Luxurious automakers spend a variety of time shouting about how sporty their compact sedans are in a race to the highest of a digital efficiency mountain. However the 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class zags the place the opposite zig, acknowledging that loads of automotive customers need consolation and luxuriousness in a smaller footprint, and it fills that want relatively properly.
The C-Class will get a redesign for 2022 that introduces the brand new technology as a sedan, with no phrase but on when coupe and convertible (not to mention a wagon) variants could comply with. It maintains styling just like its predecessor, however revamps the inside dramatically and provides a number of new mechanical adjustments as effectively. I spent a day with the sedan round Los Angeles, to see what sort of impact these massive updates had.
Like most new automobiles, the C-Class has grown for this new technology. It’s 2.5 inches longer and 0.4 inches wider, with an inch longer wheelbase. The added size helps the brand new sedan look sleeker than it did beforehand and the cabin seems to be pushed farther again to make the hood longer and provides the automotive extra athletic proportions. The 2022 C-Class borrows a grille and two-piece tail lights from the smaller CLA-Class, however that’s about the place the similarities between these two vehicles finish as the larger automobile seems rather more grown up and distinguished.
2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Initially, the C-Class retains issues easy and is simply supplied in C300 guise powered by a 2.0-liter turbo-4 with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system offering extra enhance. The fuel engine produces 255-hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, whereas the hybrid system provides one other 20 hp and 148 lb-ft briefly bursts. Rear-wheel drive comes normal, with all-wheel drive obtainable at a $2,000 markup. A 9-speed automated is the one obtainable transmission and the brand new unit is smaller, 30% lighter, and extra environment friendly than the 9-speed it replaces. The transmission does its job effectively, by no means seeming to hunt too lengthy for gears and responding shortly to the paddle shifters. If there’s one quibble I’ve with it, it’s that it doesn’t maintain gears effectively sufficient when shifting mechanically within the Sport and Sport+ modes.
Mercedes has paired this mild-hybrid system with a number of totally different fuel engines, however that is the primary time it has been used on a 4-cylinder and it makes a extra noticeable distinction when paired to a smaller displacement engine. The hybrid system’s affect is most felt at decrease speeds, smoothing over the fixed stops and begins of metropolis driving a lot and including to the C-Class’ total feeling of luxuriousness. At increased speeds, the digital instrument panel lets you understand when the hybrid system is kicking in nevertheless it’s in any other case tough to detect as many of the passing energy comes from the fuel engine.
Beneath, the C-Class’ air suspension has been swapped out for a multi-link impartial suspension with adaptive dampers. My take a look at automobile additionally got here with the AMG Line bundle, which provides a sport-tuned model of that suspension. In probably the most aggressive drive settings, the sedan nonetheless feels prefer it might go up a notch in stiffness to raised management physique roll. However that might come on the expense of some experience high quality and that runs counter to the purpose of the C-Class. It’s doable to have enjoyable from behind the wheel, however not as a lot as you’ll have in opponents just like the Alfa Romeo Giulia, BMW 3-Collection, and Genesis G70. The counter argument to that’s that they will’t match the C-Class’ serenity or its new, know-how laden inside.
2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
A pair of enormous screens comes normal, a 12.3-inch show within the instrument cluster and a vertically oriented 11.9-inch central touchscreen that’s subtly canted towards the driving force for simpler viewing and reachability. These screens are surrounded by a brand new dashboard design that evokes the Mercedes S-Class and even the brand new EQS in some methods. This affiliation upscales the look of the C-Class much more, and the inside feels one step above the competitors.
The newest model of the Mercedes-Benz Person Expertise (MBUX) powers the screens, and it comes with normal wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, over-the-air updates, and a voice assistant that’s activated by saying the phrase “Hey Mercedes.” Additionally obtainable are a head-up show and an augmented actuality video characteristic for the navigation system, each of which had been added on the top-line Pinnacle trim that I drove.
2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
The expertise of utilizing this technique jogged my memory of the EQS in a variety of good methods. It’s snappy and fairly to have a look at, however I did discover a number of variations that make it a bit extra cumbersome. The primary is that the display is a hair smaller than the usual EQS display and the local weather controls that line the underside of the display by no means actually go away, slicing down the usable space. The augmented actuality navigation additionally takes a beat too lengthy to pop up and that’s an issue once you’re approaching an intersection with no concept which method to go. Mercedes confirmed that the C-Class has much less processing energy than the EQS (which does not undergo from the identical issues on its Hyperscreen) and that could possibly be a contributing issue to the lag.
The C-Class’ inside feels fairly roomy for this phase, particularly for backseat occupants that may draw the brief finish of the stick in lots of opponents. Although the cabin sits farther again, the roof stays flat lengthy sufficient to offer grownup ample head and leg room in again. 4 folks might experience comfortably on this automobile for a protracted, lengthy stretch in that case desired.
2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
If the C-Class has a caveat, it’s pricing. The Pinnacle trim I examined begins at $48,550 for a rear-wheel model, however tack on extras and the worth climbs shortly. My tester stickered at $62,520, a giant value for a automobile that doesn’t have an “AMG” in its identify. For that cash you’ll get probably the most luxurious expertise and luxury that this class provides, nevertheless it’s a step up from the bottom engine costs within the phase.
The 2022 C-Class goes on sale this spring.
Mercedes-Benz dropped off a 2022 C-Class at this editor’s rental for Motor Authority to carry you this firsthand report.
