Test Drive: 2012 Mercedes-Benz C 350 Coupe

2012 Mercedes-Benz C 350 Coupe. Click image to enlarge

Test Drive: 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class coupe Test Drive: 2012 Mercedes-Benz C 250 coupe Manufacturer’s web site Mercedes-Benz Canada

Review and photos by Greg Wilson

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2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class coupe

Based on the recently refreshed 2011 C-Class sedan, the all-new 2012 C-Class Coupe benefits from many of the performance, safety, and quality upgrades that went into that car. It competes with such notable coupes as the BMW 3-Series, Audi A5/S5, Infiniti G37, and Cadillac CTS, as well as the coupe-like Lexus IS and Volvo C70 convertible hardtops, so it has its work cut out for it. About 38 mm lower than the sedan, the rear-wheel-drive C-Class Coupe has a sleeker profile, sportier two-bar grille, rear lip spoiler, a black rear diffuser and dual exhausts. It’s a handsome machine, in our opinion, and particularly sporty in its Mars Red exterior paint (like our tester) a colour that suits the coupe better than it does the sedan. (Mercedes’ website refers to this colour as Fire Opal).

2012 Mercedes-Benz C 350 Coupe. Click image to enlarge

Like the C-Class sedan, the Coupe is offered with a 201-hp 1.8-litre turbocharged four-cylinder motor in the C 250, a 302-hp 3.5-litre V6 in the C 350, and the thundering 451-hp 6.2-litre V8 in the C 63 AMG. The coupe doesn’t offer the 228-hp 3.0-litre V6 available in the C 300 sedan. The first two motors come with a standard seven-speed 7G-tronic automatic transmission with manual shift mode, while the latter gets the heavy duty seven-speed AMG DirectShift unit. But unlike many of its competitors, the C Coupe is not available with a standard manual transmission.

That should give you a hint as to where the C 250 and C 350 stand in the marketplace relative to other luxury coupes. The C63 AMG is another story and another test drive.

We test drove a 2012 C 350 Coupe with a base price of $49,200 and $4,480 worth of options. That included the $4,000 Premium Package with an eight-inch “Comand” navigation and information system with “Linguatronic” voice control, DVD changer and SD memory slot; Harman/Kardon Logic7 surround sound system; Sirius satellite radio; and “Parktronic” front and rear parking sensors. A rear-view camera was an additional $480. The total price was $53,680 plus a hefty $1,995 freight charge.

2012 Mercedes-Benz C 350 Coupe. Click image to enlarge

That seems like a lot of money for a compact two-door, four-passenger luxury coupe, but everything about the C 350—from its luxurious, finely crafted interior, impeccable fit and finish, tight, rattle-free body, and silky drivetrain—gives the impression of a quality-built car. It’s obvious to us that Mercedes hasn’t taken any shortcuts with this new design.

This is particularly evident in the cabin, where the quality of materials is first rate. Even the standard Artico MB-Tex artificial leather upholstery with perforated seat inserts looks fabulous. Available MB-Tex colour choices are black, two-tone grey/black and beige/cashmere. Leather upholstery will cost you an extra $2,200 with choices of black, two-tone grey/black, beige/black, and red/black. The C 350’s well-bolstered front seats feature power adjustments for height, recline, lumbar (up/down and in/out) and are heatable with three temperature choices. The driver’s seat controls are on the traditional location on the door, but curiously, the front passenger seat controls are on the side of the seat cushion.

A great feature of these electrically operated seats is that they both automatically move forwards when the seatbacks are folded forwards, allowing rear passengers enough room to squeeze through to the two rear seats, and then automatically move back again when the seatbacks are pushed back. The deep rear buckets are separated by a centre console with storage bin and cupholders and I found enough headroom and legroom to sit in comfort although the low seat cushions and high rear windows make the occupants feel like they’re sitting in a hole.

2012 Mercedes-Benz C 350 Coupe. Click image to enlarge

The C 350’s interior also features a sporty power tilt/telescopic leather-wrapped steering wheel with a flat bottom, soft-touch dash materials, expensive looking gauge cluster with aluminum rings, and real aluminum trim on the dash, console and steering wheel. Alternatively, you can order Piano Black or Burl Walnut trim for no extra charge, while Ash Olive Wood trim is an extra $250. A panoramic sunroof with a front tilt-and-slide glass sunroof and a rear fixed glass pane is standard in the C 350. The glass is tinted dark to minimize solar heat and a power-operated sliding sunshade covers the entire sunroof, but I didn’t like the fact that the sunshade is perforated, allowing some light to come through even when closed.

