Drive
We’re looking at the first C-Class Estate off the boat, the entry-level C200 Kompressor, but soon you’ll have the diesel-powered C220 CDI and volcanic C63 AMG to choose from as well.
In terms of specification there’s little to separate them. All get power front seats, dual-zone climate control, auto headlights/wipers, leather-shod multifunction steering wheel and six-stack CD player.
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The C200K’s 135 kW 1.8-litre supercharged four-cylinder comprehensively outpunches its BMW 320i arch-rival on paper.
On the road, what really stands out is its flexible, easygoing demeanour. It doesn’t need to be revved to achieve its decent performance, delivering good response from just above idle, while the five-speed auto is generally smart and unobtrusive in the way it harnesses the power.
Push harder and the blown four responds smoothly and willingly but lacks the free-spinning glee of its BMW competitor. It also sounds rather uninspiring, kind of like an overgrown vacuum cleaner.
Fuel economy, though, is good. We averaged 9.0 L/100 km on our combined urban/highway route, well behind the official 8.3 L/100 km claim but quite thrifty nonetheless. How it drives
The good news starts with the steering, which promptly translates requests into action and is unerringly precise, if a touch too light for some tastes. Point the C200K at a corner and it displays admirable agility and a genuinely unflappable balance.
The new wagon’s tail is less reclined than its swoopy predecessor, to the benefit of boot space. Volume is up to 485 litres with the split-fold back seats raised and 1465 litres with them dropped, or enough to outswallow all compact luxury rivals.
It’s user-friendly, too, with luggage tie-downs, bag hooks and a 12-volt outlet, while the roller blind is handy in that it folds with the back seats rather than requiring removal.
The Benz deserves praise for its logical switchgear. The ambience and quality are also a step up on the old C, if well behind the class-leading standards of Audi.
