The 2018 Mercedes-AMG – Is this the perfect daily?

 

By Chad Lückhoff

With more than 6000 new parts, the updated W205 Mercedes-Benz C-Class may just be a little more than a facelift. We drive the Mercedes-AMG C43 and find it to be the ideal daily companion.

Expert rating out of 5

4/5

3 pros

Glorious soundtrack

Engaging driving dynamics

More than enough power

3 cons

Firm ride for daily use

Insatiable thirst

COMAND remains as complex as ever

Styling

The locally-produced Mercedes-Benz may have undergone a facelift, but you’d be hard-pressed to tell the difference between this new W205 and its pre-facelift counterpart. The fact of the matter is that nearly 6500 parts have been changed in the new Mercedes C-Class.

While the aesthetic changes are not radical, the eagle-eyed enthusiast will spot the LED headlights, daytime running lights and front bumper tweaks, setting the updated model apart from last year’s model. New AMG-Line models get the diamond grille treatment and more aggressive air dams.

This is all a little less prevalent in the Mercedes-AMG C43 though, as the aforementioned items have been standard fare for a while now, meaning that it takes a little longer to spot that this is indeed one of the revamped and revised, facelift models. There's the all-familiar air dam treatment, large and imposing with a large three-pointed badge above, flanked by the silver twin-spar elements on either side.

While the coupé and the cabriolet shapes carry a little more wow-factor, it's the understated, almost invisible, form of the sedan that makes me appreciate the C43. Its ability to blend in when need be and glide in under the radar is part of the appeal. It's not always necessary to announce your arrival, a subtle entrance and low-key approach is sometimes preferred.

The Drive

It's in the drive that the C43 impresses. It's ability to transition from the typical, tightly sprung and firm AMG ride, to the compliant and comfortable Mercedes glide, is what makes the C43 that extra little bit special. You're able to cruise along is typical Mercedes-Benz comfort when tackling a long road or navigating through traffic, but a focused and direct response is never more than a single switch away.

Secondary ride comfort is compromised a little by the large wheels and tyres, a natural sacrifice that has to be accepted when opting for an AMG-derived machine. Light steering and a flexible throttle response keeps the C43 content in traffic without lunging and surging into the car in front of you.

This can all change though when the Dynamic drive mode is selected. A sharper throttle, taut suspension and firmed-up steering await those that select the more spirited approach.

Performance

Any Mercedes that bears the three magical letters (the real letters, not the AMG-line trim package letters) will impress you when it comes down to performance. The C43 is no exception, despite running a smaller 3.0-litre BiTurbo V6. It may not be the fire-breathing, tyre-snorting V8 of the C63, but trust me when I say that there is more than enough poke to get you excited.

In fact, I'm inclined to say that the C43 has the ideal engine for daily use – the C63 is just too much engine for public roads. Don't get me wrong, I love nothing more than a brute of a V8, but it would be great to be able to use more of that power, without the traction control warning doing its best strobe light impression.

Combining the 287 kW and 520 Nm V6 (bumped up by 17 kW in this facelift) with a rear-wheel biased 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system means that you can actually lean on the throttle and use near everything the engine has to offer. This makes the C43 absurdly quick and rather nimble at the same time.

The 9-speed 9G-Tronic gearbox is flawlessly programmed – an area that Mercedes-AMG has been working tirelessly on – with visible results. It shifts smooth and near unnoticeable in comfort settings and is direct and purposeful in the sportier modes.

Mercedes claims that these figures are good for a standing start to 100km/h sprint time of only 4.7-seconds while the C43 will top out at an electronically limited 250km/h.

Space and Comfort

Of the 6000-odd parts that have been changed, it feels like 5999 of them were of the interior. While the previous version's interior wasn't terrible, there were a few areas that could have been improved on – thankfully, it seems like Mercedes-AMG found them and rectified many of the issues.

While not completely redesigned, the overall fit and finish appear to be better and surfaces that were issues in the old model are now well-finished. The interior still retains the same amount of practicality and comfort as before, cementing my opinion that this is the ideal daily-drive AMG product.

This latest update also sees the addition of the full-digital 12.3-inch instrument cluster with a variety of display modes and a host of information at your fingertips. Sadly, the COMAND system is still as frustrating and complicated and the COMAND interface in the centre console is still nightmarish.

Safety

Brand new electronic architecture is part of the update of this W205 Mercedes-AMG C43 and included in that is the latest Mercedes-Benz driving assistance systems. This is filter-down technology from the current S-Class and allows for greater active safety systems and improved semi-autonomous driving with Distronic, adaptive cruise control and lane keep assistance.

The usual plethora of 7 airbags and pre-tensioning seatbelts further aid in occupant safety.

Fuel Consumption

It's an AMG – mortgage your house.

No seriously, if you buy an AMG, expect to visit the pumps on a regular basis. While not as heavy as the C63, the C43 is still rather thirsty despite the claims of 9.3l/100km. We couldn't crack the 11l/100km mark, even on the open road.

Price

Are you sitting down?

Good.

The base price for the Mercedes-AMG C43 4MATIC is R960 265 before you throw a few creature comforts at it. That's right, a bar for a C-Class that isn't the range-topper. While the pricing is understandable considering the C63 pricing and that of similar competitors, it took me a while to be able to justify it. By the end of its tenure in my hands, I was able to justify the price tag.

The Verdict

The Mercedes-AMG C43 4MATIC is the sweet-spot of the attainable Mercedes-AMG range. It strikes a near-perfect balance between a performance saloon and a premium cross-country cruiser. It's compact enough for daily use in traffic and town yet still has the legs to make the open road entertaining.

It comes at a price, both purchase and at the pumps, but it's one that is worth paying in my opinion. It has the ability to blend in and stand out all at the same time, and there's not many that can claim to do that.