The C200 CGI replaces the C200 K.Same difference? Absolutely not.
Harmaan R A J Madon drove it.
This is Mercedes’
bread-and-butter model. Around the globe, Mercedes sells more C-Class cars than any other model in their range. It’s the first Merc most people aspire to and can afford. The current C-Class (W204) has been around a couple of years and at launch, it had a 1.8-litre supercharged petrol engine apart from a diesel option, but that’s of no interest to us here.
The C200 K (K stands for ‘Kompressor’ or supercharger in German) was the mainstay of their entry-level petrol range. Now however, Mercedes has replaced that motor with a new one – the C200 CGI or common-rail gasoline injection. Interestingly, both engines share the same bore and stroke and overall displacement, but the big difference is the way fuel is delivered to the cylinders, and also the fact that Mercedes has dropped the supercharger in favour of a turbo. A turbo runs off the exhaust gas pressure from the engine and hence is more efficient than a mechanically driven supercharger, according to Prof. Bharat Balasubramaniam, the VP of Daimler’s product innovations and process technologies. Be that as it may, the new motor has a bit more power (188PS versus 179PS) and quite a bit more torque (285Nm vis-a-vis 240Nm earlier).
The difference in performance though is substantial; the C200 CGI gets to 100km/h in 8.83 seconds, a full two seconds quicker than its predecessor. It’s quicker by a similar margin in the 40 to 120km/h slog too and gets to the quarter mile from a standing start 1.5 seconds faster than before. But at no point does it feel manic. Mercs are always about smoothness and the C feels no less composed than before. There is always adequate performance on hand and a brisk unruffled drive is yours for the taking.
We only drove it on the highway, managing 15kmpl in the process, which is the same as before. But considering the extra performance on tap, to achieve the same fuel efficiency is satisfying. We didn’t test it within city limits, so we can’t enlighten you on those figures, but we expect them to be competent.
The ride as always is supple yet controlled and the C settles on its suspension with aplomb. Yes, the steering wheel feels a bit large for my liking, but it holds its line competently with consistent feedback from the wheel, if not too much ‘feel’. You have the option of tapping the gear lever left or right to change down or up – do this a few times and the car senses that you’re in a more playful mood. So, it holds on to gears longer and resists shifting up when you lift off the pedal. Stability control is standard now in all Mercs and doesn’t grant you too much leeway, unlike some of the C-Class’s German competitors.
We drove the top of the line Avant Garde variant, which has 17-inch wheels, wood inserts in the cabin and all-electric everything. The front seats are comfy and well-bolstered and you can emerge after a day behind the wheel not too worse for wear. The rear seats however have a short squab which limits under thigh support, although the legroom and backrest angle are about near perfect.
Mercedes is on a roll in India and despite the strong competition, sales have been edging northward for the three-pointed star. With the C-Class you can see why. It makes no claims of single-mindedness in any one department. The Mercedes C-Class remains a competent and versatile all-rounder and the view of the star like a gun sight on the bonnet remains one of those little motoring feel good factors that the German marque knows how to cash in on.
You cannot go wrong with this car. Yes, you have options and you’ll always be spoiled for choice, but choose this and you won’t regret it. At under Rs 35 lakh (OTR, Pune) for the C200 CGI Avant Garde, it’s reasonably good value too.
