MERCEDES-BENZ C 350 BlueEFFICIENCY AMG Sport Edition 125

"With an explosive combination of cutting-edge looks, performance and excellent fuel economy, the Mercedes-Benz
C 350 Coupé is an easy car to fall in love with. And it's something you'll never get bored of looking at either – this is one of those vehicles you park, then glance back at one more time as you walk away. Its decisive road presence, arcing roofline and angular detailing give it a timeless appeal.

Inside, the C-Class Coupé exudes the high-end class and comfort you would expect of a Mercedes-Benz. Nothing looks or feels cheap – from the brushed aluminium trim on the doors to the fine quality leather used to upholster the seats, which can be adjusted for height, lumbar support and position. Standard equipment includes DAB digital radio, air conditioning and electric windows. Optional equipment includes the Driving Assistance Package that makes driving safer and easier.

I really liked the Active Blind Spot Assist, which alerts you to traffic lurking in the blind spot, and Active Lane Keeping Assist, which vibrates the steering wheel if the car should start to veer out of its lane. The other stand-out feature is Distronic Plus – an advanced cruise control system that maintains a safe distance between you and the car in front, even if it comes to a complete standstill in stop-and-start traffic.

On the open road, performance is strong. The 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine pushes 306hp to the 18in AMG alloy rear wheels. With a 0-62mph sprint time of just 6.0 seconds and top speed electronically limited to 155mph, this car is seriously fast. But it's also economical: the C 350 Coupé's fuel consumption impresses at 40.4mpg.

At low speeds the Agility Control Suspension absorbs the lumps and bumps in the road, the ride is smooth, and the cabin is quiet. However, as you increase speeds and suspension load, the system reacts to driving style and road surface, giving the extra control required. In my test car this was further enhanced by the optional Dynamic Handling Package, which includes a sport mode with firmer damping and faster throttle response.

Driven hard, the C 350 Coupé dances through corners – while
the tone of the V6 makes the hairs on the back of your
neck stand on end.

Verdict

The beautiful C 350 does everything it should for someone who wants to travel in style, show off a bit of class, and enjoy good fuel economy. And when the 'I'm in a mood to play' hat is on, it is a very capable car to have some fun in, every day.

MERCEDES-BENZ C 350 BlueEFFICIENCY AMG Sport Edition 125

"With an explosive combination of cutting-edge looks, performance and excellent fuel economy, the Mercedes-Benz
C 350 Coupé is an easy car to fall in love with. And it's something you'll never get bored of looking at either – this is one of those vehicles you park, then glance back at one more time as you walk away. Its decisive road presence, arcing roofline and angular detailing give it a timeless appeal.

Inside, the C-Class Coupé exudes the high-end class and comfort you would expect of a Mercedes-Benz. Nothing looks or feels cheap – from the brushed aluminium trim on the doors to the fine quality leather used to upholster the seats, which can be adjusted for height, lumbar support and position. Standard equipment includes DAB digital radio, air conditioning and electric windows. Optional equipment includes the Driving Assistance Package that makes driving safer and easier.

I really liked the Active Blind Spot Assist, which alerts you to traffic lurking in the blind spot, and Active Lane Keeping Assist, which vibrates the steering wheel if the car should start to veer out of its lane. The other stand-out feature is Distronic Plus – an advanced cruise control system that maintains a safe distance between you and the car in front, even if it comes to a complete standstill in stop-and-start traffic.

On the open road, performance is strong. The 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine pushes 306hp to the 18in AMG alloy rear wheels. With a 0-62mph sprint time of just 6.0 seconds and top speed electronically limited to 155mph, this car is seriously fast. But it's also economical: the C 350 Coupé's fuel consumption impresses at 40.4mpg.

At low speeds the Agility Control Suspension absorbs the lumps and bumps in the road, the ride is smooth, and the cabin is quiet. However, as you increase speeds and suspension load, the system reacts to driving style and road surface, giving the extra control required. In my test car this was further enhanced by the optional Dynamic Handling Package, which includes a sport mode with firmer damping and faster throttle response.

Driven hard, the C 350 Coupé dances through corners – while the tone of the V6 makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end.

Verdict

The beautiful C 350 does everything it should for someone who wants to travel in style, show off a bit of class, and enjoy good fuel economy. And when the 'I'm in a mood to play' hat is on, it is a very capable car to have some fun in, every day.

MERCEDES-BENZ C 250 BlueEFFICIENCY AMG Sport Edition 125

'What's the surface area of a cow?' is my first thought as I settle into the leather seats of my technology-laden Mercedes-Benz
C-Class Coupé. Fresh from ‘flying' to Mercedes-Benz Ipswich in the SLS AMG, my state of mind is delicate. The car is VERY red. Not cheap, see-through red, but proper, deep, shiny red. I spot cross-drilled brake discs behind the 18in AMG alloys, and a panoramic roof that runs from the top of the windscreen back to the boot in one long, black, sweeping arc. The car has a hunched, mean, menacing look – this is going to be fun!

