Mercedes C300d AMG Line Review
Car Tested: Mercedes C300d AMG Line; Road Test No. 1083; Test Location: Mumbai
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 57,97,893/-
The C300d is a perfect blend of performance, dynamics and luxury
India is one of the fastest growing car luxury car markets in the world. However, like the rest of the world, Indian luxury car buyers prefer premium compact SUVs. That said, the classic sedan silhouette still remains very popular. To count on that popularity, Mercedes-Benz has given the C-Class a shot of botox along with new engines and more equipment. Can this be enough to take on the current crop of cars in the segment and those coming in the near future like the BMW 3-series and Volvo S60? Stay tuned.
Motor Quest: The Mercedes Benz C-Class was introduced in India in its second generation avatar in 2002. Since then the car has proved to be the de-facto choice for many luxury buyers. Over the years the car has proved itself to be an extremely capable all-rounder. In its fourth generation, the C-Class is one of Mercedes’ best-selling cars and retains a strong fan following in India.
The AMG Line gets revised bumpers and larger wheels
Exteriors – The Mercedes C300d is available with the sporty AMG Line treatment. You get what you expect like aggressive bumpers, side skirts and larger 18-inch wheels. The AMG Line also gives you higher spec ‘Multi-Beam’ LED headlights which look different than the other versions of the C-Class. Another great addition is the classy looking ‘diamond’ grille that is available with the C300d
The C-Class has always looked classy and handsome
The AMG Line trim brings various cosmetic changes to the C-Class which makes it look sporty and swanky
The styling hasn’t changed by a huge margin and that is only a good thing. The C-Class always looked elegant and polished, just how a Mercedes ought to. The new C300d takes that theme forward while adding a touch of sportiness. On the side the character lines are prominent and this gunmetal colour gives the car enough bling value. The back is characterised by nicely designed bumpers with (fake) visible exhausts and the S-Class inspired ‘C’ shaped LED taillights. The front seems to be changed more than any other profile of the car and it gives the C300d a nice and confident stance.
This gunmetal color gives the C300d a understated yet mean look
Like all AMGs or AMG inspired models, the design of the C300d looks wonderfully constrained. It does not look too plain nor does it shout power. As always Mercedes seems to have found the right balance between the two.
The C300d gets the latest Mercedes interior and an AMG steering wheel
Interiors – The C300d is a relatively low slung car so getting in is not very easy. However once inside you are greeted by the friendly C-Class layout which even after all these years still looks contemporary. The circular AC vents look premium and the buttons feel tactile and long-lasting. It takes hardly any time to spot the changes. The glossy wood finish is gone replaced by ‘open pore’ wood which is not only scratch free but also looks more understated in our opinion. The centre screen is now a 10.25-inch unit as opposed to the 7-inch unit on the outgoing car. The infotainment isn’t the slickest but is a huge improvement over the previous COMAND systems from Mercedes-Benz. The larger screen also makes it easier to operate it when on the move.
The large transmission tunnel robs away much needed legroom
The cabin feels luxurious and premium; quality of materials used is outstanding
The flat bottom steering wheel is similar to other AMG models and is chunky to hold. We love the placement of buttons on the steering which feels very ergonomic. The India-spec C300d misses out on the digital instrument cluster. We get the standard analog meters and honestly, we don’t find a reason to complain. The hooded binnacle in which the meters are housed looks ace and adds to the cabin’s characters. The dials are easy to read and crystal clear at all times. The tan leather on our car felt refreshingly different than the usual black or beige. The interiors look very athletic and quite charming with that colour.
The C300d also gets a massive panoramic sunroof along with sun blinds
The quality of materials is all but faultless and everything shutting with a positive thud just reaffirms that feeling. The seats at the front are quite comfortable and come with functions like electric adjustment with memory function and bolster adjustment for both the driver and the passenger. The C300d also gets colour changeable ambient lighting which only lifts the ambiance of a very characterful cabin.
Rear seats are adequately spacious & the cabin also gets ambient lighting
The cabin feels well built and Mercedes has used a variety of materials to give the interior an opulent look
The C300d comes loaded with the usual features. In addition to the ambient lighting, you get climate control, a nifty little clock, two-part panoramic sunroof and others. The back seats are good but the thigh support could have been much better and the headroom is limited for the taller passengers. The centre person will find the transmission tunnel to be a bit high and the rear AC vents intruding into the leg space. The rear seat passengers do get sun blinds.