Comparison tests AMuS - New C200 vs A4 1.8 TFSI vs 320i Automatic vs S60 T4

[DeDe]

4th place: Volvo S60 T4 Momentum (427/650 points, 65,7%)
Well... it's relatively cheap.

• Power, torque: 180 hp, 240 Nm
• Gearbox: 6-speed-manual
  
• Weight: 1532 kg
• 0-100 kph: 8,8 s
• 0-130 kph: 14,0 s
• 0-160 kph: 22,5 s
• 0-200 kph: 46,7 s
• Flexibility (80-120 kph) in 5th/6th gear: 12,5 s/15,3 s
• Braking (100-0 kph), warm: 38,1 m
• 18 m slalom: 63,0 kph
  
• 110 m evasive test: 131,6 kph
• Noise level at 130 kph: 68 dB(A)
  
• Average fuel consumption: 9,0 l/100 km

3rd place: Audi A4 1.8 TFSI Ambition (488/650 points, 75,1%)
Good engine, safe behaviour, high quality, good price in comparison.

• Power, torque: 170 hp, 320 Nm
• Gearbox: 6-speed-manual
  
• Weight: 1518 kg
• 0-100 kph: 7,8 s
• 0-130 kph: 12,9 s
• 0-160 kph: 20,1 s
• 0-200 kph: 38,7 s
• Flexibility (80-120 kph) in 5th/6th gear: 10,0 s/12,3 s
• Braking (100-0 kph), warm: 35,6 m
• 18 m slalom: 63,1 kph
  
• 110 m evasive test: 130,7 kph
• Noise level at 130 kph: 68 dB(A)
  
• Average fuel consumption: 8,7 l/100 km

2nd place: BMW 320i Automatic (490/650 points, 75,4%)
Despite the automatic gearbox and the comfortable ride the 320i is still the "handling hero".
Plus, it's easy to use and it's roomy.

• Power, torque: 184 hp, 270 Nm
• Gearbox: 8-speed-automatic
  
• Weight: 1514 kg
• 0-100 kph: 7,6 s
• 0-130 kph: 12,4 s
• 0-160 kph: 19,3 s
• 0-200 kph: 35,6 s
• Flexibility (80-120 kph): 5,3 s in Drive
  
• Braking (100-0 kph), warm: 36,8 m
• 18 m slalom: 63,8 kph
  
• 110 m evasive test: 135,2 kph
• Noise level at 130 kph: 70 dB(A)
  
• Average fuel consumption: 8,8 l/100 km

1st place: Mercedes-Benz C200 (493/650 points, 75,8%)
Yes, the safe, comfortable and economic C-class won its first comparison test. With a better drive its advantage would be bigger.

• Power, torque: 184 hp, 300 Nm
• Gearbox: 6-speed-manual
  
• Weight: 1506 kg
• 0-100 kph: 7,8 s
• 0-130 kph: 12,6 s
• 0-160 kph: 18,9 s
• 0-200 kph: 34,2 s
• Flexibility (80-120 kph) in 5th/6th gear: 10,2 s/15,0 s
  
• Braking (100-0 kph), warm: 35,6 m
• 18 m slalom: 64,5 kph
  
• 110 m evasive test: 132,4 kph
• Noise level at 130 kph: 69 dB(A)
  
• Average fuel consumption: 8,1 l/100 km

 

[Amat46]

6 Speed manual against 8 Speed auto

 

[Kilcrohane]

veni, vidi, vici... .

...fastest(due to best aero, which pays off at higher autobahn-like speeds), fittest(lightest due to 'MRA'), frugalest(due to at-least on a par now 4 cyl. engines and class-best Cd), and firstist, due to "The Best or Nothing".

And this in one of its weaker, if not weakest specs - 4-banger petrol with supposedly can't-do-gearboxes-for-sh!t,-especially-manual-ones Mercedes-Benz.

It doesn't matter if the 3-Series is still the 'handling hero', the vast majority of these class of cars are bought for fuel economy and comfort by company car user-choosers, and the remaining private buyers will buy it for its looks, its interior and resale value over the bland F30.

The new C-Class has turned the tables on the once dominant 3-Series. The only threat in the medium term is the 2015 lightweight A4. Even 3-cyl. engines in the facelifted 3er won't overcome its tired interior and uninspiring looks.

