Tim Britten•12 Mar 2012

REVIEW

Mercedes-Benz C180 BlueEfficiency coupe 2012 Review

Name: Mercedes-Benz C180 BlueEfficiency coupe 2012 Review
Brand: Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz has slipped an elegant C-Class coupe onto the market at prices unmatched by luxury-class competitors

Mercedes-Benz C180 BlueEfficiency Coupe

Road Test

Price Guide: (recommended price before statutory and delivery charges): $58,900

Options fitted: (not included in above price): Vision package with Harman Kardon Logic 7 surround sound system, panoramic electric glass sunroof, Intelligent Light System with Bi-Xenon headlights, Active Light System, variable light distribution, headlight cleaning system, dynamic headlight beam control

Crash rating: Five-star (Euro NCAP)

Fuel: Unleaded 91 RON

Claimed fuel economy (L/100km): 7.3

CO2 emissions (g/km): 169

Also consider: BMW 3 Series Coupe, Audi A5

Don't be disturbed if you are finding it difficult to get your head around the range of coupes offered by Mercedes-Benz in Australia.

According to the company's model listing, the three-pointed star has no less than four coupes on sale here -- although it does get a little simpler when the four-door CLS is taken out of consideration. That still leaves C-Class, E-Class and (S-Class based) CL-Class coupes though.

Adding to the intrigue, two of these are closely related to the C-Class sedan; the new C-Class coupe and the so-called E-Class coupe which actually owes a lot to the C-Class.

So how does Benz position two cars that are frighteningly close in terms of size but occupy a different status in its model lineup?

The pricing disparities are startling: Kicking off at $58,900 before on-road costs for the 1.8-litre C180 version, the new C-Class coupe undercuts the E-Class two-door -- which opens at $95,300 for the also 1.8-litre E250 CGI -- by a big margin. But, instead of making the E-Class appear overpriced, it rather makes the C-Class look like a bargain.

Certainly in terms of passenger comfort and general utility the C-Class coupe is a straight match for the E-Class coupe, except that it surprises with its overall passenger space. The C-Class is, for a coupe, roomy all round, while one tends to find the so-called bigger E-Class a little tight in the back. C-Class coupe rear passengers may not be treated to individual buckets and powered seat slides like they are in the E-Class, but the scalloped front seat backs do a great job in terms of perceived and real space.

Perhaps the most interesting thing is that, like the C-Class sedan, the coupe is also available as a bellowing C63 AMG with 336kW, 600Nm of torque and a $154,800 price tag. The E-Class coupe tops out at $181,360 for the 5.5-litre E500 V8, sporting a mere 285kW.

But this is maybe getting a bit off-subject. What we are talking about here is the entry level C180 coupe -- which does not suffer in any perceptual way from being the base model in the range.

In fact the C-Class is seen by some as perhaps the most elegant coupe in the current Benz lineup, and a suitably nifty performer, even as a C180, in its own right.

Matching the C-Class sedan in just about all dimensions except for the almost four-centimetre lower roof height, the coupe dispenses with most of the creasing and bulging that are part of the current Benz design language and goes for a pronounced wedge shape with upswept side windows and a high (ish) boot. It contrasts, in a good way, with the sweeping-arch side windows and drop-away tail of the CLS four-door and other Benz models.

The overall impression is indisputably elegant, understated yet upmarket. Even the 17-inch wheels of the base C180 fit tightly into the wheel arches, well-matched to the car's proportions. Only the determinedly aggressive shapes at the front -- which are essentially C-Class sedan manipulated for a more extrovert effect -- connect to more ostentatious aspects of modern Benz cars. This is okay by us because the coupe might otherwise have run the risk of being a little too restrained.

In typical Benz fashion, the interior favours a light and bright approach with plenty of stainless steel trim and lots of air space in the front -- that is, large-limbed passengers can find plenty of stretching space, in all directions. It is altogether more glitzy than the darker, masculine tones favoured by BMW.

Being the base car, some of the things you'd find in more expensive models are missing. The seats -- trimmed in "Artico man-made leather" -- only offer part-power adjustment (for height, tilt and backrest angle) and there's no standard SatNav, radar cruise control, voice recognition or Internet connectivity.

All these things are available though, and the test car came with a few options including the spectacular full-length glass sunroof, SatNav, reversing camera, Harman Kardon sound system, bi-Xenon headlights, Active Light System, variable light distribution, headlamp cleaning and dynamic headlight beam control.

That said, the C180 coupe isn't exactly bare-bones. Standard equipment includes Thermatic climate-control, auto headlights, parking sensors, Bluetooth connectivity, multifunction leather-rim steering wheel -- and what is still probably the easiest to use, most intuitive cruise control system in the business.

