Even five years since it entered the global stage, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class continues to be a strong seller against its rivals in the premium compact segment. Just as well, the 2018 facelifted version is due to arrive in local showrooms very soon, each carrying some tweaked styling and more up-to-date equipment no matter which body style is chosen: sedan, wagon, coupe, or cabriolet.
The mid-life exterior spruce up is focused on the C-Class’ fascia, incorporating a new design of headlight and tail light. On examples fitted with the AMG-Line enhancements, there’s a new front apron and a rear bumper with a new lower section. Inside, the centre console is characterised by an elegant flowing trim element, including optional new real wood veneer such as open-pore brown walnut or open- pore black ash.
Mercedes-Benz says that over 6,500 new or modified components are present in this newest C-Class, ensuring that the alterations are much deeper and more noticeable than anything merely visual, least of which is the inclusion of a mild-hybrid system they’ve termed as EQ Boost.
Just the sheer number of permutations can be a little daunting, but the range is straightforward enough where it’s powertrains are concerned. As before, the C200 and C220d kick things off at the entry-level, and these newly upgraded engines come at a $1,500 premium over the outgoing units.
The 1.5-litre turbo of the C200 can now summon short bursts to aid its acceleration from a 10kW/160Nm electric motor, but in typical driving all motive force is derived from the 135kW/280Nm petrol mill. Conversely, the C220d’s features a new 2.0-litre turbodiesel to replace the older 2.2-litre unit, bringing output to an impressive 143kW and 400Nm.
Oddly, pricing info for the mid-tier C300, with its more powerfully tuned 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-pot, has been held back until October, but we know that European-bound units of this C-Class are using a 190kW version of the existing turbo-petrol engine.
Above this, of course, and we enter AMG territory beginning with the C43 which receives a more powerful turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 engine with 287kW (a 17kW bump) and 520Nm to spread between its four driven wheels. And thanks to its newer 9-speed automatic transmission, is able to dispatch 100km/h from rest in 4.7 seconds.
The top dog C63, however, is due to arrive later in January 2019. Though the powertrain here remains unchanged, Mercedes-AMG has instead shifted focus to refining the car’s lateral and longitudinal dynamics.
Apart from anything under the bonnet, each C-Class now receives a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster alongside the 10.25-inch media display as standard and the newest generation of Benz’s Driving Assistance Package is now made optional on lower tier variants but is standard fitment on the C300 and up. This adds traffic jam assist in addition to safety staples like Lane Keep Assist, Blind Spot Monitoring, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, AEB, and Active Park.
For more on Mercedes-Benz and Mercedes-AMG cars, check out our Showroom.