An entire article could be written about the Comand system. It offers multiple functions and information accessible using a menu system operated by a dial on the centre console or by voice commands. (Note, the colour screen is not a touchscreen like some other systems). Available functions include navigation, audio, telephone, video playback, and vehicle information. The round control dial is ergonomically positioned so that a driver resting their right arm on the centre console can easily turn it while looking at the easy-to-read words and symbols on the centre screen. It’s similar to the operation of a computer mouse. The voice-activated functions are also relatively easy because the acceptable voice commands are straightforward and the system will give the user a choice of options if the right command isn’t uttered. Destinations for the navigation system can be input verbally using particular town and street names without having to make any manual inputs. Audio tracks can also be chosen verbally but I found that the system didn’t recognize particular song titles broadcast from my iPhone over the Bluetooth audio connection. However, individual tracks can be selected with the controller. iPods and iPhones and other music devices can also be connected to a USB or auxiliary port inside the storage box under the twin centre armrests. By the way, the sound emanating from the Harman/Kardon Logic7 audio system is awesome. When you’re stuck in traffic wasting valuable time, there’s no better nerves-soother than a great-sounding stereo.

In addition to the Comand system, the C 350 Coupe has a digital display in the middle of the central speedometer gauge that duplicates some of the functions of the Comand system. Using buttons on the steering wheel, the driver can scroll through various functions such as average fuel economy, instant fuel consumption, range, and a digital speedometer. It also offers a gear indicator, time and outside temperature and warning signs such as a coffee cup that flashes (along with a vibrating steering wheel) when sensors detect sleepy ‘behaviour’ (mainly by steering inputs), dubbed Attention Assist in Mercedes-speak.

The three round instruments are finished in an attractive silver colour with black numerals, but while attractive, they can be hard to see in the daytime. At night, they’re illuminated and easy to read. Cruise control has its own separate stalk, which is less common these days than buttons on the steering wheel. Climate control is fully automatic with separate temperature adjustments for driver and front passenger, but the dials are positioned rather low on the centre console for our liking. Two cupholders, one with spring-loaded grippers, can be found behind the shifter in the centre console. My test car had a plastic ignition key that fitted in an ignition slot; “Keyless Go” is available as an option.

2012 Mercedes-Benz C 350 Coupe. Click image to enlarge

The C 350’s fully lined 450-litre trunk is quite roomy and can be expanded by folding down the 60/40 folding rear seatbacks that are released from inside the trunk. A temporary spare tire resides under the floor, perhaps the only ‘cheaped-out’ feature of this car.

With 302 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 273 lb-ft of torque between 3,500 and 5,250 rpm, the C 350’s 3.5L V6 engine is satisfyingly responsive whether you require a quick burst from a stoplight, a confident entrance onto the freeway, or a high-speed passing manoeuvre. The engine and transmission work together in harmony for quick, smooth changes, while manual shifting with the shift lever or small shift paddles behind the steering wheel allow drivers to choose their own shift points. In automatic mode, the driver selectable Sport setting quickens throttle response, transmission shift times, shock damping, and steering response. Mercedes quotes a speedy 0–100 km/h time of just six seconds, and I suspect this was accomplished in Sport mode. Highway cruising at 100 km/h is at a relaxed 2,000 rpm in seventh gear.

Fuel economy is quoted at 10.9/7.0 L/100 km but the onboard average fuel consumption display in our car was showing about 12.6 L/100 km with over 1,000 km on the trip odometer. The C 350 uses premium gasoline.

Though its handling is not as nimble and its steering response isn’t as sharp as a BMW 335i, the C 350 is very stable during high-speed cornering, with plenty of grip from its wide Pirelli PZero Nero tires (front 225/40R-18-inch; rear 255/35R-18-inch)—these are the same tires used on the C 63. The ride is very comfortable too, and there’s little suspension or tire noise at speed. It has a satisfyingly tight turning diameter of 10.84 metres (35.6 ft.), which helps when parking in tight spots. Visibility to the rear is hindered by the tall rear deck, but the parking sensors assist in positioning the car close to other cars and walls without hitting them. The Parktronic system consists of amber and red lights above the rear window and on the dash that light up as the car gets closer to an object. Warning beeps sound when the car gets too close.

A worthwhile safety option is the Driving Assistance Package ($800), which includes Passive Blind Spot Assist with a warning light that flashes when another car is detected in the blind spot, and Passive Lane Keeping Assist, which recognizes when your car is drifting into another lane and vibrates the steering wheel to alert the driver.

At the moment, 4Matic all-wheel drive is not available on the C-Class Coupe, but given that Mercedes already offers it in the C-Class sedan, and that BMW, Audi, Infiniti, and Cadillac all offer AWD in their coupes, it’s likely we’ll see it in the C-Class Coupe in the not-too-distant future. But we doubt Mercedes will offer a standard manual transmission as the market for these in Mercedes-Benz luxury coupes is statistically small, according to the company.