Thank goodness for AMuS, which still has some objectivity, unlike the sensation-seeking Auto Bild to support its circulation, and the embarrassing Swedish publication that did a hatchet job on the C-Class, knowing how good it was, and a game-changer.

 

[klier]

^^ you're starting to show your true fanboy colors. Nice.
In true Kilcrohane fashion I should now start about the 3er getting new 4 cylinders soon, as well as a complete facelift with ZF 8 speed 2.0.
Not to mention the C class barely winning this test, while losing others.

The only game changer turns out to be you showing your true fanboy colors.
An MB fanboy hating on JLR. CUTE!!


Also,

"With a better drive it's advantage (c class) would be bigger"

No sh!t Einstein

 

[Betty Swollocks]

veni, vidi, vici... .

...fastest(due to best aero, which pays off at higher autobahn-like speeds), fittest(lightest due to 'MRA'), frugalest(due to at-least on a par now 4 cyl. engines and class-best Cd), and firstist, due to "The Best or Nothing".

And this in one of its weaker, if not weakest specs - 4-banger petrol with supposedly can't-do-gearboxes-for-sh!t,-especially-manual-ones Mercedes-Benz.

It doesn't matter if the 3-Series is still the 'handling hero', the vast majority of these class of cars are bought for fuel economy and comfort by company car user-choosers, and the remaining private buyers will buy it for its looks, its interior and resale value over the bland F30.

The new C-Class has turned the tables on the once dominant 3-Series. The only threat in the medium term is the 2015 lightweight A4. Even 3-cyl. engines in the facelifted 3er won't overcome its tired interior and uninspiring looks.

Thank goodness for AMuS, which still has some objectivity, unlike the sensation-seeking Auto Bild to support its circulation, and the embarrassing Swedish publication that did a hatchet job on the C-Class, knowing how good it was, and a game-changer.

Blah, blah, blah......


Same s**t, different day.

 

[klier]

I have got to give it to @Betty Swollocks , you were probably the first to call out on his BS.

I am ashamed to be so late. And I also didn't know he was an MB fanboy. I knew he liked MB but didn't think he would be on this level. He almost sinks as low I do, or rather did, for BMW. That's an achievement.

 

[Hofmeister]

I don't think an 8 KG advantage over the 3-Series is anything to write home about, especially when the BMW had an automatic and the Mercedes a manual..... and aren't we forgetting that the two oldest cars in the test, the A4 and S60, had the greatest high-speed refinement, @Kilcrohane, not the uber-slippery C-Class?

 

[Giannis]

veni, vidi, vici... .

...fastest(due to best aero, which pays off at higher autobahn-like speeds), fittest(lightest due to 'MRA'), frugalest(due to at-least on a par now 4 cyl. engines and class-best Cd), and firstist, due to "The Best or Nothing".

And this in one of its weaker, if not weakest specs - 4-banger petrol with supposedly can't-do-gearboxes-for-sh!t,-especially-manual-ones Mercedes-Benz.

It doesn't matter if the 3-Series is still the 'handling hero', the vast majority of these class of cars are bought for fuel economy and comfort by company car user-choosers, and the remaining private buyers will buy it for its looks, its interior and resale value over the bland F30.

The new C-Class has turned the tables on the once dominant 3-Series. The only threat in the medium term is the 2015 lightweight A4. Even 3-cyl. engines in the facelifted 3er won't overcome its tired interior and uninspiring looks.

Thank goodness for AMuS, which still has some objectivity, unlike the sensation-seeking Auto Bild to support its circulation, and the embarrassing Swedish publication that did a hatchet job on the C-Class, knowing how good it was, and a game-changer.

You're not really that entertaining outside the Jaguar section.

 

[Tumbo]

Audi, you need to bring the new A4 out N-O-W. This car is soooo old.
Having the new A6 over the weekend, and it's just lightyears better.

 

[martinbo]

"Veni, vidi, vici." I laughed, a little.

For all its groundbreaking tech and über-newness, the fancy four-link upfront suspended, lighter C-Class still doesn't have the ride-handling measure of the 3er. Still. It won by 3 points or 0.4%. Yip, the W205 just wretched that Caesar Salad (served with super-sized Kool-Aid beverage) all over the utterly outclassed BMW 3er.

