28 Feb, 2015 8:00am
If your budget doesn’t stretch to a Mercedes-AMG C 63, then Mercedes could have the answer in the form of the new C 450 Sport 4MATIC saloon and Estate models. Designed to bridge the gap between the standard C-Class models and the V8-powered flagship, the newcomer aims to distil some AMG magic into a more cost-effective package.
Not that the C 450 is a humdrum machine. Look past the subtly sporty looks and you’ll find a 362bhp 3.0-litre V6 twinned to Mercedes’ grippy 4MATIC all-wheel-drive transmission. More importantly, the suspension, brakes and steering are carried over from the C 63.
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On the move, the C 450 lacks the thrills of the C63, but it’s vastly better than the standard C-Class. The steering is direct and accurate, the dampers do a good job of controlling body roll and there’s lots of grip – the 4MATIC system delivers terrific traction out of slower bends. Yet thanks to a torque split that sends 67 per cent of the engine’s effort to the rear wheels, the C 450’s attitude can be subtly adjusted using the throttle.
The new engine is a highlight, too. It can’t match the C 63 for firepower, but with 520Nm of torque and a 0-62mph time of 5.0 seconds (4.9 seconds for the saloon), the newcomer is no slouch, plus the twin-turbo unit delivers a sporty growl when extended.
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Turn the AMG Dynamic Select control to Comfort and the C 450 settles down to a quiet cruise. The ride is a little stiff over broken surfaces, but otherwise it’s relaxed and refined. This impression is heightened by an interior that majors on upmarket premium appeal – although a bright red finish for the steering wheel stitching and seatbelts adds a racy flourish.
And the C 450’s credentials as a cut-price AMG are boosted by fuel returns of 36.6mpg and emissions of 180g/km for the Estate, and 37.1mpg and 178g/km for the saloon.
- Price: TBC
- Engine: 3.0-litre V6 twin-turbo
- Power/torque: 362bhp/520Nm
- Transmission: Seven-speed auto, four-wheel drive
- 0-62mph: 5.0 seconds
- Top speed: 155mph
- Economy/CO2: 36.6mpg/180g/km
- On sale: Summer 2016