Mercedes-Benz C -Class 2007 Review

What we liked
>> See main C-Class review
>> Torque makes for effortless in-gear urge
>> No hint of extra mass up front

Not so much
>> See main C-Class review
>> Diesel 'infrastructure' will annoy many owners

Overall rating: 4.0/5.0
Engine/Drivetrain/Chassis: 4.0/5.0
Price, Packaging and Practicality: 4.0/5.0
Safety: 4.5/5.0
Behind the wheel: 4.5/5.0
X-factor: 4.0 /5.0

It's a measure of how far the reputation of turbodiesel passenger cars has come in a relatively short period of time that Mercedes-Benz has chosen one to head up its C-Class range. Not as its price-leader, mind you. We're talking about the pointy end of the marketplace. The end at which the oiler will be pitched against svelte and sophisticated four-doors like archrival BMW's twin-turbo petrol 335i.

Displacing the C350 that headed up the non-AMG W203 C-Class range, the new C 320 CDI is the flagship of the non-AMG W204 C-Class range in Australia. Later a C 63 AMG will offer sports-sedan buyers an 'ante up', but for the foreseeable future, the biggest and best C is a diesel.

It's our belief that part of the reason behind Mercedes Australia choosing the 320 CDI to head up its C-Class line-up is that the upcoming AMG car and a petrol C350 would have ended up uncomfortably disparate in terms of the bang for bucks they offered -- especially when the sports goodies were added into the petrol V6's sticker price.

Mercedes, nevertheless, is focusing purely on the balance of performance and economy the $92,800 C 320 CDI delivers. It's a balance that it says customers are keen to experience with response "strong" since the car was confirmed as the C flagship in September.

We drove the 320 CDI earlier this week as part of a one-day launch program that also showed off the revised 5.4-litre 285kW ML500 (see separate review soon). And while the time in the car was relatively short, the impressions it yielded were very positive. The CDI might not be a 'conventional' choice for a range-topper, but it's a compelling package.

Despite a 145kg increase in weight over the C 280, the 320 CDI feels just as nimble. And with a mountain of torque available through the meat of the usable rev range, in-gear acceleration is impressive. Impressive too, were the circa 10lt/100km fuel figures we registered despite sparing the car little over a progression of mountain roads in north east Victoria.

We can't give you any measured overtaking acceleration times but take it from us, the 320 CDi's quick -- especially from anywhere in the 70-110km/h range and up. Coupled with Benz's 7G-Tronic seven-speed auto, rapid transit is a tweak of the right foot away.

In the tighter stuff you can manually downchange (using the conventional centre console lever -- no paddles on the Elegance model we tested) with fourth gear the 'get out of' or 'go straight to' gaol gear, depending on what side of the road rule fence you sit.

On paper, the 320 CDI's engine stats and performance figures talk for themselves. With 510Nm the C 320 CDI 3.0-litre common-rail direct-injection V6 matches the torque output of the last generation C 55 AMG, yet its official fuel consumption figures position it as the second most frugal C-Class available today. Returning a combined ADR81 figure of 7.4lt/100km, it betters the entry-level C 200 K (8.2lt/100km) and is only beaten by the four-cylinder 220 CDI turbodiesel (6.7lt/100km).

Put it another way, with a claimed 0-100km/h time of 6.9sec, the 165kWC 320 CDI is 0.3sec quicker than the 170kW/300Nm C 280 petrol V6 W204 and but 1.7sec slower than the last generation 270kW C55.

Seeing we've already mentioned the B-word, it's probably worth mentioning the 225kW/400Nm 335i logs a 5.8sec 0-100km/h time but uses significantly more fuel in the process. BMW claims 9.6lt/100km but in our experience bank on a figure closer to 14.0lt/100km in normal use.

It will be interesting to see whether the Bavarians take up Mercedes' challenge and bring a 335d Down Under. Featuring a twin-turbo version of BMW's inline six-cylinder 3.0lt diesel, that car pumps out an impressive 210kW/580Nm

In terms of equipment, the C 320 CDI arrives in Elegance spec and echoes the $84,974 C 280 but adds Benz's full tri-zone Thermotronic climate control. As is the case with the 280, buyers can opt for the sportier Avantgarde variant at no extra cost. Key options include an AMG Sports Package which after November production will include the just-approved 15mm lower C-Class sports suspension.

Some dealers are already questioning the wisdom of Mercedes-Benz going the diesel route with its C flagship. In our opinion that approach sells the overall appeal of the C 320 CDI short.

Save for some gruffness on start-up and some signature but subdued diesel clatter at idle, there's very little to suggest this car is anything but a top-line Benz. The fuel economy will shade any comparable performing petrol powerplants, refinement is 95 per cent there and the real world performance is addictive.

Whether that's enough to overcome anti-diesel prejudices will be decided by buyers. In the end the only thing that might stop us is the yet-to-improve diesel infrastructure Down Under. Pass me another rubber glove, dear...