Baby Benz turns competitors into ‘has-Benz’

MANILA, Philippines—It’s all in the family. In the case of Mercedes Benz, a very big, royal family. Admirers are celebrating the German marque’s 125th year of existence, still at the top of its game. At this age, you have to think, can anyone still have the energy to even bare teeth on his or her competition? Well, silly me for even attempting to think about that, when there’s been a lot to ponder on during the first 125 years of Mercedes Benz.

STYLISH door mirror is a headturner.

Motoring journalist and Mercedes Benz enthusiast Lizzie Pope (the big boss of Mercedes Enthusiast magazine) herself would say it would be quite a task to list every model, concept, technology, victory and world first of this manufacturer. Being the inventor of the world’s first motor car in 1886 would be enough to mark it as legendary, but being the first on virtually every major motor vehicle development in history is astounding (think first car with a gearbox in 1889, first five-cylinder passenger car in 1974, first hybrid production car with a lithium ion battery in 2009, and so on).

Suffice to say that every owner of a Benz should treat that thing of beauty right in front of them with reverence, not only because no other human being alive is older than that logo today, but also because, in all likelihood, that car will outlast its owner.

17-INCH 5 twin spoke light alloy wheels with the much-vaunted logo

But age is relative, and so, a few days after celebrating Mother’s Day with the Benz made for Mums (the compact sport tourer B-Class), CATS Motors has handed over to Inquirer Motoring the C-Class, specifically the C180, a compact executive car nicknamed the “Baby Benz,” the erstwhile smallest model in the Benz lineup until the 1997 arrival of the entry-level A-Class.

As any luxury sedan enthusiast would ask, does the “C” come a poor third to the “A” and the “B”? (Read: Does the C-Class hold its own in a head-to-head battle with segment competitors BMW 3 Series and the Audi A4?) Unfortunately, that is a matter to be discussed at length in future features of Inquirer Motoring. However, based on January to April 2011, Jan. to Apr 2010, and Jan. to December 2010 sales figures of the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, the C Class is in the thick of things, selling 76 units to the 53 units of the BMW 3 Series and the 44 units of the Audi A4; and 74 units versus the 51 units of the 3 series and the 38 units of the A4 during the same period last year. The C-Class had 38 percent market share compared to the 33 percent of the 3 Series and the 21 percent of the A4 from Jan. to Dec. 2010.

THE AVANTGARDE design and equipment line turns the C-Class into an even more distinctive Mercedes.

Behind the wheel of the C180 CGI Avantgarde, I would know why this would be love at first drive. Though this is the entry level variant for the C-Class (there are 11 variants for this class, imagine that), it is already equipped with the BlueEfficiency badge tree-huggers would die for, yet the power unleashed when you really put your foot down on it is quite remarkable. It goes from 0 to 100 kph in 9 seconds, and has a top speed of 220 kph (in comparison, the C200 CGI needs 8.2 seconds to go from 0 to 100 and has a top speed of 232 kph, the C250CGI is clocked at 7.4 seconds from 0 to 100, with a top speed of 240 kph).

Sure, the C180 CGI isn’t for the speed demons, but this four-cylinder model is equipped with a gearshift recommendation for optimal fuel efficiency. All C-Class models boast displays of real-time fuel consumption as standard, which this writer, who has been more fuel-conscious than speed-conscious, finds truly useful. The fuel consumption on the digital readout yielded 7.2 liters per 100 km (or 13.88 km per liter) on a straight highway run and 11.8 liters per 100 km (or 8.5 km per liter) in combined city and highway runs.

The fact that the C-Class carries the Avantgarde line means that the design and equipment emphasizes the car’s sporty side. The dominating three-pointed star in the radiator grille makes a powerful statement, while the chrome band which runs right around the body accentuates the taut lines of the C-Class.

FLIP the gas tank lid to know the manufacturer's recommended tire pressure. Photos by Tessa R. Salazar

There are about 40 standard equipment in the C-Class that technophobes might find unnerving. But don’t worry, they all work to your advantage, whether you’re aware of them or not. The Agility Control suspension with the selective damping system, for example, automatically adjusts the suspension tuning in accordance with the condition of the road—giving drivers a consistently high level of enjoyment.

As other examples, the Adaptive Brake with ABS, ASR, brake drying function and hill start assist are most useful for roads with steep inclines.

The nifty BlueEfficiency badge found on both the left and right corners of the car is Mercedes-Benz’s assurance of its fuel combustion and emissions efficiency.

The cost of maintaining the C180 CGI Avantgarde is within reason: The first 10,000 km is pegged at about P16,000, the second 10,000 km at about P21,000 and the third 10,000 km at about P17,000. Such costs, however, do not yet include wear and tear. CATS Motors estimates the average maintenance interval at 10,000 km, or roughly one year. The Mercedes Benz C180, at P2.98 million, is slightly pricier than the BMW 318i at P2.950 million.

And according to a very well-placed source in CATS, an ongoing promo for the mommy B-Class and the baby C-Class is ongoing until May 15, in celebration of Mercedes Benz’s 125 years. Buyers can opt for low down payment of P125,000 for the B-Class and P298,000 for the C-Class. Check this out at Mercedes-Benz Global City and Mercedes-Benz Greenhills, or log on to www.mercedes-benz.com.ph.