New Mercedes-Benz C-Class – The models South Africa won’t be getting

Mercedes-Benz South Africa has told TopAuto that it will not bring the C300d or the four-wheel-drive “4Matic” versions of the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class to the country.

The company cited the C220d as the reason for not bringing in the C300d, saying that the C220d already performs competitively in the country.

As for the four-wheel-drive derivatives, Mercedes-Benz said 4Matic will only be offered on AMG models locally.

This means that South Africans will have the rear-wheel-drive C200 and C220d to choose from until the AMG versions arrive.

C-Class specifications

The fifth-generation Mercedes-Benz C-Class recently went on sale in South Africa at starting prices of R856,080 for the C200 and R911,740 for the C220d – both in Avantgarde specification.

Despite the Avantgarde trim’s “entry-level” status, it is generously equipped with high-end features and offers a classy look with its chrome accents and 18-inch wheels.

Inside the cabin, standard features include dual-zone climate control, ambient lighting, a multifunction steering wheel, keyless entry and start, automatic LED headlights with high beam assist, rain-sensing wipers, a reverse camera, parking sensors, and a parking assistant.

It also comes with the latest MBUX infotainment system – which comprises a 10-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10-inch infotainment display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.

The new C-Class then provides up to 455 litres of cargo space in the boot.

Engines

In the C200 Avantgarde sits a 1.5-litre, turbo-petrol engine generating 150kW and 300Nm – while the C220d gets a 2.0-litre, turbo-diesel motor that produces 147kW and 440Nm.

The engines connect to a nine-speed automatic transmission that sends drive to the rear wheels.

Every model gets a 48-volt integrated starter generator, too, which adds up to 15kW of temporary boost.

As a result, both models achieve the 0-100km/h sprint in 7.3 seconds, and both return low combined fuel consumption figures of 6.8l/100km and 4.7l/100km for the petrol and diesel engines, respectively.