2017 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe: Reward For Selfishness

MALAGA, Spain – Nowadays, buying a two-door car when a perfectly good four-door equivalent is available is more a fashion statement or an emotional decision than a rational one. However, in certain cases, it’s a little more than that.

For example, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Sedan and the redesigned C-Class Coupe are generally the same vehicle, but there are differences that make them unique. The two models may bear a striking resemblance, and ride on the same platform, but the coupe’s styling is actually quite distinct. And quite gorgeous, which is a pre-requisite for battling the BMW 4 Series, the Audi A5, the Lexus RC and the Cadillac ATS Coupe.

• Also: 2017 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Cabriolet: Mercedes’ Top-Down Approach

A coupe’s mission

Choosing a coupe instead of a sedan usually means we’re not shopping for anyone else but ourselves. We’re not thinking about the kids and how easily they could climb in through rear doors because, well, we probably don’t have any. Or, they’re old enough to own cars themselves, and wouldn’t want a ride with us anyway. The joys of raising kids include those moments when we realize that we’re getting our lives back again, right?

In the case of the 2017 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe, it’s all about selfishness. The back seats are inviting for Gucci bags and miniature dogs, and that about sums it up. The true experience is reserved for front-seat occupants, obviously – and depending on which version of the Coupe is chosen, especially for the person sitting at the helm.

Mercedes-Benz didn’t simply shave a couple of doors off the C-Class Sedan. The Coupe’s roofline is lower, the track was widened and the rear suspension was modified as well. It also gets a longer hood for a more streamlined profile and a posterior that looks just like the bigger Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe, complete with a subtle ducktail spoiler and not-so-subtle exhaust tips.

Four versions, for now

In Canada, we’ll be getting several different variations of the C-Class Coupe. The C 300 4MATIC is one of two we drove in Spain, and it’s equipped with a turbocharged, 2.0L four-cylinder engine that develops 241 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. For now, it’s connected to a seven-speed automatic gearbox, but the 2018 edition will benefit from a new, Mercedes-developed nine-speed autobox.

There’s no shortage of power in the C 300, and the automaker claims a 0-100 km/h time of 6.3 seconds. There's a driver-selectable, four-mode drive system that includes Eco, Comfort, Sport and Sport+ settings. Unlike many such systems in today’s cars, a difference can truly be felt between each mode. The engine sounds much meaner in the two Sport modes, and according to a Benz representative at the event, this is the real deal, not some artificially generated sound. Right now, Merc’s four-pot engine is a step above its rivals for its combination of power, refinement and fuel economy.

The C 300 4MATIC can handle itself nicely when the road gets twisty, as expected. There’s a meaty feel to the steering in Sport mode, while ride comfort is just right in Comfort mode, and more than tolerable with one of the Sport modes activated. Our test car was equipped with the optional AIRMATIC suspension, which smooths out road imperfections.

A C 450 AMG Sport 4MATIC will be available, too. It will feature a twin-turbo, 3.0L V6 that punches out 362 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque, and it too will be connected to a seven-speed automatic for the time being. The automaker says this C will get to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds. Remember, an AMG Sport isn’t a full-blown AMG hot rod, just a regular Benz that marinated in AMG sauce.

As for the beastly Mercedes-AMG C 63 and C 63 S coupes, they will be covered in a separate review on The Car Guide.

Finely crafted cockpit

Sit down in the 2017 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe, and it will hand you the seat belt so you don’t have to reach behind to grab it. The black and silver dashboard is elegant and sophisticated, and it can be mixed with a few different colours for the seats and the door panels. Personally, I’m not a fan of piano black trim in a luxury car, which our tester was fitted with, but real wood or optional AMG matte silver glass fibre trim are available.

Despite its compact dimensions, the C 300 4MATIC didn’t feel cramped, although we do sit low to the floor. The back seat won’t accommodate adults for very long, if at all, but like we mentioned before, if we’re choosing a coupe, that’s a compromise we have to make. Trunk space is – typical in German cars – roomy at 400 litres, despite being smaller than the one in the previous generation C-Class Coupe.

Standard or available features in the C 300 include heated and ventilated front seats, a power sunroof, a 360-degree camera system, head-up display, a Burmester surround sound system that blasts 590 watts of power through 13 speakers and the usual electronic safety aids such as adaptive cruise control with steering assist, blind spot monitoring, park distance sonar and lane keep assist.

As for the COMAND multimedia system, it includes a touchpad to finger-doodle letters and numbers, handy for entering addresses in the available navigation system. It also features the usual Bluetooth connectivity, USB and SD card inputs as well as voice recognition software. On the other hand, the screen isn’t touch-sensitive, and scrolling through menus with the multifunction dial is fussy.

See you next year

Production of the 2017 Mercedes-Benz C 300 4MATIC Coupe will start in March 2016, which means we’ll be getting the first units in Canada about a month later. The C 63 and C 63 S coupes will arrive next summer, and the C 450 AMG Sport 4MATIC Coupe will hit the Canadian market next fall.

Pricing for the coupes won’t be established until early next year, but they usually cost a few thousand dollars more than their sedan equivalents. Our guess is that the C 300 will be listed at under $50,000 before freight and delivery charges, while the C 450 AMG Sport will be priced at less than $60,000.

Needless to say, the new C-Class Coupe is leaps and bounds ahead of the old one. It’s got more power, more technology, lower fuel consumption and has a more spacious interior.

Being selfish is generally considered a shortcoming. However, when it’s time to shop for a luxury car, a selfish attitude can actually pay off.