Fill her up, with diesel

 For more than a decade, the C-Class was the introduction to luxury motoring to many Indian car buyers. And the three-pointed star became the symbol of prestige after it was seen adorning the bonnet of the C. So, it is no surprise that the new C-Class was the most awaited car of last year. But, the new C-Class, the fourth-generation compact executive sedan from Mercedes-Benz is still so new, after being rolled out worldwide early last year that the Indian subsidiary has to import it in fully built form initially. The petrol version introduced here late last year is now being assembled. The next in line is the C-Class diesel.

Despite the fall in the price differential between petrol and diesel fuels, the Indian obsession for the oil burner continues. It might have waned a bit, but the number of buyers who choose diesel engines is still higher than the ones buying petrols, even more so in the luxury car segment.

By now the new C-Class' design is famous for being uncannily similar to the S-Class. Obviously, there is no reason to claim that it is a line-to-line copy, but there a many individual elements which come together to rightfully make it seem like the baby S-Class that it has been called. But the new C still has considerable character of its own. And the best part is that the design doesn't look like it will get weary any time in the near future.

In terms of exterior design, the new C220 CDI is exactly the same as the petrol C200 petrol launched late last year. Starting from its flowing silhouette to the long bonnet and subtle, yet strong elements, the new C's design expresses elegance and poise. Like the petrol, the C220 CDI too betrays its S-Class genes more at the rear, where the LED tail-lamps and the barely there integrated spoiler and the rear fender construction make it look a miniaturised version of the Merc flagship.

The new C's cabin is similarly exciting in the way it has been improved over the previous generation. It probably has the plushest cabin in its class now. The touchscreen control and display screen at the top of the centre stack, the touchpad selector, the choice of trim materials and finishes, the wide, comfy seats and the attention to detail in the cabin make it an extremely pleasing place to be in. 

The three-colour ambient lighting and the panoramic sunroof give the cabin a sense of space and luxury. The new C220 CDI is being offered in two trim variants - Style and Avantgarde.

The C220 CDI is powered by Merc's 2,143cc, in-line, 4-cylinder diesel engine. It is being offered in a crisp, brisk state of tune which makes its output figures more than adequate to match the expectations of the buyer in this segment. The 0-100 kmph run at 7.5 seconds seems a bit lazy, but you must consider the awesome operational efficiency of this motor, and what the buyer is seeking in this class.

The engine puts out about 170PS of peak power between 3,000 to 4,200 rpm. Acceleration is clean and linear from standstill and there is also the 400Nm of peak torque available from 1,400 rpm. The torque tops out at 2,800rpm.

The C220 CDI's engine is very workable and the 7G-TRONIC plus transmission is also a good pair. But, if you are looking to drive the car in an agile manner, it is best to keep the engine on a boil within the 1,500 to 3,500 rpm band. Top speed is set at 233 kmph. Unlike the other shared-platform models from Mercedes, the C220 CDI is quieter in the cabin, thanks to better NVH packaging.

It is still a Mercedes diesel and so makes its presence audible when you step out. Users can choose to customise the drive mode to suit their individual style with changes that can be fine-tuned for the engine, transmission and steering wheel behaviour. For those in a hurry, there are preset modes called Agility Select to pick out of and a choice can be made between Comfort, Economy, Sport and Sport+. Engine and transmission shift points, throttle response and a more direct steering are the progressive changes that are programmed while changing over from Comfort to Sport. Want to sit at the rear seat and let some one else drive - then choose the Comfort setting and leave the engine start / stop on. The new C220 CDI also gets a raised suspension for better ground clearance as part of the India-spec package.

Part of the compromise, in addition to the slightly gawky stance on the road, is that the suspension has had to be made a bit more rigid.

The C220 CDI is just stuck on tarmac even at straight-line speeds close to its rated top speed.

Bad roads and fast corners are just that tad bit uncomfortable. But it is still more settled and less jarring than the competition in this segment. 

The new C220 CDI is the correct combination of plushness and efficiency. With a rated mileage of 19.27 kmpl, the fuel price differential versus the Rs 2 lakh sticker price differential between the petrol and diesel C-Class' should make the latter C even more attractive.

With that aerodynamic design and its well-appointed cabin, there is also more to look forward to compared to the previous generation. 

Ex-showroom price of the new C220 CDI Style is Rs 39.9 lakh and the C220 CDI Avantgarde is Rs 42.9 lakh. Currently the diesels are fully imported, but the price is likely to have factored in Merc's future plans for CKD assembly of the C220 CDI.

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