Sitting in the driver's seat -- especially in our test car with its lighter interior trim -- there's a distinct Mercedes ambience, with no complaints about the general controls apart from the foot-operated handbrake and some reservations about the single-stalk control for indicators, wipers and headlight dipping.

There is plenty of room to move around and generally good visibility, notwithstanding the inherent coupe obtrusions at the C-pillar. And, as mentioned earlier, the back seat surprises with its ability to carry adult passengers without forcing compromise on the front-seat passengers. The manual slide-forward seat function is a little clunky for what is still a relatively expensive car (although you can easily pay similar figures for less prestigious badges), but the seats do retain their adjustment angles once returned to position.

At 450 litres, the boot offers the same capacity as the E-Class coupe and can be augmented by folding down the split-fold rear backrest. The aperture is small, but is better than having nothing at all.

Considering it is also available in the E-Class coupe, the 1.8-litre BlueEfficiency petrol engine does a remarkable job upholding Benz dignity. In fact it even has a bit of character, emitting a not-unpleasant drone when being worked and it won't leave the driver embarrassed in passing or traffic-light situations.

In 115kW form (at a very moderate 5000rpm) the 1.8-litre engine does a good job of maintaining the coupe's aplomb, helped along by the 250Nm of torque that becomes noticeable once the long-stroke four-cylinder reaches 1500rpm. The performance isn't incredible but, as we said, is enough to keep the C180 coupe -- which weighs around 50kg more than the equivalent sedan -- out of trouble. Zero to 100km/h comes up in an adequate 8.9 seconds.

There is a curious, occasional, lack of linearity in the C180 coupe's acceleration. Subtly, but noticeably, the acceleration rate can change slightly on light throttle in a way that leaves one wondering if it's the seven-speed 7G-Tronic Plus

automatic gearbox or engine management system working to squeeze the best efficiency out of the drivetrain.

And it is efficient, even without the start-stop technology used in the C250 CDI version. The official fuel consumption claim is 7.3L/100km, which is not bad for a petrol-engined coupe weighing more than 1.5 tonnes. On test we didn't match that figure with an average of 8.1L/100km -- but we'd pressing to name a car in which we have ever matched factory figures, short of embarking on a fully-focussed economy mission.

If you want more, the C250 uses a hotter, 150kW version of the 1.8-litre engine, or there's the also-150kW turbodiesel D250 CDI, both tagged at $69,900 pre on-road costs. Both bring more standard equipment including full leather upholstery, the Benz Comand system with a seven-inch colour screen, Internet connectivity, Linguatronic voice control, Dynamic Handling Package and 18-inch wheels.

Interestingly, the C250 is cleaner and more frugal than the C180, claiming a combined fuel consumption of 7.0L/100km and 163g/km CO2 emissions (the diesel is even better with 5.1L/100km and 134g/km).

The C180 coupe, at first, feels a tad too light in the steering and lacks the urgent power delivery allowing it to rate as a sporty coupe, but the reality, once tackling the odd winding road, is that it is a nifty, swift performer able to deliver a decent serve of driving fun if you want it.

The ride is a little sharper-edged than some of the more luxo Benz models, but it is still poised and confident, responding accurately to the wheel and maintaining a generally flat stance through corners. The brake pedal offers an almost perfectly balanced mix of response and linearity.

Safety, passive and active, is a given with any Benz and with 11 airbags (including a knee airbag for the driver, front "pelvis" bags, plus the usual front, side and curtain airbags), as well as a bewildering array of electronic safety systems comprising such things as automatic brake drying in wet conditions, brake lights that start flashing in emergency braking, whiplash-resistant front head restraints, tyre pressure warning and Pre-Safe, which sets up the car for maximum crash protection if a collision is imminent.

There's another thing we have not yet mentioned about the Mercedes-Benz C180 coupe: On price considerations, it has no competitor in the Australian market, not from BMW, not from Audi and not from Lexus. BMW 3 Series coupes don't start much below $70,000 and that's for the 320d diesel -- the petrol 325i is well over $80,000 -- while Audi's A5, in 2.0-litre TFSI form, is much the same. And the Lexus IS range doesn't include a coupe.

Those facts alone should be enough to assure Benz a strong position in -- and potential dominance of -- Australia's prestige coupe segment. It is certainly selling like gangbusters at the moment.

Images: C250 CDI shown for illustrative purposes.

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Mercedes-Benz C180 BlueEfficiency coupe 2012 Review

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