V8 – that was once. The Mercedes C-Class, relaunched in 2021, is finally turning its back on the prestigious eight-cylinder world under the sporty AMG signet. In the future, four cylinders will remain the greatest feeling for the internal combustion engine. But a small e-boost and a pre-compressor replace the former excess displacement and cylinders in the turbocharged two-liter petrol engine. You can also indulge in the rush of speed on a downsizing level, as the new C 43 mid-range sedan shows. Externally, the C-Class is more grown-up than ever, thanks in part to an increase in length to almost 4.80 meters. Baby Benz? That was a thing of the past too. The beefy front end with AMG radiator grille, the side skirts and a diffuser apron with four tailpipes give the mid-range model on rubber-coated 20-inch wheels a sporty touch without overdoing it with visual muscle flexing. The C 43 stands out, but not in an offensive way.
The styling in the interior, on the other hand, seems a bit exaggerated. There are the large-format displays with colorful graphic surfaces, the tasteful mix of high-gloss surfaces, metal applications, carbon, leather, Alcantara and the abundant contrasting seams. The ensemble looks finely made and very modern, but also a little overloaded.
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Our test copy is equipped with the performance seats, which are subject to a surcharge, and which firmly embrace their guests with their pronounced side bolsters. Despite the sporty emphasis, the seats and the steering wheel offer numerous electrical adjustment options with a wide spread. Whether small or large – everyone should be able to find a sitting position that fits like a glove.
Quite sonorous, but initially acoustically reserved, the engine comes to life with the start button. With the introduction of the A 45 in 2013, Mercedes already proved that two liters of displacement and four cylinders enable sporty driving pleasure at a very high level. In the case of the new C 43, it is even 300 kW/408 hp and 500 Newton meters of torque that provide propulsion. Incidentally, that is significantly more than the legendary C 55 AMG from the noughties with a displacement of 5.4 liters.
Strong hold
Those who like to sit sportily should invest in the performance seats, which are subject to a surcharge.
become long
The C-Class has grown to almost 4.80 meters as a dynamic C 43.
So that the turbo pressure doesn’t take too long, an electric compressor and a 14 hp e-boost help the injector to get going. The rear-biased all-wheel drive provides the necessary degree of traction, in combination with the sporty nine-speed automatic transmission, to reach 100 km/h in 4.6 seconds.
Those who are familiar with the beefy V8 power from AMG could possibly miss a certain pressure from the low revs. Nevertheless, there is no boredom with the four-cylinder. The C 43 is on the ball, especially when all of the many variable parameters of the drive and chassis are trimmed for maximum sportiness.
If you take your time and are willing to experiment, you will certainly enjoy the numerous setting options. Simply choose between comfort, normal and sport like in the past – those times are over too. The chassis tuning with AMG’s own kinematics is experienced as a great dynamic benefit.
The Benz reacts very directly to steering commands, nestles tightly into corners thanks to its rear-axle steering and follows the given direction with extreme precision. Although comfort is not neglected, fickle behavior has been trained successfully. The car reacts calmly and predictably to quick changes of direction, especially since the steering conveys a good feeling of what is happening between the road and the chassis.
A little confusing
There is a lot to see on the large display surfaces. At first you feel almost overwhelmed by the many possibilities that the new cockpit offers.
Customizable driving fun
The possibilities for fine adjustment of chassis and drive are plentiful.
The performance seats always keep the driver in a comfortably upright position, which further supports the feeling of perfect control. The finely controllable and powerfully gripping brakes are a poem. If you bravely stop to a standstill, you have the feeling that you have just dropped an anchor.
Wilder hustle and bustle is accompanied by a sporty sound that sounds emotional but also a little artificial. Thanks to the AMG cure for the chassis, this C-Class conveys a distinctly sporty driving experience without neglecting comfort too much. Here the C 43 follows the tradition of the Mercedes brand.
And typically Mercedes, driving fun and comfort at this level come at a price that is not exactly modest. First of all, there is consumption. If you drive cautiously, a value with a 9 before the decimal point is possible. If you are going faster, you have to reckon with 13 or 14 liters.
racing genes
Anyone who likes to rush through curves can experience a lot of driving pleasure with the C 43.
In addition, Mercedes calls for a proud price of at least 71,500 euros for the sedan and over 73,000 euros for the station wagon. If you grab a lot of the extras, you can easily drive the price up to over 100,000 euros. And we’re not talking about an S-Class, but a C-Class. With four-cylinder engine.
Mercedes-AMG C 43 Sedan – technical data
Four-door, five-seater mid-size sedan
Length: 4.79 meters
Width: 1.82 meters (including exterior mirrors 2.03 meters)
Height: 1.45 meters
Wheelbase: 2.87 meters
Trunk volume: 455 liters
2.0 liter four cylinder turbocharged petrol engine
300 kW/408 hp
additional output of the electric motor: 10 kW/14 hp
maximum torque: 500 Nm at 5,000 rpm
AMG Speedshift 9-speed automatic
rear wheel drive
0-100km/h: 4.6s
Vmax: 250 km/h (265 km/h with Drivers Package)
Standard consumption: 8.7 – 9.1 liters / 100 kilometers (WLTP)
CO2 emissions: 196 – 206 g/km (WLTP)
Emission standard: Euro 6d-ISC-FCM
Price: from 71,459.50 euros
More: Mercedes deletes the A-Class – a turning point that triggers criticism