Review Car

When Mercedes-Benz produced its new S-class inside 2013, it set an increased standard for technological know-how in luxury cars and trucks. With the redesign of the C-class for the 2015 model yr, the company demonstrates, rather than some sort of trickle, technology deluges down the array.

The 2015 Mercedes-Benz C400 Review impressed me which consists of smooth lines as well as LED headlights as soon as it first showed up in the E-NEWS storage. Soon I was to discover that not only will be the LED headlights regular, so is a Burmester sound system. As for optionally available features, this C400 came with the full choice of driver assistance systems I saw from the S-class, and which sets Mercedes-Benz about the path toward autonomous autos.

The C-class, Mercedes-Benz for sale luxury midsize sedan, comes as the C300 and C400 in the united states, with turbocharged four-cylinder as well as six-cylinder engines, respectively. All-wheel-drive is available on the C300 and standard using the C400. Base price for that C400 comes inside at $48, 590, despite the fact that my heavily optioned illustration hit $63, 705. UK C-class buyers enjoy either multiple gasoline as well as diesel engines, yet nothing above four cylinders, with some sort of base price of £26, 855. Also, Mercedes-Benz keeps the C-class as a result of four cylinders in Australia and offers a base style for AU$66, 626.

The C400 follows an overall trend of downsizing engines to gain fuel economy, in such cases using a 3-liter V-6. Strong injection and twin turbochargers, one for each and every bank of cylinders, generate output to 329 horse power and 354 pound-feet of torque. The C300 engages a turbocharged 2-liter four-cylinder, producing 241 horsepower as well as 273 pound-feet of torque. In yet another new twist pertaining to Mercedes-Benz, the C400 involved five different generate modes: Eco, Convenience, Sport, Sport Plus and Individual. Each and every mode regulated configurations including throttle sensitivity, steering response as well as suspension. I could select each mode by using a toggle switch tagged "Agility, " and I could truthfully save custom settings from the Individual mode.

The impressive power figures from your C400s engine were somewhat diminished because of the seven-speed automatic transmission. In Eco or even the default Convenience modes, the transmission was slow to downshift as i floored the gas pedal to go other cars. Also, while barreling decrease a twisty path in Sport as well as Sport Plus, when using the steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters, laggy gear changes kept me coming from really exploiting the energy. And generally on the road, I found the transmissions gear changes considerably more noticeable than they must be in a luxury car, suggesting a requirement of refining the adjust programming.

Included on this car was the optional Airmatic suspension, a surprising addition for the midsize vehicle coming from any manufacturer. Nevertheless, I didnt feel the C400 glide on the road as smoothly as the S-class. Thats not saying it wasnt an incredibly comfortable ride, hardly quite as nice such as cars further in the line. The suspension proved itself very competent in Sport as well as Sport Plus modalities, the more vulnerable steering program giving me good response from your wheel on twisty roadways at speed.

Even better, the C400s regular all-wheel-drive system proved itself about the wet roads We was driving. Taking it out on a rainy time, I could feel the torque shift as i kept the improve in the converts. The rear wheels felt wanting to let go, however the fronts clawed onward, working with the cars traction as well as stability systems to hold on to the road.

Supporting the C400 generate its EPA gasoline economy rating of 21 mpg metropolis and 29 mpg motorway, an idle halt system shut the engine down as i stopped at targeted visitors lights. I didnt find this system as well intrusive, quickly starting in the engine when I left off of the brake in sufficient time to let myself roll forward using traffic. Those fuel economic system numbers are best for a modern engine with this size, and ought to allow mid-20s common fuel economy. I pulled an average of 22. 6 mpg pertaining to driving that involved all modes, coming from Eco to Sport Plus.

Hands-off driving

Mercedes-Benz Amg excels inside driver assistance systems, and the C400 advantages of the full range. Setting my preferred speed for that adaptive cruise-control system, lane-keeping automatically operating, using forward-looking digital cameras to monitor the lane lines as well as help steer the auto. Having previously experienced it on the S-class as well as E-class, I found so it works every bit as well on the C-class. Testing the C400 about the freeway, it lit way up a warning screen as i took my hands off of the wheel and allow it to steer. However, at speeds under 20 mph, like very slow targeted visitors, I could allow car handle the steering, as long as the green wheel tattoo was lit, showing the auto could actually view the lane lines.

