Bartek Sikorski

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Let battle commence. Up for grabs is the title of world’s best compact executive car – an award BMW’s 3-Series has made its own since the launch of the current fifth generation in 2005.

But now there’s a newcomer on the scene, and the 3’s grip on the class crown is looking shaky. The latest Mercedes C-Class is forging a new path in a bid to boost sales and win plaudits. It’s offered in a choice of designs: standard (for SE and Elegance models), or this sharper-styled Sport with lowered suspension and more direct steering.

Here we feature what’s likely to be the top-selling model: the 170bhp C220 CDI. One thing hasn’t changed – Mercedes’
high prices – so if it is to narrow the sales gap to its BMW rival (14,536 C-Class saloons found homes here last year, to 30,471 examples of the 3-Series), it will need to be very good indeed.
But then the 320d M Sport is only £427 cheaper than our test Mercedes – although the BMW provides crisp dynamics and top-notch quality and desirability.

As does the Audi A4. It’s lost to the 3 before, yet isn’t here to make up the numbers – our car uses the latest 168bhp 2.0 TDI engine, and in S line guise it’s keenly priced.

Waiting in the wings to snap up buyers with an eye for style, value and individuality is the Alfa Romeo 159 2.4 JTD. Only one
car can win. Which will it be?

This test also premieres our new green rating, a measure of a car’s environmental credentials. We hope you find it useful...
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Verdict:

The BMW 320d wins this test. That’s the headline, but it doesn’t tell the whole story. With the new C-Class, Mercedes comes very close to toppling its biggest rival. The Sport-spec C220 CDI is better overall to drive than the M Sport BMW, plus is more refined and attractive, faster and only costs a little more.

Yet it’s let down by a series of niggles. Undermining its appeal are the foot-operated handbrake, poor pedals, slack manual gearbox and, worst of all, an interior that features too much brittle plastic. Even though the BMW is hampered by a more jittery ride, it comes across as a more cohesive car.

Together, the top two are comfortably ahead of the Audi and Alfa. While the A4 gets so much right, it suffers from a coarse TDI diesel engine, fidgety ride and less talented dynamics. As for the 159, it’s great value and very exclusive, but isn’t a polished enough performer in this company.

atuv

So the C is the better all round dynamic car but loses coz of small details,yeah ok...

Just_me

Still this 3-series is using the old diesel engine in this test and not the new powerful and more refined engine the 1-series already has.

shonguiz

3 series is still the benchmark, impressive.

EnI

On C220 CDI:

"The end result is that the C-Class blends excellent body control and stability in bends with a supple ride. Its composure boosts confidence, and while the steering isn’t quite as sharp as the BMW’s, overall it feels the better package."

"There are other annoyances, too. The foot-operated parking brake is old-fashioned and a pain to use with a manual transmission, since you have to deal with four pedals in the footwell. The manual gearlever is cheap and resonates under acceleration. Combined with a slack shift action, it falls short of the mechanical excellence you’d expect from a sporting saloon. A springy clutch and a throttle pedal with a lazy response also numb the driving experience."

"However, the 2.2-litre diesel redresses the balance – it’s potent, smooth and very hushed, delivering its power in a relaxed yet sporty manner. It pulls well, too. A 60Nm torque advantage means it’s keener than the BMW and was more than 1.5 seconds quicker than any rival from 50-70mph in sixth."

"Nevertheless, while patchy in some areas, the Mercedes has the beating of the BMW in others."

"The final polish is missing from the new C-Class, so it doesn’t feel as well engineered as the BMW. We expect adding an auto would help."

On 320d:

"Lower-spec models are more comfortable and drive better than this M Sport. But the 320d is still an excellent car, and our class favourite."

"Power arrives steadily right through the rev range. The 320d also has a sharp throttle response, plus the strongest and most communicative brakes in this test. These predictable controls make it easier to drive around town than the C220, while on more open country roads the steering is sharper than on any of its rivals. The BMW turns in with an accuracy and level of feedback that its opponents struggle to match. There’s plenty of grip, too, and thanks to the rear-wheel-drive layout, traction is superb."

"On UK roads, the 3-Series isn’t at its best in M Sport trim due to the firmness of the ride, which means that it jumps and fidgets over bumps that don’t trouble the C-Class. The 320d simply doesn’t come across as being that relaxing to drive, and so proves more tiring on long trips."

"Overall, the BMW’s chassis lacks the composure of the Mercedes’, while on the motorway it can’t match its refinement. Nevertheless, if it was our money, we’d opt for the SE spec with its more absorbent suspension – it strikes a better balance between comfort and entertainment than this more aggressive M Sport set-up."

atuv

My personal pick would be the Alfa it's just so sexy and attractive!

Just_me

I agree it looks damn good but its not reliable and they rust here in Sweden. So no, I would never buy one. Alfa works better in hot climate than in cold climate.

The Artist

Okay the bad parts about the C are pretty useless

All MB´s have those handbreaks since before the writer of this article was born..so get over it allready..
Its not supposed to be manuall
the interior part i can understand..

but i agree the 3er is still the benchmark..

cawimmer430

The foot-operated handbrake bashing is uncalled for. Most of these cars will be sold with automatics, hence the use of a foot-operated handbrake. Those few buyers opting for the standard transmission will easily be able to cope with this. I've never had problems with a manual Mercedes and its foot operated handbrake.

If you're on a hill, simply put the gear in neutral, keep your right foot on the brake, depress the handbrake with your left foot, put your left foot on the clutch and depress it, engage 1st gear, move your right foot unto the accelerator etc. Very simple. Sure, you can't drive this car doing handbrake aided powerslides etc., but who cares? Most people don't even drive their 3-Series' in this fashion.

I'm willing to bet that most Ferrari owners don't do this either.


And this guy obviously didn't spend too much time in the interior. Aside from the center console, the dashboard is made out of a soft leathery type of material which I recently read was done to aid in the event of a crash due to its deformable qualities. The center console is really the only plasticky part and it's not as bad as this article makes it sound. I am willing to be that the Alfa Romeo or the Lexus IS has the same quality plastic on its center dashboard - except it's colored silver, which visually makes an initially higher quality impression. Funny how colors can change perception.

Yannis

I maybe an Audi fan but i have to admit that Mercedes did a great job with the C class. Beating the 3 series in driving dynamics is a huge accomplishment.
Also the design is better than all the others IMO. Only the interior is a let down.