In true harbinger fashion, I shall say this: just wait for the new all-ally, 2.0D engine in the 3er LCI. It's going to be sensational.

 

[Zafiro]

LOL at Kil. Another post I read by him and its all about Mercedes. Its clear now what brand he favour. But congratulation for the C-class for the first win. I bet this thread will be full of comments unlike the other threads when MB lost

But I must say that fuel consumption for 320i with automatic is pretty bad, no improvement over previous version (no turbo) of the 320i with manual gearbox.

 

[Deckhook]

@DeDe, do you have the exact spec/model of each because I'm wondering whether some of the performance figures like slalom and braking, etc might be determined by this.

 

[DblPen]

"Veni, vidi, vici." I laughed, a little.

For all its groundbreaking tech and über-newness, the fancy four-link upfront suspended, lighter C-Class still doesn't have the ride-handling measure of the 3er. Still. It won by 3 points or 0.4%. Yip, the W205 just wretched that Caesar Salad (served with super-sized Kool-Aid beverage) all over the utterly outclassed BMW 3er.

In true harbinger fashion, I shall say this: just wait for the new all-ally, 2.0D engine in the 3er LCI. It's going to be sensational.

2.0i you mean?

 

[hovabongZA]

Congratulations to the new c class. MRA platform is def lighter than the W204's however I suspect that the F30's are still going to be lighter if similarly equipped considering that the c200 tested here was a 6 speed manual and was only 8kg lghter than the 8speed automatic for the 320i,that 5.3s flexibility(80-120km/hr) for the 320i seems unreal when you look at what the Benz,Audi and Volvo are doing ,take nothing away from the Merc best fuel consumption and the faster car here with a 6spd nogal.

 

[DeDe]

^the BMWs time is not an in-gear flexibility time, but a normal 80-120 kph through-the-gears acceleration.

 

[hovabongZA]

^^Thanks that makes sense.

 

[martinbo]

2.0i you mean?

Nope, 2.0 diesel, that's where this class is at in my opinion, in Europe (and down here in SA too at least).

 

[DblPen]

Nope, 2.0 diesel, that's where this class is at in my opinion, in Europe (and down here in SA too at least).

yes, but i think 2.0D is already class leading isnt it? While in this test 2.0 seems to be heavily outclassed by Merc's 2l engine. Even Audi's 1.8 is more frugal and not a lot slower even with manual.

 

[Kilcrohane]

For all its groundbreaking tech and über-newness, the fancy four-link upfront suspended, lighter C-Class still doesn't have the ride-handling measure of the 3er. Still. It won by 3 points or 0.4%.

Remember the many, many comparos where the wildly-successful and utterly by-sales-dominant in its sector already W222 S-Class was bested by the 7-Series' superior powertrain, the Panamera's much greater agility, the A8/S8's dynamic edge, the Jag XJ's - okay, maybe not - ??? Did it make a jot of difference to the S-Class being crowned the class's champ, in terms of fit for purpose - luxury, comfort and safety??? NO.

The C-Class is EXACTLY the same. In comparos against the stop watch and tape measure it will either be bested like the S-Class or at best squeak out a marginal win.

But where it really matters, in this class, its superiority is effortless, overall, just like the W222's is.

Its safety, its comfort, its size, its interior, its luxury, its looks, and with the W205, its absolute superior economy, unlike the W222, all combine to set it at least half a level above the current class level.

That is what the naysayers are deliberately missing, and concentrating instead on its narrow win, or otherwise defeat against the humdrum aging competiton.

Like the W222, we'll look back in 6 months or so and see the huge sales advantage the W205 will have made clear by then, and by then it will seem perfectly normal for such a good car.

 

[martinbo]

We'll see Agent K, we'll see. Right now I'm "stuck" on holiday down here on the Wild Coast - I'd not venture to come down here in the 320d - so it looks like I shan't be driving for the next 10 days my (still class-leading and defining) lovely F30 which drives and handles better for a) what is the essence of the segment and b) for people,over 40 who still drive like they're 30, want from a car. You can keep the snooze fest for when I'm in my fifties.