This C400 included a brand new feature, which We hadnt previously observed from Mercedes-Benz, some sort of head-up display projecting onto the window. I liked the clear imagery from this optional system, but Mercedes-Benz does not make much using it, only showing speed and turn-by-turn instructions. I would in addition have liked information about the adaptive cruise management setting, showing myself actual speed vs . set speed. This head-up screen was also too intrusive, using a big image occupying too much of my view.

This C400 also displayed some upgrades to Mercedes-Benzs venerable Comand infotainment system, but it still falls behind individuals of BMW as well as Audi. The system includes a high-resolution 8. 4-inch LCD as well as a dial on the console. In add-on, Mercedes-Benz includes some sort of row of buttons about the center stack giving quick access to navigation, music system and phone adjustments, a useful update. There is in addition a touchpad extending on the console dial. Nevertheless, this touchpad only ok, ill swipe through several menus -- it failed to offer character searching, forcing me to utilize the dial to manually enter alphanumeric figures.

Voice command remains a great option for entering destinations, making messages or calls and requesting new music from onboard solutions. The system provides comprehensive commands and works well. Where previously the Comand interface demonstrated drop-down menus from a listing of major function regions along its major bar, in the C400 it raised a whole submenu, letting me utilize dial to scroll through audio sources, car settings or nav options. This new scheme looks better ones, but ends way up requiring more steps to accomplish an action. I do think its time Mercedes-Benz rethought that entire interface.

Always-off Internet

I found many new connected features from the C400, such as Google maps for that navigation system, Internet-based radio stations, Google search as well as various apps included in the car. These features could have been nice if your C400 did not are afflicted by the same achingly slow Internet connection as I have observed in other Mercedes-Benz models. I spent far too much effort looking at the Establishing Internet connection screen before I could truthfully actually access from any of the cars connected features.

As in additional Mercedes-Benz models, the C400 gets some sort of reasonably fast 3G facts connection, but rather then being always on, the car was required to reestablish its connection when I tried to reach an app. This looks like its a problem using Mercedes-Benzs US facts supplier, so its likely no issue in other marketplaces, and certainly no issue Ive seen using BMW or Audi attached services. The C400s facts connection, frankly, makes its connected features unusable.

As pertaining to onboard features, I was happy with the look of the navigation systems maps and the standard of route guidance. This maps showed animations rendered buildings as well as offered good targeted visitors coverage. Online destination search turns up in a menus alongside points-of-interest as well as manual address entry, but I wouldnt recommend using it due to lengthy connection times.

Audio sources include HD Radio, Wireless bluetooth streaming, satellite stereo, two USB slots for iOS devices and drives as well as an onboard hard disk drive. I particularly such as the music library interface for drives as well as my iPhone, which let myself search by key word or scroll through album covers along with the usual artist, album or track item listings.

The Burmester sound system, using 13 speakers as well as a 590-watt amp, was a particular standout, and comfortable as a regular feature. Mercedes-Benz builds just what it calls Frontbass in the structure of the C400, using space in the body of the auto as a resonance chamber for that woofers, allowing the amount of bass response you get with cabinet audio system. I found the audio quality to be very clean, using crystal-clear vocals as well as instrumentation. The Frontbass lived approximately its promise as well, giving me extremely palpable low frequencies. The bass came though inside a controlled manner without having overwhelming the being attentive experience.

The 2015 Mercedes-Benz C400 may flunk of being your baby S-class, lacking which cars gliding experience quality, but I found it very pleasant, a comfortable destination for a be when slogging through city, cruising the freeway or driving hard on backroads. The new C-class captures Mercedes-Benzs luxury character and uses technology to create a good regular for midsize sedans. This specific new engine provides good power as well as economy, although We felt the transmission programming needs more refinement. The different driving modes give flexibility on the C400, and I like how they impact all driving settings with the flip of some sort of toggle switch. Nevertheless, Sport Plus overpromises for that C400s capabilities. Should you prefer a real hard-driving C-class, check out the new C63 AMG according to this new technology.

The infotainment system looks good and exhibits some positive new developments, but it seriously is suffering from the data connection. The lack of quick access to online destination search plus the multitude of apps from the car puts Mercedes-Benz at a disadvantage against BMW as well as Audi. Likewise, the touchpad isnt going to offer the exact same flexibility as individuals in Audi as well as BMW vehicles.

The place that the C400 shines will be the availability of advanced driver assistance systems. Mercedes-Benz is with the forefront of developing features like adaptive cruise management and lane keeping, the latter of which almost amounts to self-steering. These are important technologies on the path to self-driving cars. More great for the everyday driver, they take tension off during extended drives and encourage safety.