The 2017 C300 4Matic Coupe is more luxury than sport. And that’s no bad compromise.
By Richard Russell
The coupe version of a car has long been considered a sporty alternative with design taking preference over functionality – a “look at me” vehicle. The 2017 Mercedes-Benz C300 4Matic Coupe is just that – an attractive two-door version of the company’s newest C-Class sedan.
What the sloping roofline and sweeping rear quarters take away in terms of rear seat access and headroom, they return in style. This is a very attractive automobile.
The new coupe shares a name, mechanicals and some of the interior with its sedan sibling, but what you see from the outside is unique. It is longer, wider and lower than the coupe it replaces with an additional 787-mm between the wheels – much of that ahead of the windshield. None of the body panels are the same as the sedan.
The interior of the new C300 Coupe is a standout in terms of finish, fitment and design. Richly appointed, it treats occupants to a pleasant mix of shapes and shades. The seats are comfortable and supportive over long hauls and the near absence of road and wind noise make those long distances seem shorter.
The C300 is available with a wide array of interior colour combinations and options, allowing the buyer to personalize his or her version.
The long frameless doors allow access to the rear seats, but be sure to duck below that low roof! If you can get in, there is a surprising amount of room in all directions but up. Height-challenged or small folks will be quite comfortable.
The new coupe packs plenty of cargo space beneath that short rear deck, expandable by lowering one or both sides of the 60/40 split rear seat. The seat backs can be lowered by a tug on handles in the trunk.
One option that is sure to be a big hit is the $2,000 Sport package which brings little in the way of performance enhancements, but a number of visual cues including a unique grille, side skirts, leather instrument panel cover, unique wheels, drilled brake rotors and chromed lower front valance.
The egg-crate grille of the Sport trim has chrome tips to differentiate it from the base model. (Editor's note: Was the Mercedes designer inspired by a 1958 Cadillac?)
The driver faces a wrap-around instrument panel with a waterfall-like centre stack dominated by the iPad-like COMAND infotainment system. While not as intuitive as some competitors, it does contain a wide array of functions through numerous menus and sub-menus controlled by the touch-pad and associated controls on the console.
While Mercedes refers to it as a sport coupe, those seeking performance will have to make do with driving dynamics for now. The turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, paired with a seven-speed automatic transmission and the company’s impressive 4Matic all-wheel-drive system, provides adequate if not scintillating sound or performance. The numbers are: 241 horsepower, 273 lb-ft of torque, 0-to-100 km/h in six seconds and NRC fuel consumption ratings of 10.4 litres/100 km city and 8.0 highway. Want more? Wait a few months for the 362-horsepower C43 or the 469-horse C63 versions.
The Drive Select system allows the driver to tailor the steering, suspension and throttle response. ‘Comfort’ mode proved the answer for frost-heaved secondary Quebec roads in the Chicoutimi area where we drove the car. ‘Sport’ and ‘Sport ’ were used when things smoothed out enough to allow for some “spirited” motoring. The stiff chassis and well-sorted suspension allows the C300 Coupe to remain calm and poised in all conditions. As you delve into the Sport and Sport modes things are buttoned down more, but at the cost of ride comfort. The Individual setting allows you to alter each aspect individually.
Despite the marketing talk and ability to play with dynamic settings, the 2017 C300 4Matic Coupe is more luxury than sport. That is not to say it can’t be driven aggressively, rewarding you with a high degree of smile-inducing speed and feedback – just that it is likely to be driven more sedately, confident in the combination of luxury and exclusivity.
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