Since its launch in mzansi 2016/17, the C300 Coupé brand is still popular and it won’t wane anytime soon.
Simply: we had it for a week and what a head-turner it turned out to be from Sin City (oops Sun City) to the friendliest City of JB Marks Municipality- formerly Tlokwe in Potchefstroom-NW.
For a moment one forgot how expensive fuel is, as we clogged 135kW/300Nm with emissions of 142g/km from Jozi to Potch. Yes, we were mindful of traffic cameras, et al…
With superlatives such as ‘like a fine wine, some things only get better with time- so too does Mercedes, consistently re-inventing its C-Class range’ the C300 has the same engine as the C200, but it’s tuned to produce 180kW/370Nm, coupled with a 9G-tronic+ automatic transmission. C02 emissions are rated at 157g/km.
The exterior could fool you- especially from the back as it has the touch and shape of a Porsche. Yep, I said it bloody agents…
The Coupés lightweight construction, courtesy of the generous application of aluminum, makes the 2016 version much lighter than its predecessor and its 4-link front axle kinematics provides plenty of grip. Mercedes has worked on its latest coupe’s driving dynamics providing sensitive, responsive steering and a lot more fun behind the wheel.
It has a longer bonnet, longer wheelbase, the usual frameless doors, and door-mounted mirrors for the first time. New features include a diamond radiator grille with pins in high-gloss black, a new suspension lowering the Coupe by 15mm compare to the sedan.
The C300 is a different animal altogether noticeable, not only by its throaty roar that makes you want to push the car through its paces, but the driving dynamics felt sharper and more agile.
This model has a 7G-Tronic+ auto transmission. It instils confidence behind the wheel especially when challenging roads –some untarred- from Pretoria, Joburg, Potch and finally Rustenburg.
There’s also five dynamic selection modes to match your driving style: Comfort, Sport, Sport+, Individual and Eco.
Use the steering-mounted paddle shifts and you’re in for an even bigger treat as gear changes are still as smooth when selecting the sportier modes in the drive select. Mercedes’ transmissions are sophisticated in the extreme, offering seamless shifts. This combined with great engines translates to thrilling driving, especially considering the engines roar as you apply the throttle.
The interior also comes in sporty seats in Artico hand-made leather with turquoise stitching throughout the cabin, and different leather colour upholstery options (we had red & black seats). It’s also a lot more spacious providing significant
ly more room with 19mm more shoulder room, 29mm more elbow room and 8mm more headroom.
As you would expect on safety, C300 comes loaded with technology and driver assistant systems. There’s Distronic Plus, which helps the driver maintain a safe distance from the car ahead of it. It also comes with steering assist and Stop/Go Pilot, while Brake Assistant Plus reduces the risk of rear collisions at road junctions which increases the brake pressure according to the situation.
The Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupé is a big, heavy car that’s not ashamed of being a big, heavy car -because the Stuttgart stylists have pulled the bases of the C-Pillars in towards each other, in an effort to make the lower rear treatment look wider. Amen!
As we played and fondled with it -along with our partners in crime- so did the Springboks at the Manyane Game Resort that were rejoicing, gallivanting in appreciation for having been honoured with the presence of this beastly beast…
Drive the C300 Coupé and you’ll quickly get used to turning heads as indicated in my top stanza. This is automotive design at its heart-stopping best, with expressive coupé styling elements including an aggressive, powerful front section and long, low profile… ‘Boss of the road’.
Retails for R610 178
Verdict:
Performance 1-10 (8)
Fuel 1-10 (6)
Fuel 1-10 (6)
