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Driven: Mercedes-Benz C 180d Exclusive

Hello Petrolheads!

Today I bring you a short test of the latest Mercedes-Benz C  180 d, aka Diesel or BlueTec or CDI. I decided that, despite only having driven the car for 3 days and around 500km, it was worth to write about it; plenty has been said and written about the fact that Mercedes-Benz now uses Renault engines – mostly regarding A-Class’ 1.5 – but regularly the reviews tend to show a very personal perspective, which I believe doesn’t help many real customers, who don’t care from which manufacturer the engine comes from.


This review is focused on the engine dynamics, as most of the drive was done on the motorway.


The tested car comes with Renault’s 1.6 diesel, downgraded to a modest 116PS/ 85kW and 280Nm. On a cold start, it rattles as loudly as Merc’s own 2.1L, albeit the note being slightly higher pitched. Once warm it improves and becomes reasonably refined, but a hum is always in the background.

The tested car was equipped with plenty of options, including Merc’s own 7G-Tronic automatic, which can either be an advantage or an issue. The advantage comes of course on the comfort of use side, as on a traffic jam it’s really smooth and most times it does select the appropriate ratio. The downside becomes apparent on kick-down situations. On such conditions, the gearbox’s programming takes in account the limited engine’s power and torque, and revs it as high as it can; the consequences are high NVH levels and not that much gain in speed, as the engine is clearly strangled after 3500rpm. When maximum power is needed, the best solution is to select a gear manually in anticipation (it has flappy paddles on the steering wheel), keep it at its best – around 2500rpm – and floor it, without activating the kick-down function, changing up when it reaches 3500rpm. Noise levels don’t rise dramatically and speed rises the fastest – which is not… fast. In the city, it can be really slow to get off the line, as the stop-start system is slow to react and the engine’s lack of resources are exposed at its maximum.

Fuel consumption, on the other hand, is mediocre. On a 130 km/h (80mph) cruise, it burns ca. 6.5 l/100km (43 mpg), according to the trip computer. Even at constant 90 km/h, and despite revving in at under 1500 rpm, it struggles to better 5 l/100km (56 mpg).


 I believe that has to do with the engine being underpowered, and I truly believe the most potent version of this engine – the C 200d – can better this, the extra 20PS and 40Nm providing more effortless performance, while maintaining the engine’s physical losses at the same level (physically the engines are similar).


In conclusion, if you’re absolutely limited – budget or tax-wise – to this version level, it’s worth having a look to Mazda’s 6 or Skoda’s Octavia, with something more potent, or consider the petrol C 180. Otherwise, stretch for the C 220d, which has the effortless performance to go with the great car this W205 Merc is. Where you should save is on sporty suspension stuff anyway, as this car is all about comfort.

Apologies for not publishing photos of the actual tested car, but the ones show a similar example.

Verdict: downsizing pushed a bit too far.

Official vital data:
Engine and transmission:
1598 cc, inline-4 cylinder, 4 valves per cylinder (diesel)
116 PS (85 kW)/ 3000-4600 rpm
280 Nm/ 1500-2800 rpm
Red line: 5000 rpm
7-speed automatic transmission

Dimensions and weights:
Length/ width/ height: 4.686/ 1.810 (2.020 inc. wing mirrors)/ 1.442 metres
Turning circle: 11,3 metres
Empty weight: 1505 kg
Boot: 480 litres
Fuel tank: 41 litres
Tires: 225/50R17


Claimed performance and fuel consumption:
Top speed: 204 km/h (129 mph)
0-100 km/h (0-62 mph): 11.6 seconds
Fuel consumption (urban/extra-urban/average): 5.1/ 3.6/ 4.2 l/100km (55/ 78/ 67 UK mpg)
CO2 emissions: 109 g/km

2000 rpm, 6th gear: 100 km/h (62 mph)
2000 rpm, 7th gear: 120 km/h (75 mph)


Main equipment: Intelligent Light System, dual zone air conditioning, 7G-Tronic automatic gearbox, panoramic sunroof, collision assist, cruise control, parktronic, trip computer, Sat Nav, radio with Bluetooth connectivity and aux-in connection on the centre arm rest, heated seats, alloy wheels, tire pressure sensors.

Driven: from December 2014; car left with 4 377 km (2 735 miles).

Rating: 12 out of 20

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