Mercedes-Benz C 250 Estate 2015: Long-Term Test Update 4

As a package, the Estate adds practicality as well as standing out from the sedan and SUV crowd. From a performance standpoint, the phrase ‘more than adequate’ comes to mind. It’s also reasonably efficient, though judging from our experiences so far, the claimed combined mileage can’t even be obtained at a highway cruise. For the record, I averaged 8.2L/100km during my week with the car, mostly shuttling along the Monash outside of peak hour.

The above aesthetic, performance, and practicality considerations are of course vital, but the reality is that we spend a lot of time sitting inside our vehicular capsule twiddling thumbs in traffic, or ambling along a freeway, speedo-watching.

So how does the C 250 Estate feel from within?

From first impression, the phrase ‘class act’ comes to mind, especially with lovely optional AMG red leather adorning the sports seats of this AMG-line equipped example (standard C 250 also receives ‘real’ leather trim in favour of the C 200’s ARTICO man-made leather). The material is soft to the touch and smells more genuine than many ‘leather-appointed’ seating options you find scattered throughout the market. They also have a heating function, and are – of course – electrically-adjustable, including the head rests.

The interior design melds modern feel with classy sophistication, the smooth dark grey leather of the flat-bottomed steering wheel (which also helps with knee room) utterly delightful to the touch.

The broad sweep of the cleanly-designed centre console (the gear engagement is taken care of by a column-mounted stalk, the electric park brake switch down to the right of the steering wheel, along with the lighting controls) is sizeable, yet the smartly-packaged interior swallows its size so it offers a feeling of separation (and room) from the front seat passenger. The console has multiple covered storage spaces as well as providing location for the centre screen control unit, and all are superbly finished.

A brushed aluminium finish to the circular air vents (along with the gorgeously-dimpled climate control switches and brushed stainless steel foot pedals) contrasts with ‘black ash’ open-pore darkened wood trim inserts and the ample red and dark grey leathers (including the dash, and far nicer to eye and hand than plastic) to lend further character.

The extent to which Mercedes-Benz designers have gone to ensure ambience becomes increasingly evident as you continue to pick out cabin highlights, easily picked out by the light filtering through the panoramic glass roof. The doors open smoothly and close with a deep thunk, the interior door handles glide slowly and softly back to their positions when released, and the upper door-mounted Burmester stereo speakers are delightful in their detail.

Frustrations? There are a couple.

Firstly, the central multi-function screen display, though clear enough to interpret information, looks like an afterthought. Indeed, one passenger assumed it folded into the dashboard, suggesting it looked like ‘an added-on iPad’ when they realised it didn’t slide away. The C-Class screen is also not touch-enabled, Mercedes-Benz preferring to offer a combination mouse-like contraption/rotary dial arrangement to manoeuver (and confuse).

Audi’s new TT shows the way forward for driver/car interaction with its virtual cockpit.

The digital and analogue FM radio stations are stored in the one ‘band’, though the system’s ability to pick up reception for either seems limited, particularly the digital channels. Adding a new phone via Bluetooth also seems confusing until you find your way through; it really should be a one-touch operation.

Despite the red leather’s undoubted beauty, embedded stains to the side bolsters that appeared to come from a procession of jeans-wearing journos indicate that perhaps a darker leather would be more suitable as an ownership proposition.

In the second-row there’s still decent space for adults, and ample room for a toddler’s car seat behind the passenger, though moving said toddler in and out reveals the plastic front seat-backs can be easily marked, though to be fair they are also easy to wipe off.

Blending the sumptuous interior back in with the C 250 Estate’s other obvious attributes; it’s easy to see why the crew favours the mid-size Merc over any other rival. It brings a level of class to the segment that has never been seen before. It will take some matching.