the Bucket: Bucket Seat: Mercedes Benz C220d

I think with my introduction post on the Mercedes-Benz C200, I spoke a lot about what the brand has meant to me in my life and how they've evolved in a market where they were seen as the segment leaders for many things in cars. I mean, its thanks to Mercedes-Benz we have features, be it luxury or safety that are considered the norm in cars these days. Stuff that revolutionalised the motoring industry, and made their competitors scratch their head, whether you like the brand or not, we have to thank them for their ingenuity and the strides they've made in the industry for developing the cars we drive today. After driving the C200, I could see that they have not stopped in this regard with the technology in the cars, purely from a drive train factor, being miles different than any of its competitors. With the increase in fuel prices and the need to limit visits to the fueling stations, diesel cars are the preferred choice of cars to drive, especially if the driver is doing long distances, hence the diesel sedan is still in production, I had the opportunity to sample the C220d for a week and as luck had it, I had to do a stint of long distance travelling so it was the perfect time to see what this car could do.

DESIGN

Finished off in the Avantgarde trim, the C220d in Mojave Silver Metallic, the car looked very elegant compared to the sportiness of the AMG kit that I had in the C200. The 18-inch light alloys gave the car a more agile appearance with its broad 5-spoke design but enough clearance to see the big brake discs and calipers. I don't think I can comment more on the design of the C-Class than I already have in the previous post about the C200 but what I can add is that there is more than a subtle difference when it comes to the various kits available for the cars which is a great thing to differentiate them on the roads. While the Avantgarde is the more subtle sports look, the AMG goes full tilt on the aggressiveness as expected, but I tend to prefer the subtle look as there is an element of elegance to the car. The design of the interior is virtually the same with a warmer variety of materials to choose from, such as your wood trims and more inviting plastics. The multi-function steering wheel is the biggest contrast with the a 3-spoek winged design that has the same functions as the others but in a more compact setting.

PERFORMANCE

As mentioned, I had a week of lots of driving planned for the C220d, from Underberg to Estcourt, the car performed its duties with ease and poise. Navigating the potholes on the R617 never felt easier with this car, while with its large body you would think that it may have been an issue but the cars agile nature, thanks to the standard agility control suspension with selective damping system which lowers the car when required and sharp steering would prove you otherwise. The car remain planted to the road and with the performance coming from the 2.0-litre, 4 cylinder BlueTEC diesel motor, it had power on demand when required. Just like the C200, the power output from the engine might read as 147kw and 440Nm of torque, but with the energy build up there is a boost of an extra 15kW and 200Nm when required. This gives the C220d a 0-100km/h time of 7.3 seconds and a claimed top speed of 245km/h which having a C02 emissions figure of just 119g/km. Quite impressive for a car of this size. Coming back to the efficiency aspect of the car, I managed to do all my runs on just one tank of fuel, with me having to top it up just a bit the day before I handed the keys back, with me managing to achieve 1300km from the tank, I could have gotten a lot more if my short runs were done with less zest as I normally drive but when you have the car for just one week, some fun must be had.

COMFORT

With the Mercedes-Benz, comfort is a major aspect to their cars and in the C220d it is no different with the seats being adjustable to suit any body. While the driver seat was not fully electric, there was sufficient support to make me extra comfy when behind the wheel. The dual climate control for front passenger and drive is operating via the large MBUX display in the center with dials to make ease of temperature selection, especially for the driver when occupied with all things on the road. There is also the use of the Mercedes assistant should you wish to use that as well. The rear passenger enjoy their own regulated vents at the back as well as those super luxurious seats. The car came with the widescreen digital cockpit, wireless charging system, advanced-plus package, panoramic sunroof and the ambient lighting package that has so many various colour options that I lost count of them all. The luggage space in the boot is huge with the option of having freight package tie downs for items that might go sliding around.

VERDICT

With diesel engines in Mercedes, I've never heard a bad thing about any model and with the C220d it is no different. Like I mentioned at the start of the article, the company doesn't lest on their laurels with them ever looking to better themselves not in just small ways but major ways, ensuring the people who buy their cars are getting the very best package they can make. The C220d was nothing short of amazing for what I used it for, the effortless nature it carries itself on the road was unmatched to anything I've ever driven in a long time. It is made all the more better when you realise you're driving behind the 3 pointed star, gives you that sense of pride when powering this beauty. It was a great way to end my first taste of this brand and I look forward to seeing what next rolls my way.