Mercedes-Benz C220D Review — Is The Facelift A Better Option?

We got to drive the car for a couple of days in the city as well as on the open tarmac. So, how has the changes in the new C-class affected the leader of the segment? Read more to find out.

Design & Style

The Mercedes-Benz C220d is a popular choice for the luxury car buyer in India. But, unlike other manufacturers, Mercedes really does put in some effort to make the facelifted cars actually look different. At first, you will notice that the facelift C-Class is much sharper looking than the previous one.

Other changes on the car are the updated bumpers, a set of new wheels and of course, a new set of LED tail lamps. But the biggest change that I liked the most are the new LED headlamps. The car gets an all-LED unit with the daytime running lights, low beams, high beams and even fog lamps all inside one unit. The unit actually looks like something from the alien planet, which catches everyone's attention.

Moving on to the side, the car gets lines and creases which run along the entire body from the front to the back. Moreover, it gets chrome garnishing around the windows and a strip of chrome that runs along the lower side of the car on either side.

The rear gets sleek looking LED taillamps and a chrome strip that runs along the boot. Also at the side, the C200D badging is also present. Overall, the exterior changes make the new C-class look really amazing.

The Cockpit

With every facelift, cars not just have to keep up with the latest tech trends but the latest design trends also. So, gone are the piano black finish while Mercedes has gone back to using a more natural looking pore wood instead. Also, a lot of aluminium accent pieces are present that go well with the overall wooden finish.

Stereo and Infotainment

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class facelift gets a lovely new horizontally mounted, high definition infotainment screen that really does look a lot better than the last ones, but, is sadly not a touch screen. The new infotainment system also has Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and considering the fact that you now get Google Maps as standard on Apple CarPlay. Also, the instrument cluster is partly analog and digital, but we would have liked to see a fully digital one like the international one.

Practicality, Comfort & Boot

Speaking about the comfort, the car gets really good seats with new all-black upholstery. both the driver's and the passenger's seats are electronically adjustable but surprisingly does not get any seat memory option. The seats offer a good amount of cushioning and is really comfortable for long drives. Additionally, there is extra under-thigh support, which I feel will help you relax during those long drives.

Coming to the rear seat, the bench is good enough for two people, but three can also accommodate. Right in the center is a retractable armrest which also has two cupholders and small storage space. The is enough legroom and headroom which will allow six-feet-plus people to sit comfortably. Also, there are blinders that are manually operated for the rear doors and an electronic one for the rear windshield.

There are bottle holders on each door and cup holders are present on the floating dash that makes it practical for a long trip. Also, the side armrest opens up into a glovebox which has enough space to keep a couple of wallets and phones. There are charging sockets present in the glovebox which makes it easy to charge the phone without the wires dangling outside.

The C220D gets an all-new steering wheel, which looks similar to the one on the S-class. The steering mounted controls help the driver stay focused on the road and does not have to keep looking at the infotainment system. The car also gets blackberry style square touchpads on the steering wheel that can be used to control the infotainment and instrument cluster screens.

The C220D gets a 480-litre boot, which is enough to accommodate luggage for four people. The boot lid can be opened electronically but has to be shut down manually, which is a little disappointing.

Engine & Performance

The new Mercedes-Benz C-Class is only available in India with a diesel engine. The engine is a new OM654, 2-litre, 4-cylinder, turbocharged one and is BS6 ready. The engine pumps out 193bhp and 400Nm of peak torque. Also, the new engine is also mated to a new 9-speed dual clutch 9G-Tronic gearbox.

The engine is not only quieter and more refined, but also considerably better to drive. Post 2000rpm the power delivery comes in very smoothly without any surges. The new C-Class facelift has also been rated to give 12km/l (according to ARAI test figures), but in the real world condition, the car returned us a 10km/l. However, the engine and gearbox are a more important update to the new C-Class.

Suspension setup on the new C-Class facelift has practically stayed the same as the previous generation one. Though the suspension on our test car was feeling to be a bit stiff and that is because the car had done quite a few kilometers on the odometer. Also, the C-class went through most potholes and bumps in the city without much complaint. The C220d sits on a set of 225/50 R17 tyres, which is the same as the previous generation car, but, with different alloys.

Safety & Key Features

The new C-class comes loaded with a lot of safety features such as - ABS, EBD, Traction Control, Accident Investigation, Pre-Safe Technology, Pre-Safe Brake and Distronic Plus Technology, Night View Assist Plus, Active Lane Keeping Assist and Active Blind Spot Monitoring and Adaptive High Beam Assist.

Competitors

The new Mercedes-Benz C220D will lock horns with the Audi A4 and the BMW 3-series.

Promeet Ghosh Thinks!

With all the new updates the Mercedes-Benz C-Class 220D is definitely a head-turner. Especially, with exterior changes and those alien looking headlights. The car comes with a price tag of Rs 40 lakh ex-showroom, which is a total value for money proposition when compared to its rivals.

The new engine is with the new gearbox is definitely a boon, but the lack of that all-digital instrument cluster and seat memory function is a disappointment. Otherwise, all the other changes really do push the C220D to a whole new level as a complete package.