Mercedes C-Class 200 AMG Line

Giving customers in lower ranges the impression of owning – or almost – the brand's flagship: that's the credo of the Etoile brand, and it works! The first good point of this C-Class is precisely its fresh style, embellished on this AMG Line version with sportier shields and rims. Inside, it's a riot of technology with two large digital pads delivered as standard on all versions: the digital instrument cluster has a diagonal of 12,3 inches, and the large central screen, tilted, beautifully definition and touch, is barely smaller (11,9 inches). This raises the subject.

Relative commercial success

For those who think that the C-Class is a car for retirees and that it no longer sells, it is worth examining the sales figures to set the record straight. Certainly, the segment is in decline. So what matters is market share. The aging C-Class “W205”, launched in 2014 and whose career is now over, sold just over 440 copies worldwide in 000, the last normal year for automobile distribution. This is almost 2019 more than the BMW 30 Series, perceived as more recent and more dynamic, and 000 more than the Audi A3, often shunned in favor of the many SUVs from the brand with the rings. In France, the domination is quite clear: with 100 registrations in 000, mainly from businesses, the C Class doubles the volumes of its two direct competitors. However, these figures must be compared with a French market of 4 million registrations…

If you like buttons, you will be served. © Mercedes

The fifth generation of Mercedes C-Class, coded W206, will perhaps have a more difficult commercial career. On the one hand, the sedan segment continues to weaken in Western Europe. On the other hand, the electrification necessary to continue to exist will further increase prices. For the moment, the C-Class is only available with two four-cylinder engines: 204 hp in gasoline, the subject of our test, and 200 hp in diesel. Both receive a 48V micro-hybridization which saves a few drops of fuel and meets European approval standards. Later, a plug-in hybrid version will arrive with interesting figures (see box) in terms of autonomy and recharging time.

My dear car

When you go to checkout, you wonder if you haven't filled your shopping cart a little too full. Priced for just under fifty thousand euros at the entry-level Avantgarde Line, the AMG Line gasoline C-Class already asks for almost 3000 euros more. They are justified, and not only for aesthetic reasons, because they also affect driving pleasure (see below). By adding navigation in augmented reality, essential equipment to impress and ensure proper resale, it's still almost 4000 euros more (the thing is sold in a pack). With the right rims, full leather and panoramic glass roof, you can easily exceed 60 euros for a 000 hp 4-cylinder. Too expensive ? It seems that the price is forgotten and the quality remains... And for only 204 euros, you can upgrade to an estate body, with improved carrying capacity.

Sharp as ever

Over time, Mercedes have evolved from being a nice dad's sedan to becoming formidable precision machines. With their BMW-style steering and sharper chassis, the latest generations have made up some ground in this area, without ever sacrificing comfort. For this new C-Class, the challenge was to make it always comfortable and even more dynamic, which the latest suspension technologies, even uncontrolled, make it possible to do. The “C” swallows the grooves, deals with the bumps, plays holes approached at medium speed. When driving fast, it easily keeps pace, which is a little less the case for its gearbox. Automatic and with nine speeds as standard, it is perfect when driving smoothly, but a little lazy when the demands intensify.

The C is a scaled-down clone of the E and S. © Mercedes

However, the real Achilles heel of this Mercedes is the unpleasant sensation left by the brake pedal. This is more or less soft, lacks bite, to the point that you are tempted to brake harder than necessary, for fear that the car won't stop. Ultimately, there is no problem of effectiveness, it is just a question of apprehension and habituation.

Note that there is, however, a big difference between the driving sensations distilled by the AMG Line version and the Avantgarde Line liveries. The latter are much softer, suffer from less incisive steering and less controlled suspensions. The level of comfort at low speeds is improving, but road efficiency is lagging behind. The AMG Line is firmer, but much more at ease in the series of turns. There is a dynamic pack including controlled damping and rear-wheel steering, which should make it even more delectable. Don't deprive yourself of it.