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 DaimlerChrysler’s Mercedes-Benz passenger car division has come a long way in the last few years, now offering a full range of vehicles to cover just about every possible niche in the market. One such car is the
Sports Coupe variant in the C-Class range, which is woo-ing younger buyers big time. A mile long waiting list is testimony enough.
Like most of the M-Bs of years past, the C-Class has always been considered an older, more conservative buyer’s car, very unlike a BMW – which appeals
mainly to younger, less conservative people. Or so it is said. This maxim is no longer true. M-B covers just about every possible market niche, with large and small saloons, big and small droptops, and 4x4s of every stature. And now the C-Class – which with its younger and much more dynamic styling has already done a lot to establish M-B as a more appealing car – has spawned a coupe version to complement the much larger CLK (incidentally built on a C-Class platform…) and give BMW a serious run for its money. The reason? For the last ten years, BMW has had two coupe variants of its extremely popular 3-Series (a car consistently in the top five on the sales charts and which has ensured BMW SA the highest market penetration in any automotive market in the world). These BMW coupes – one a standard “booted” car, the other a shortened one dubbed the Compact, has been a runaway success. Some 400 000
 Compacts have been sold worldwide, the latest incarnation of which is now also on sale in SA. And Merc saw an opportunity, as obviously there has been a high demand for a “smaller” coupe to cash in with on what turned out to be a very lucrative market indeed.
Concept and Styling
Though it can hardly be described as “small”, the SportsCoupe is relatively compact in its dimensions, looking larger than it actually is. While the frontal view looks much like a C-Class, almost all bodyparts have been redeveloped. Still, it shares the platform and running gear with the C-Class sedan (width and wheelbase is identical), but the SportsCoupe is 183 mm shorter and 20 mm lower, and the headlight treatment unique. However, the family resemblance is obvious, the result a striking combination of flowing lines, form and function. It is gorgeous (unlike BMW’s Compact which looks a bit dumpy from some angles, and with styling cues which just do not blend as well as it does in the standard coupe, convertible and sedan variants) and is arguably one of the most desirable Mercs to date. Many won’t like the rear end treatment, a combination of high tail, large lights, huge glass area and see-through bootlid, but the result tends to grow on one as you spend more time in the car’s company.
Ambience and ergonomics
Inside, it is true Merc-of-late styling and functionality. In fact, had you gotten into the car with your eyes closed, this could as well have been a sedan you’re sitting in. There is an airy feel due mostly to the large expanses of glass. Our drive car also had the optional panoramic roof, which replaces the conventional metal roof with UV-resistant smoked glass. All functions and controls are within easy reach, logically placed and easy to use, while getting comfortable is a jiffy thanks to multi-adjustable seats and steering wheel. The driver’s seat – more sporty than those on the sedan - is undoubtably the best place to be.
 Equipment
There is only one SportsCoupe model available in SA – the C230 Kompressor variant (or C230K) with a choice of six-speed manual or five-speed Tippshift ‘box. As can be expected at the price, these cars come fully equipped – there is the compulsory electronic and active and passive safety aids (ABS, BAS, ESP, more airbags than you can count and Merc’s legendary structural integrity) as well as a long, long list of standard features: the Active Service System (ASSYST), adaptive front airbags, aluminium trim in the centre console, aluminium trim strips around the doors and rear windows, armrest with stowage compartment, automatic child seat recognition, automatic heating system with air re-circulation, information display, dust and pollen filter, Easy Entry System, ELCODE locking system, Headlamp Assist, heated exterior mirrors, multi-function steering wheel, manually adjustable for height and reach, rain sensor, SPEEDTRONIC with cruise control, automatic climate control and a tremendous sound system. It leaves the driver wanting for nothing.
SA-bound models also come with Merc’s Evolution sports package, which includes extras such as pedals finished in polished steel with raised rubber grips, leather-trimmed gear lever, sports suspension and wider wheels on sporty alloys. Options include a navigation system, the panoramic sliding sunroof, CD changer in the glove compartment, pre-installation kit for Nokia mobile phones and a memory package for the front seats.
Accommodation and Space
The C-Class in standard execution is very spacious indeed, comfortably beating the 3-Series and A4 in interior space, but falling behind these two in the luggage department. The SportsCoupe is equally spacious inside, catering for the comfortable accommodation of four adults. In terms of loadibility, the Sportscoupe starts out with 310 litres of space (slightly less than the sedan), but with the rear seat folded down, this increases to 1 100 litres of space.
To ease ingress and egress for all passengers, there are wide-opening doors and a fuss-free forward tilting mechanism for the front seats. So it is not just a pretty face, but, after all, practical too.
Ride Integrity and Safety
Our drive car was as solid as can be, with pleasantly firm – but nit hard – suspension setup that caters well for its sporty inclinations and the driver’s urge to keep stomping down on the accelerator. The suspension is a three-link design with McPherson suspension struts. As well as precise wheel location, the primary benefit of this new design according to M-B is that it compensates vibrations resulting from tyre imbalance or brake force fluctuations more effectively than a rigid wishbone suspension. While it begs to be driven, the SportsCoupe will always remain composed, its taut and rock steady handling (aided by underbody panelling, wheel spoilers, deflectors in front of the wheel arches and the spoiler lip on the boot lid) and safety assistance ensuring you really have to do something really, really foolish to end up in the fynbos. Thoughtful touches which aid in the safety department include the climate control system which keeps the windows inside completely mist free and all outside windows free from road grime and water. In fact, it is quite something to drive at speed in a rain storm and not see a drop of water on any window but the windsreen… Safety assistance hardly comes better than this.
Build Integrity
As mentioned above, our drive car was as solid as a rock, its German origins more than evident. Buyers have the reassurance of a one year/unlimited kilometers warranty as well as Mercedes-Benz’ normal six year/120 000 km Maintenance Plan that requires staggered customer contribution as the mileage increases. And then there is the Touring Guarantee, which includes 24-hour roadside assistance.
 Performance and economy
While overseas the SportsCoupe is available with a choice of engines, in SA there is one option only – Merc’s acclaimed (and altogether one of the best engines in its entire line-up) 2.3-litre, four-cylinder kompressor-driven powerplant that is good for 145 kW and 280 Nm of torque between 2500 and 4 800 rpm, making it immensely driveable. Top speed is in the region of 240 km/h and the 0 – 100 km/h dash takes a mere 8.6 secs, while its consumption figures are around 9.5 litre/100 at 120 km/h and 11 litres/100 km in the combined cycle. These figures compare well with most of the C230K’s rivals, but where it shines is in the high levels of torque available through a wide rev band. In terms of Merc’s entire model range lineup, the variants equipped with Kompressor engines are in most cases the pick of that particular bunch. Our drive car was the six speed manual version, which allows for far more controllability of power and performance than the auto. Although the five speed Tippshift is a superb gearbox, a car like the C230K only comes into it own when the driver has all the control.
Conclusion
The C230K has to be the pick of the bunch – in terms of styling, it is arguably the most attractive of the C-Class range (the Estate is a close second…) and offers an unsurpassed level of six cylinder performance with four cylinder economy. While there has been calls from buyers for M-B to make a six cylinder model available here too, that will perhaps be an overkill and make it very pricey, certainly not the current bargain the C230K seems to be. Dynamically, it outshines a 3-Series Compact any day. It simply begs to be driven – and to do so, choose the manual over the auto…
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