I drop into the low-slung seat for an introduction to the car. The man from Mercedes-Benz is very nice, and tells me not to turn off the electronic stability control. But I barely hear. I'm like a magpie drawn to the array of shiny alloy switches, dials and the colourful COMAND Online system. It's so completely stacked with kit, I almost expect to find an ejector seat!

The cabin is very much Mercedes-Benz v2.0. There's no sign here of the ‘Olde Worlde' wood I remember from my dad's 1970s 280TE. It's all modern ‘jet black' trim and soft-touch materials. The dash integrates beautifully into the cabin. The switchgear is solid, and all the opening bits 'n' pieces are nicely damped.

Fast-forward 12 hours and I'm on the road again. It's dark, wet and windy as I make my 135-mile commute from Suffolk to Staines. The serenity of the motorway driving experience is striking; the car is quiet, stable and assured. The C-Class Coupé appears immune to the notoriously nasty crosswinds on the Orwell Bridge, and it fills you with confidence on damp and slippery roads, handling perfectly, steering accurately and always braking strongly and progressively.

The lights are bright enough to turn night into day, and even
take care of dipping themselves when another car appears.
The seven-speed gearbox drops ratios smoothly and quickly, offering strong acceleration. Cruise control and speed limiter make the commute a breeze. So much so, I'm tempted to have a nice lie down in the back while the car gets on with driving round the M25.

And that's the thing – with all the technological assistance you sometimes wonder if the car would get on with the job better if the driver just stopped interfering! But, then, you'd be missing
out on all the fun.

Returning to my bovine conundrum, the COMAND Online system, with in-car internet access, is perfect for asking Google about the size of a cow – 50 square feet! Who'd have thought a cow was so big?

Verdict

I've really enjoyed my time with the C-Class Coupé. It transformed my commute and, with its sharp looks, raised a few eyebrows on the school run. It'll certainly be hard returning to my usual car, with its temperamental, visor-mounted Bluetooth phone connection, ordinary headlights, sat-nav wobbling on the windscreen, and hearing and feeling the national speed limit. I can't thank Mercedes-Benz enough for loaning me such a magnificent car.

MERCEDES-BENZ C 250 BlueEFFICIENCY AMG Sport Edition 125

'What's the surface area of a cow?' is my first thought as I settle into the leather seats of my technology-laden Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupé. Fresh from ‘flying' to Mercedes-Benz Ipswich in the SLS AMG, my state of mind is delicate. The car is VERY red. Not cheap, see-through red, but proper, deep, shiny red. I spot cross-drilled brake discs behind the 18in AMG alloys, and a panoramic roof that runs from the top of the windscreen back to the boot in one long, black, sweeping arc. The car has a hunched, mean, menacing look – this is going to be fun!

I drop into the low-slung seat for an introduction to the car. The man from Mercedes-Benz is very nice, and tells me not to turn off the electronic stability control. But I barely hear. I'm like a magpie drawn to the array of shiny alloy switches, dials and the colourful COMAND Online system. It's so completely stacked with kit, I almost expect to find an ejector seat!

The cabin is very much Mercedes-Benz v2.0. There's no sign here of the ‘Olde Worlde' wood I remember from my dad's 1970s 280TE. It's all modern ‘jet black' trim and soft-touch materials. The dash integrates beautifully into the cabin. The switchgear is solid, and all the opening bits 'n' pieces are nicely damped.

Fast-forward 12 hours and I'm on the road again. It's dark, wet and windy as I make my 135-mile commute from Suffolk to Staines. The serenity of the motorway driving experience is striking; the car is quiet, stable and assured. The C-Class Coupé appears immune to the notoriously nasty crosswinds on the Orwell Bridge, and it fills you with confidence on damp and slippery roads, handling perfectly, steering accurately and always braking strongly and progressively.

The lights are bright enough to turn night into day, and even
take care of dipping themselves when another car appears.
The seven-speed gearbox drops ratios smoothly and quickly, offering strong acceleration. Cruise control and speed limiter make the commute a breeze. So much so, I'm tempted to have a nice lie down in the back while the car gets on with driving round the M25.

And that's the thing – with all the technological assistance you sometimes wonder if the car would get on with the job better if the driver just stopped interfering! But, then, you'd be missing out on all the fun.

Returning to my bovine conundrum, the COMAND Online system, with in-car internet access, is perfect for asking Google about the size of a cow – 50 square feet! Who'd have thought a cow was so big?

Verdict

I've really enjoyed my time with the C-Class Coupé. It transformed my commute and, with its sharp looks, raised a few eyebrows on the school run. It'll certainly be hard returning to my usual car, with its temperamental, visor mounted Bluetooth phone connection, ordinary headlights, sat-nav wobbling on the windscreen, and hearing and feeling the national speed limit. I can't thank Mercedes-Benz enough for loaning me such a magnificent car.