Mercedes-Benz C 250 Edition C 2014 Review

Optioned up outgoing model of Mercedes-Benz’s best selling midsized sedan keeps the offer relevant. Performance is better than some, cabin upgrades have freshened the ownership experience but the all-new car just around the corner is set to shade W204 C-Class in terms of refinement and comfort, if not performance. A solid buy for run-out fans the C 250 Edition C is priced from $74,470 (plus on-road costs).

It still surprises me how quickly a car can date – in the weeks after its replacement is revealed.

Just a month or so ago, Mercedes-Benz top-selling C-Class sedan was holding its age well. Although launched fully seven years ago, it was still cutting a dashing figure on the road, aided no doubt from the front-end and interior ‘freshen’ it received in 2011.

But one glance at the mini-S-Class looks of the new W205 series C-Class launched last month was enough to start the ‘used-by’ clock ticking – and fast.

Mercedes-Benz Australia is no doubt hoping the Edition C run-out variant of the W204 tested here will be enough for many customers to stay focussed on the old car – at least until the new model lobs here in the third quarter of 2014.

The Edition C is in simple terms a value-add offering that adds some key equipment to the standard C-Class ahead of the car’s replacement.

On top of a reasonable level of standard equipment including COMAND sat nav and infotainment, leather seat facings and the usual retinue of Benz bits, in the C 250 sedan we tested, the Edition C package added 18-inch five-spoke alloys, an AMG bodykit, black roof liner, electric front seats with memory, electric tilt/slide sunroof and Mercedes’ automatic Intelligent Light System with bi-xenon headlights, Active Light System, variable light distribution and dynamic headlight beam control.

Priced at $74,470 (plus ORCs) including $2080 for the ‘as tested’ Iridium Silver Metallic paintjob, our C 250 Edition C was a hefty $6570 up on the price for the ‘standard’ C 250 Avantgarde or Elegance variants. Offsetting this extra spend is the value equation, suggests Mercedes-Benz Australia. Purchased separately the Edition C equipment would set you back well in excess of $8000.

The saving’s not huge, but is better than a poke in the eye.

We drove the C 250 in normal use for a week and noted the civility of the turbocharged 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine. Rated at 150kW at 5500rpm and 310Nm spread welcomely from 2000-4300rpm, the four couples well with Benz’s own seven-speed automatic transmission to provide better than adequate performance.

There’s a degree of turbo lag when driven in normal E (Eco) mode and the transmission rapidly upshifts almost to the point of lugging – even in city traffic. Both characteristics can be reduced using the S (Sport) setting.

I found I adjusted to this characteristic of the car quickly – but it will annoy some. If you are looking for more grunt, Mercedes offers myriad alternatives.

Idle stop-start and Mercedes’ excellent feet-off brake ‘hold’ function are both standard and work extremely well when commuting. Over the week I logged 10.4L/100km as an average, but on a couple of airport runs the figure quickly dropped back to 8.1. That augurs well for country and outer-urban drivers.

For the record, Mercedes’ ADR Combined figure for the C 250 sedan is 6.8L/100km.

The Edition C version of the C-Class looks handsome, although the stance does seem a little, err... elevated. A full AMG Sport suspension kit would see the car lowered by around 15-30mm depending on the model. As delivered, the standard suspension under the Edition C leaves a little too much ‘air’ under the ‘go fast’ add-ons. I wasn’t a huge fan of the five-spoke alloy wheel design supplied as part of the kit either.

Standard suspension does seem to deliver benefits in terms of ride, however. After a few months in particularly hard sprung daily drivers, the C 250 seems limousine-like in contrast. That’s more than likely my seat of the pants adjusting as opposed to any extra tuning Mercedes has undertaken.

We’ve done lots of miles in the W204 series C-Class over the past seven years and generally continue to rate the car as a strong ambassador for the Benz brand.

The C’s cabin is starting to date but still delivers solid, simple ergonomics and although the driving position is relatively upright (dare we say ‘mature’), it’ll accommodate a wide range of fits and foibles.

There’s reasonable legroom in the rear given the medium car class tag but if you are after more room you’d better wait for the new car... Or test drive a Mazda6 – the backseat’s huge in comparison!

Overall there’s much to commend in the W204 series – a fact that continues to be recognised by Benz faithful and new buyers alike. Edition C packages are offered in coupe, estate and sedan body styles on both C 200 and C 250 variants but such is the demand for the latter that if you want one you’ll need to be quick.

Even taking the Edition C inducements into account, swapping from a new 3 Series to C-Class and back again definitely confirms the C is showing its age. We’d suggest, however, the gap between old (Benz) and new (BMW) is still not as wide as the latter might like.