by Sala Masindane

In a world where sedans are quickly losing ground to SUVs, it is good to catch up with one of the icons of the luxury sedan segment, specifically in the form of the new Mercedes-Benz C200 in AMG Line guise.

Sporty elegance

The exterior styling of the new C-Class is sleek and the AMG LIne package adds a dash of sportiness to the elegant compact executive sedan. Up front, it features a newly designed grille with a single horizontal slat in the middle, the brand’s logo on nested on the centre and model-specific mini ‘three pointed star’ patterns dominating most of the mesh grille. Our test unit stands out from the rest of the range thanks to the AMG body styling that includes a spoiler lip, sporty AMG bumpers and 19-inch multi-spoke light alloy wheels.

Plush cabin

The AMG theme is continued inside where you are met by heated sports seats, a multifunctional, capacitive sports steering wheel and a sliding panoramic sunroof. The premium cabin features a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster whilst the infotainment is displayed on a tablet-like 11.9-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The cabin is a lovely place to be in and the next level tech is user friendly. Some buttons and less piano black would make a strong case for the ‘Baby S-Class’. On the practical side of things, there’s 455-litres of boot space which should be enough to load luggage of five passengers for a weekend away. There’s also sufficient legroom for all passengers.

Drive and performance

Powering the new C 200 sedan is a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine that produces 150kW and 300Nm. Its 48V electrical system technology adds an additional 15kW and 200Nm to the outputs. All the power is sent to the rear wheels via a 9-speed automatic transmission.

The 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine straddles along relatively well in city or open road driving. It helps the new C-Class offer a smooth ride quality and handling. Our stint has yielded a consumption of 8.8l/100km from the claimed the 6.8l/100km. Having seen figures as low as 4.2l/100km in the diesel, we are of the opinion that it may justify spending a little bit more for the diesel engine.

Final word

Overall, the exterior AMG-Line options add to the already alluring design of saloon. The sporty looks are a reminder of why luxury sedans this size, were immensely popular and this remaining fairly so, notwithstanding the constant pressure from SUVs. If you overlook the pricing and fuel consumption we suggest the C200 over 220d. The new Mercedes-Benz C-Class range is priced from R888,000.