2016 Mercedes-Benz C200 Coupe Quick Review

WHAT IS IT?

THIS model is powered by a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four cylinder engine paired with a seven-speed auto. It delivers 135kW and 300Nm and costs $65,900 (before onroads). Add another $1531 for the Irridium Silver Metallic paint job.

It costs $4,500 more than its four-door sibling, the Mercedes-Benz C200 sedan, and is undoubtedly less practical. But the sleek and sexy look of the two-door outweighs the extra money and impracticality issues.

STRENGTHS

• Its dynamic look. The C200’s sleek bullet shape, diamond grille, LED headlights and frameless doors mean owners will receive admiring glances from other motorists on the road.

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• All models come with standard AMG styling packs.
• Electronic seats have a handy memory setting allowing different drivers to get their preferred position spot-on.
• Five futuristic looking air vents provide dual-zone climate control.
• The seatbelts have handy little feeders so you don’t do your back reaching around to pull them on. They do, however, have the unnerving self-tensioning function of which Mercedes-Benz is so fond.
  
  
• This car maker doesn't cut corners with safety features – hence the nine airbags.

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• The 400L boot is deceptively generous.
• Despite their low profile, the 18-inch alloy wheels smoothly cruise over both pot holes on country roads and inner city speed bumps.
• The C200 remains planted and displays impressive grip through corners.
• Mercedes-Benz’s Heads-Up display projects a ghostly virtual 21 x 7 cm image of driver speed and direction onto the windscreen right in front of the driver so there’s no excuse for taking your eyes off the road.
• In an attempt to hand some power back to the driver, the car manufacturer provides four different drive modes – Comfort, Sport, Individual or Economy – via the Dynamic Select Button.

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WEAKNESSES

• Thanks to the coupé look the doors are long. And heavy.
• The sleek tapered roof cramps the rear view, although Mercedes-Benz’s excellent 360 degree camera and Blind Spot Warning feature do their best to ameliorate any vision restrictions.
• The interior is trimmed in Artico man-made pleather. For $65K+ you’d expect genuine leather.
• There is no spare, just run-flat tyres. If you get a puncture you just keep driving in the hope of finding a Bob Jane T-Mart soon.
• Its sleek roof line leaves room for only two pews in the rear, separated by a cup holder. While there is just enough leg room behind the back seats, the rear windows are fixed which could get suffocating on long trips.
• Fuel consumption is a claimed 6.0L/100km. Over 400km of combined inner city, freeway and country road driving the reality was closer to 8.3L/100km.

MAIN RIVALS?

The slightly more expensive BMW 420i. The cheaper Lexus RC coupe. Keep an eye out for the Audi A5 two-door, which is due to hit our shores in 2017.

Click here to read the full review on the Mercedes-Benz C-Class range.