Is the Mercedes-Benz C-Class good for new drivers?

By Stuart Johnston

It seems that things are changing. In earlier times new drivers learned on older cars with a few dents and scrapes, because the chances of adding new ones were high. But in today’s safety-conscious environment, a car with a safety track record like Mercedes-Benz’s C-Class makes sense, if you have the necessary funds!

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class is one of those cars that you tend to overlook until you drive one. If there’s one thing that Mercedes-Benz know how to do, it’s to build cars that are effortless to drive. And for the novice driver, that makes them easy cars to learn on.

The range

The C-Class has been around since the 1990s and is considered the “junior” model in the Merc range of sedans that includes the larger E-Class and the exclusive, much larger and very expensive S-Class sedan.

The current C-Class  sedan line-up consists of five basic models with trim variations you can order. These are the C180, the C200, the C220d, the C300 and the AMG C43 4MATIC.

 Of these, all but the  C220d are turbocharged petrol models, of power outputs varying from the C180’s realistic 115 kW to 287 kW for the charismatic V6-powered C43 twin-turbo. The 220d is a diesel model. For the top three articles on the Mercedes-Benz C-Class in AutoTrader, click here.

Which is the best C-Class to learn on?

The basic C180 model is the best. Modest power is much better to learn on and there will be plenty of time to exploit more powerful machinery once you have learned the basics and developed some natural driving skill. The C180 has an engine delivering 115 kW, and in a fairly large body like that of the C-Class, the power-to-weight ratio gives the car adequate, rather than intimidating performance.

Why is the C180 Mercedes good for novice drivers?

In a word: Ease of operation. The Merc is all about smooth, fluid progress. This goes for the way the car is configured from the outset. The only thing that upsets this balance in this country, especially, is when owners insist on fitting those sexy looking large diameter wheels with low profile tyres. Choose the higher profile tyres (with smaller diameter rims) and you will be amazed at how more comfortable the ride is. Especially since the C-Class range facelift late last year, which has improved ride comfort in the rear.

Easy steering

Guiding a Mercedes-Ben C180 along the road is very easy. The steering is quick with just 2,3 turns lock-to-lock. Another little-mentioned fact about Mercedes cars is that they have very good turning circles, with plenty of front wheel turning angle, that allows ease of parking and manoeuvring in tight places.

Engine and gearbox work as a smooth unit.

The latest nine-speed automatic gearbox used with the C180 (no manuals are offered these days) works very well with the 1,6-litre turbocharged engine. This engine is profiled toward low speed torque rather than high-revs. In fact it gets a bit harsh at high revs.

Happily with the nine-speed gearbox, there is no need to rev the engine hard. There is a gear for virtually every occasion and the changes are smooth. As a novice, all you have to do is learn to brake smoothly and accelerate smoothly. Not having to worry about gear changes and clutch smoothness makes driving for a novice a lot easier.

On the other hand, we’d recommend that all new drivers should try to get tuition on a manual car as well as on an automatic. Sometimes you may need to drive a manual-gearbox car (such as when hiring a low-cost car in a strange town).

Safety features

Mercedes-Benz build solid cars, and if you are in a serious accident, this is a good place to be. The C180 uses very high-strength steel in its passenger cell. It has a total of seven airbags, with an extra two as an extra-cost option. It has very powerful brakes with Brake Assist, which automatically applies the brakes to maximum effect in an emergency, detected by sensors on the car. It has ABS braking , traction control and corner assistance, which prevents the car from skidding uncontrollably. Merc systems in this regard are amongst the best in the world.

For more on C-Class safety features, click here

Performance.

The Mercedes C180 accelerates to 100 km/h in 10 seconds and runs to a top speed of over 220 km/h. This is perhaps a bit too much performance for an absolute novice. But if you have a good driving tutor, he or she should instruct you on the benefits of only using as much power as necessary in any and every situation. And we should remind you the urban speed limit is 60 km/h and the national speed limit is 120 km/h.

Is it worth it?

The basic price of a Mercedes-Benz C180 is R612 669. Expensive cars like the Mercedes C180, Audi and BMW equivalents, and others like Volvo,  Jaguar and Lexus models, suffer slightly  more depreciation on re-sale than the most popular, less expensive light cars.

Also, spare parts like bumpers, lights and alloy wheel rims (the types of items you are likely to damage as a learner) are not cheap! But it is a fact that a fairly large car like the Merc 180 is safer than a small entry-level car. If you (or more likely your parents) can afford such a car to cut your motoring teeth on, you could do a lot worse!

 For information on good used Mercedes-Benz C-Class cars found on the AutoTrader site, click here.