KEY POINTS:
After all the fuss over the sporty styling turn taken by Mercedes-Benz's new C-class Avantgarde models - which, you might remember, get a coupe-style grille instead of the old-style bonnet-mounted Three-Pointed Star - I've discovered that I like the traditional look after all.
Opt for the lower-grade Classic or Elegance versions of the C-class and you keep the upright grille and bonnet-mounted emblem. And after a week in the C220 CDI Classic, I've found out I rather like it. It might be a feature for the old fogeys - a group I'm obviously assimilating into rather rapidly - but there's still something special about driving down the road with a massive Mercedes logo perched on the leading edge of your bonnet.
There's also something rather special about the turbo diesel C-class.
It's not intended to be a sporty powertrain - the four-pot engine can sound a bit gruff under load and it only gets a five-speed automatic gearbox, compared with the seven-speeder of other models in the range.
But it's honest, engaging and incredibly relaxed, with a monster 400Nm of torque at 2000rpm.
That earnest character runs through the rest of the car as well. Classic is the entry-level trim for the C-class, so while you still get the essentials such as Agility Control suspension, curtain airbags and stability control, you must make do with `man-made leather' (let's just call it vinyl and be done with it) upholstery and tiny 16-inch wheels (our car wore optional 17-inchers costing $2670).
- Detours, HoS
Know what? Doesn't matter a bit. It just somehow feels right - a prestige car that's low-key and unpretentious.
The C220 CDI is the C-class at its best. You get traditional Mercedes values, such as timeless styling (albeit sharper and sexier than previous generations) and relaxed performance, yet dig deep into the car's dynamic reserves and you find a chassis at least as accomplished - if not better than - BMW's benchmark 3-series. It's got nothing to prove and everything to offer.
All things considered, I reckon the C220 CDI is the most impressive and worthy model in the current Kiwi C-class line-up. But I reserve the right to change my mind when the wild C63 AMG version arrives next year (sans bonnet-mounted Three-Pointed Star).
