It isn't sharp or agile per se, and it has
a noticeable front weight bias in the way the nose tends to naturally push wide
mid comer; but it never loses its calm, remains consistently sure-footed, and
as mentioned earlier, is always refined in its demeanor. The fact that it has a
supremely quiet cabin devoid of Wind noise even close to 200km/h contributes to
this sense of composure even further. It doesn't try to engage, doesn't ask to
be pushed, and is clear with its intentions - it never wants to bother its
driver and suggests instead that he or she relaxes while the car does the rest.
I open its generously sized sunroof, soak in the fading lights of dusk, and
submit. No other compact executive pampers the way the C-Class does, although,
come to think of it, that could've been the therapeutic effects of the Active
Fragrancing contraption in the glove compartment.
The
metallic switchgear and air vents look great and feel expensive
The features list goes far beyond air
fresheners, although not all will make it over. A neat heads-up display,
Attention Assist, 360-degree perimeter cameras, Active Lane Keeping Assist,
GPS-assisted automatic air recirculation adjustment, and ECO Start/Stop system
populate a seriously extensive list of niceties. The Adaptive Brake Assist is
an especially noteworthy function and will definitely prove useful for smart
phone-obsessed city folk. It's one of those automated braking systems that stop
the car if a collision is deemed imminent. Distronic Plus with Steering Assist
is another advanced feature that uses radar technology to semi-autonomously
follow traffic ahead by controlling both throttle and brakes, while adjusting
steering angle. I tried it, it works, the car successfully maneuvered around an
E-Class made out of cardboard boxes, but I just cannot advocate the idea of
relinquishing so much control. Not yet at least. Point is that the new C-Class
is arguably the most feature-rich car of its league, and that's saying
something.
Seatbacks
fold to increase boot space, which is good
The Comand system continues to impress and
it has never been c loser in terms of functionality versus the benchmark
iDrive. The free-standing central display has lovely graphics and animations,
while the interface itself is intuitive; easy enough for someone accustomed to
driving on the left side of the road in a right-hand drive car, to operate it
while driving on the right side of the road in a left hand drive car. As long
as you resist the temptations of using that touchpad, it's pretty straightforward.
The new hardware looks good, no doubt, arching over the conventional control
knob, but I found it a bit redundant in purpose. I don't really need 3
different ways of choosing a song, nor do I need 2 "back" buttons.
Beyond that though, there's a lot to like about the system, along with the
Hotel Intercontinental Dieu where the day's driving draws to a close. Parked
under the dramatic lights and grandeur of the hotel's driveway, the C-Class
posed with the same sort of elegance as when I first saw it. Did I already
point out that this is a very suave-looking car? Perhaps the appeal could
simmer down when it becomes a more common sight, perhaps it won't. It doesn't
change the fact that, to me at least, the C-Class has never been more
aesthetically impressive.
LED
tail-lamps are a nod to the S-class. From far enough back you could even
mistake the C-class for an S-class
In case I haven't made it clear enough,
allow me to reiterate that the new C-Class is an absolute gem of a car. The
term ~game changer" has been tossed around too often to be taken seriously
anymore, which is a shame, because the C-Class completely justifies it. The
current 3 Series may be the more potent performer and the A4 may have its, err,
mesmerizing DRLs, but when it comes to luxury, the C is just mites ahead. For
years now it's been the brand's best seller and I shall stick my neck out a bit
here by saying that, this time round, it's going to do much more than just keep
up the trend. And really, it didn't require a drive in Marseille for me to
arrive at this conclusion.
