Mercedes-Benz C300 Coupe A Pleasure Worth Pursuing

Mercedes-Benz C300 Coupe A Pleasure Worth Pursuing

Have American motorists forgotten the joys of extravagance? Given the preponderance of utility vehicles and pickup trucks, it seems we have. Consider the Mercedes-Benz most popular in the U.S.: the compact C-Class. The latest rendition of the C-Class sedan launched in 2014 and was followed the next year by its sibling, the GLC crossover utility vehicle. Both will vastly outsell the newest version of the C-Class family: the 2017 C300 Coupe, and that鈥檚 a pity. Unlike the CLA and CLS 鈥渇our-door鈥?coupes that wear the three-pointed star, this is a true two-door, just like the E-Class, S-Class and AMG GTS coupes. And, like them, the C300 Coupe fulfills an emotional need mostly felt by younger buyers and women. Given its launch in the middle of a model cycle, the previous generation C300 Coupe was fairly conservative, lacking the designer panache typical of Mercedes-Benz two-doors. Unlike that model, the new coupe is purpose-built as a coupe, which explains its expanding waistline.

The added length blends seamlessly with softly assertive sheet metal that lends the car the elegantly aggressive look that鈥檚 classic Mercedes-Benz. Inside, sporting touches include a flat bottom steering wheel, black headliner, aluminum pedals, AMG floor mats and an instrument panel finished with topstitching. Most importantly, it adds a sport suspension with quicker steering. The Coupe鈥檚 suspension is based on the sedan鈥檚, but it鈥檚 tuned for a much sportier response. The same is true of the steering, which is also much quicker than the sedan鈥檚, and ride height is slightly lower. 1,200 optional Airmatic air suspension provides the best of both worlds, providing an adept balance of comfort and sport that one expects of a luxury ride, something absent from the base-level, steel suspension. Powering the car is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that鈥檚 used in the C-Class sedan as well. It鈥檚 rated at 241 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque, with both these figures representing 20 percent bumps over the old coupe.

In fact, the new four-cylinder produces as much torque as the old model鈥檚 six-cylinder engine, but its available at 1,300 rpm, versus the six-cylinder鈥檚 3,500 rpm. As a result, performance has improved, with a zero to 60 mph run taking 5.9 seconds. All-wheel drive is now available with the four-cylinder engine and is the powerplant most buyers will choose. It鈥檚 a boon to buyers in chillier climes. But the feature that drivers will truly appreciate is Dynamic Select, a feature that adjusts the car鈥檚 performance parameters based on driving conditions and your mood. There are four different drive moods - or, um - modes including Eco, Comfort, Sport and Sport-Plus as well as an Individual setting, which allows for customization. The system does have a dramatic effect on the car鈥檚 personality, taking it from mild to wild. The car reverts to Comfort on start-up, although it would be better if stayed on the last setting the driver selected. Regardless, it鈥檚 quite fun. While not the quickest coupe out there, it鈥檚 more than fast enough to get your yay-yas out, with quick shifts delivered from a seven-speed automatic transmission.

The outstandingly clear layout of the body and the good all-round visibility, combined with the raised seating position, increases the vehicle鈥檚 suitability for everyday on-road use and ensures relaxed driving even in dense city traffic. The Vision GLK FREESIDE鈥檚 convincing design concept is reinforced by the special effect 鈥渄iamond-white magno鈥?paintwork. Unlike conventional metallic paintwork, a matte clearcoat protects the surface here. The detachable body parts, in gloss sterling silver, produce a charming contrast and give the study an even more exclusive look. The distinctive looks of the exterior are seamlessly continued inside the SUV study. A thrilling stylistic contrast is produced by the juxtaposition of two formally different worlds. On the one hand the Vision GLK FREESIDE offers a high-quality and comfortable interior with impressive materials and precise detailing. On the other hand the contemporary treatment of the surfaces brings the latest in Mercedes design to the interior. The dashboard is the dominant element here, its wide, emphatically three-dimensional trim lending the generous interior an additional sense of width. The main focus is an elegant trim tier in matte, anthracite-colored cebrano wood with white grain and a precision-tailored chrome trim strip.

This element, with its rich contrasts, extends across the full width of the interior and divides the main body of the dashboard into three horizontal planes. The upper area is trimmed in black leather and encompasses the instrument cluster and the static COMAND APS central display. The lower area, like the tunnel and the footwells, echoes the color scheme of the exterior paintwork. The seats and the lower part of the door are trimmed in specially coated white leather which, like the 鈥渄iamond-white magno鈥?paintwork, has a matte gloss finish. Treating the natural leather in this way not only produces a stunning look but gives it a velvety soft, skin-friendly, easy-grip surface. Black piping adds to the interesting black and white contrasts. The driver鈥檚 armrest and the COMAND APS controller are placed in the optimum ergonomic position. Control of the individual menus is intuitive, following the highly familiar control logic used in the S-Class.