and a lavish steering wheel. Oh, and it's the only way you can get the raucous sports exhaust system, which turns the car into a bellowing beast at the touch of a button.

Metallic paint will add up to $2990 and besides the Performance Ergonomic Package, there aren't many options.

Like all Mercedes-Benz passenger vehicles it comes with a three-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.

Why should I buy it?
You should buy this car because it makes you feel good, and you only live once*.

Everytime I got in the car I would switch it to sport+ mode and bathe in the dramatic exhaust acoustic while enjoying business-class luxury.

Unlike the C 63 AMG models, the suspension won't sequentially fracture thoracic vertebrae every time you negotiate a pot hole, which makes it a better everyday vehicle. It's a great commuter car and efficient too, popping into ninth (top) gear at 81km/h.

The free-spinning 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 engine (270kW/520Nm) combines with a nine-speed auto to deliver effortless pace when the tempo increases. Propulsion from low revs is fearsome and there's only a tiny whiff of turbo lag.

It loves corners too. The nose points where you want it and it hangs on tight through fast bends. Grip is very good thanks to its fixed 31:69 all-wheel drive system and the chassis has a nice balance, making it satisfying to flog.

When is it available in Australia?
The Mercedes-AMG C 43 Coupe went on sale in November 2016 and the other variants – wagon, sedan, convertible – should be available now as well.

Who will it appeal to?
Although it's not a pure-blood AMG – chiefly because the V6 engine throws AMG tradition out the window, as I argue in this opinion piece – the C 43 is a highly desirable car.

Demographically it's best suited to those who can afford it, which statistically means professionals over 40. There's enough space inside to seat four adults comfortably and the deep boot has a decent 400 litre cargo area – enough room for lots of sporting gear or several slabs of tasty beverage.

Couple of issues though. There's no button on the exterior of the boot to pop it open, rearward visibility in the Coupe is average and why does an AMG have a steering-wheel-mounted column-shifter? It's unbefitting a car of this calibre.

Where does it fit?
The C-Class is a medium-sized car in the over $60,000 category. The sedan and wagon versions are very flexible and could double as a family car, no drama, while the Coupe and Convertible are the sports car offerings with less boot space and trickier rear-seat access.

Rival cars need to be luxurious and sporty, and therefore range between the BMW M2 ($98,615) to the Audi S5 Coupe ($122,616). Because of its rich list of features, generous size, high-performance threshold and relatively tidy price, there aren't really any direct competitors.

It slots into a motoring.com.au's 'Best Performance Cars Over $100K' category, which puts it up against some stiff competition, including Porsches and Ferraris.

I've spent a lot more time in the Mercedes-AMG C 43 Coupe and its variants recently and this has led to a greater appreciation of its flexibility, as it covers the gamut from daily driver to track-day scorcher. As such, I've given it a slightly higher score.

*Belief dependent

2016 Mercedes-AMG C 43 Coupe pricing and specifications:
Price: $105,615 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 3.0-litre V6 turbo-petrol
Output: 270kW/520Nm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Fuel: 8.2L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 188g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star

Also consider:
>> BMW M2 (from $98,615 plus ORCs)
>> Jaguar F-TYPE Coupe (from $119,545 plus ORCs)
>> Audi S5 Coupe (from $122,616 plus ORCs)