Review: Mercedes-Benz C204 C-Class Coupe (2011-15)

Overview

Released in August 2011, the Mercedes-Benz C204 C-Class Coupe was a four-seat coupe. Manufactured in Germany, the rear-wheel drive C204 C-Class coupe range initially consisted of the C 180, C 250, C 250 CDI and C350 models. Please note that the Mercedes C204 C 63 AMG Coupe has been reviewed separately.

The C 250 CDI BlueEfficiency was fitted with idle-stop – which enabled the engine to shut down when the vehicle was stationary – from launch. The C 250 BlueEfficiency and C 180 BlueEfficiency, however, were fitted with idle-stop from March 2012 and December 2012, respectively.

Dimensions

Compared to the Mercedes-Benz CLC-Class which it replaced, the C204 C-Class Coupe was 142 mm longer (at 4590 mm), 42 mm wider (1770 mm), 1 mm taller (1406 mm) and had a 45 mm longer wheelbase (2760 mm). Compared to the W204 C-Class sedan   on which it was based, the C204 C-Class coupe had a more angled windscreen, an upswept belt-line, narrow C-pillars, an extended roof and glasshouse and a shorter rear overhang.

Suspension

The Mercedes-Benz C204 C-Class had MacPherson strut front suspension with three-links and independent, multi-link rear suspension. The suspension also featured Mercedes-Benz’s ‘Agility Control’, an amplitude-selective damping system which utilised:

• A bypass channel in the shock absorber’s piston pin; and,
• A control piston moving within a separate oil chamber.

When linear travel of the shock absorber was low, the control piston forced oil through the bypass channel to produce a smaller damping force at the damper valve. For greater shock absorber movements, the control piston moved to close the bypass channel so full damping force was available. To be clear, Agility Control used hydromechanics, not electronics to vary suspension behaviour.

Safety equipment

Standard safety equipment for the Mercedes-Benz C204 C-Class Coupe included dual front airbags, front seat pelvis airbags, a driver’s knee airbag, front side airbags, full-length curtain airbags (i.e. for front and rear occupants), ABS, electronic brake force distribution, brake assist, electronic stability control, traction control, driver fatigue monitoring, active front seat head restraints and seatbelts with pre-tensioners and load limiters for all seats. In the event of a pedestrian collision, the bonnet would also rise to cushion the pedestrian’s subsequent impact with the bonnet.

Euro NCAP testing

In Euro NCAP testing , a Mercedes-Benz C204 C 220 CDI Coupe received a five star safety rating which included a 90 per cent adult occupant protection rating and a 79 per cent child occupant protection rating. Under ANCAP’s methodology , this testing resulted in an adult occupant protection score of 35.51 out of 37.

Features: Mercedes-Benz C204 C 180, C 250 and C 350

Standard features for the Mercedes-Benz C204 C 180 BlueEfficiency included 17-inch ten-spoke alloy wheels, a six speaker Audio 20 sound system with a six-disc CD player, MP3/AAC/WMA-compatibility, auxiliary inputs (3.5mm/USB/iPod) and 5.8-inch TFT colour display, dual-zone climate control air conditioning, power adjustable front seats, ‘Artico’ synthetic leather, cruise control, front and rear fog lights, front and rear parking sensors, 1/3 to 2/3 split and folding rear seats with through-loading function, Bluetooth connectivity, rain-sensing wipers, automatic headlights, a leather-wrapped multi-function steering wheel, remote central locking, power windows and mirrors, a height and reach adjustable steering wheel, trip computer, tyre pressure monitoring, green-tinted windows and an immobiliser. From December 2012, the C 180 BlueEfficiency was fitted with a Becker Map Pilot satellite navigation system.

The Mercedes-Benz C 250 and C 250 CDI BlueEfficiency were further equipped with 18-inch five-spoke alloy wheels, COMAND APS with a seven-inch TFT display, satellite navigation system, single CD/DVD player, Internet connectivity and 10GB hard-drive for music storage, leather seats, voice recognition, steering wheel gearshift paddles, power folding mirrors, an electrochromatic rear view mirror and dark-tinted privacy glass on rear windscreen and rear side windows. From December 2012, the C 250 and C 250 CDI BlueEfficiency were fitted with a power adjustable driver’s seat.

Beyond this, the C 350 BlueEfficiency added a twelve speaker Harman Kardo Logic7 sound system, additional front seat adjustment, directional bi-xenon headlights with washers, daytime running lights, power adjustable steering column and memory settings (for the front seats, steering column and door mirrors).

Mercedes-Benz C204 C 250 and C 250 CDI Sport

In October 2012, C 250 and C 250 CDI Sport variants were released which featured AMG sports suspension, larger disc brakes, speed-sensitive sports steering with a more direct ratio, sports exhaust system, more responsive accelerator mapping for the engine management system and sportier transmission configurations for the ‘S’ and ‘M’ modes, faster gearshifts, double-declutching and active downshifting when braking.

Visually, the Sport variants could be identified by their 18-inch AMG seven-twin-spoke light-alloy wheels with 225/40 R18 front and 255/35 R18 rear tyres, AMG body kits (including front apron, side sill panels, rear apron and spoiler), sports seats in black ‘Artico’ synthetic leather with red stitching, flat-bottomed sports steering wheels and red contrasting stitching on the steering wheel, doors and gearshift lever gaiter.

Brochures and specifications

• Press Kit: Mercedes-Benz C204 C-Class Coupe (August 2011)
• Specifications: Mercedes-Benz C204 C-Class Coupe (August 2011)
• Brochure: Mercedes-Benz C204 C-Class Coupe (October 2012)
• Specifications: Mercedes-Benz C204 C-Class Coupe (July 2013)
• Specifications: Mercedes-Benz C204 C-Class Coupe (June 2014)

Related links

• Wikipedia.org: Mercedes-Benz C204 C-Class Coupe