Brilliantly packaged; oozes ‘Benz-AMG quality
We had to return the C 250 Sport after one week
Occasionally a car comes to the Car Showroom garage which makes us think: “This is just right, we wouldn’t change a thing”. The +$200,000 Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG is one of those, but so too is this car – Benz’s $78,550 C 250 Sport Coupe.
In fact there are sub-$20,000 vehicles in that category because at the end of the day cars are a complex mix of form, function and price. In the case of the C 250 Sport Coupe, ‘Benz has – as usual – partnered with AMG to deliver a car with clever changes and a reasonable price tag and the sum total is just right.
Sure you can up the ante to the C 63 AMG, and north of $150,000 does buy a sensational C-Class coupe…but the C 250 Sport Coupe does its job perfectly.
Mercedes-Benz C 250 Sport Coupe Overview
Mercedes-Benz handed us the keys to a C 250 Sport Coupe painted in ‘Designo Magno Platinum Silver’, one of the cutting-edge new matt paint finishes which are the current ‘buzz’ in the automotive industry. Our ‘Benz looked…well, awesome actually and well worth the extra $5,990.
The Sport package is massive, highlighted by 18-inch AMG seven-spoke alloy wheels, AMG bodykit (bootlid spoiler, side sills and front/rear aprons), mesh front air intake and twin-louvre grille, AMG sports seat in black leather, red seat belts, black roof liner, aluminium trim highlights, AMG sports steering wheel and a host of technical changes – sportier exhaust, steering, transmission, suspension and brakes.
As we said: ‘Benz and AMG really know how to specify a car that hits the mark.
Our car also gained the $5,340 Vision Package (massive glass sunroof, Harman Kardon audio and Intelligent Light System with Bi-Xenon headlights), the $4,990 Driving Assistance Package Plus (adaptive cruise control, Pre-Safe braking, blind spot warning and active lane assist) plus the $3,600 Comfort Package (heated/electric front seats and keyless entry).
Mercedes-Benz C 250 Sport Coupe Engine
The C 250 Coupe employs Mercedes’ turbocharged 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with 150kW at 5500rpm and peak torque of 310Nm at 2300rpm. With direct injection and auto start/stop, this engine is from the BlueEFFICIENCY family for optimized fuel consumption and emissions (7.0l/100kms and 163g/km).
But of course that is not the end of the story for the Sport model. For enhanced dynamics, throttle mapping in the engine management system is changed for a sportier response. And there’s a sports exhaust system with Benz’ ‘sound generator’ for a racier note.
Drive is to the rear wheels via the latest version of Mercedes’ 7G-TRONIC PLUS automatic transmission. Again this is enhanced for the Sport model with a sportier configuration in ‘S’ (Sport) and ‘M’ (manual) modes delivering a double de-clutch on down-changes and active downshift when braking.
Mercedes-Benz C 250 Sport Coupe The Interior
Behind the wheel, the Mercedes-Benz C 250 Sport Coupe highlights its AMG tweaks with the glorious leather-wrapped, flat-bottomed AMG sport steering wheel and sports seats with integrated head-restraints, aluminium gear lever, black roof liner and brushed aluminium trim. With lots of electronic seat and steering wheel adjustment (rake and reach for the steering wheel and 273mm of longitudinal adjustment for the seat) the driving position is just right.
Instrumentation is Benz’ usual conventional display with a nice 114mm high-resolution colour display. Audio is the Harman Kardon Logic 7 system with the usual connectivity and to the left is the 17.8cm navigation/reversing camera screen.
The electric front seats included in the ‘Comfort Pack’ highlighted the ‘Easy-Entry’ system for the two rear seats. You simply tug a lever next to the front seat head-restraint to fold the seatback forwards then the seat automatically slides forward for uninhibited access to the rear (when re-positioned the front seat automatically returns to its previously set position).
Included in the Sport pack is a central arm-rest for the rear which folds down to reveal a storage compartment and two cupholders.
Mercedes-Benz C 250 Sport Coupe Exterior & Styling
With its matt Designo Magno Platinum Silver paintwork, AMG bodykit, Bi-Xenon headlights, lowered stance courtesy of the sports suspension and stylish 18-inch seven-spoke AMG alloy wheels, our Mercedes-Benz C 250 Sport Coupe had on-road presence by the bucket-load.
Of course the coupe version is off to flying start thanks to the glorious looks of the current C-Class – enhanced in the two-door version with its roof 41mm lower than the sedan. The Coupe shares the sedan’s wedge-shaped, sloping beltline but the upwards-sloping C-pillar and large side doors lend the two-door version a distinctive look typical of ‘Benz coupes.
We particularly like the front-end of the current C-Class and the AMG changes for the Sport with its unique front apron and mesh air-intakes provide just the appropriate dose of sportiness. Same at the side with the extended sills, while the rear spoiler is as usual beautifully crafted.
Mercedes-Benz C 250 Sport Coupe On The Road
As you expect from the Mercedes-Benz and AMG conglomerate, dynamic changes for the C 250 Sport Coupe are more than skin deep and cut to the chase for sporty drivers. Underneath is an AMG sports suspension set-up with firmer springs/dampers and revised camber settings and bearings plus bigger brake discs.
Steering too is crisper thanks to a speed-sensitive sports configuration and more direct ratio.
Over our high-speed mountain roads test loop in either ‘S’ or ‘M’ the Mercedes-Benz C 250 Sport Coupe sounded brilliant with crisp throttle-blipping down-changes as the seven-speeder swapped cogs and a nicely rorty exhaust note under hard acceleration out of corners.
Ride and handling was nicely cohesive with sharp turn-in, good mid-turn balance and minimal intrusion from driver aids even in slippery going – just as performance drivers demand, but of course not quite as edgy as the C63 AMG V8.
Around town the C 250 Sport Coupe was predictably firm in the European way and provided good freeway-merging acceleration (but was definitely more spritely in ‘S’ mode).
Mercedes-Benz C 250 Sport Coupe Challenges
Maybe just a tad more firmness in spring/damper control would be appreciated by sporty drivers.
Mercedes-Benz C 250 Sport Coupe Verdict
The C 250 Sport Coupe is a brilliantly conceived and executed package from Mercedes-Benz and AMG. It ticks all the boxes and when combined amounts to undoubted value-for-money.
Here’s the thing: you could sit on your computer or stare at a brochure and try to itemize what you want from Mercedes’ comprehensive list of accessory packs - but for those wanting just a bit of extra sporty pizazz in their C-Class Coupe, the work is all done in the Sport model
Mercedes-Benz C 250 Sport Coupe The Competition
Of course it’s the BMW 3 Series Coupe with ‘M’ enhancements. At the upper limits the BMW may be a whisker sharper in the twisty stuff but you do need to carefully cross-check the various features across both model lines to get a true picture of the value-for-money comparo.
Infiniti’s G Coupe is in the mix. A delight to drive but Infiniti needs to raid the NISMO department to spec the G along the lines of the AMG enhancements for the C 250 Sport Coupe.
