- Doors and Seats
2 doors, 4 seats
- Engine
1.8T, 4 cyl.
- Engine Power
150kW, 310Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (95) 7L/100KM
- Manufacturer
RWD
- Transmission
Auto
- Warranty
3 Yr, Unltd KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
2013 Mercedes-Benz C250 Coupe Sport – Quick drive review
The car: Mercedes-Benz C250 Coupe Sport
Price: From $78,550 plus on-road and dealer costs
Vitals: 1.8-litre 4cyl turbo, 150kW, 310Nm, seven-speed automatic
What does it say about me?
That I like my Mercedes-Benz to be a bit sportier than the others at the golf club.
What doesn't it say about me?
That I'm still too conservative – or don't have enough cash – to own a full-house AMG model.
Who else is buying it?
Up and coming middle management and empty nesters who are still young at heart but don't want to wake the neighbours or visit the service station every day.
What colours does it come in?
There are 12 colours available, starting with three non-metallic options (black, Polar White and the red featured on our test car, Fire Nero). The eight metallic alternatives are mostly varying shades of silver, white or black – with the exception of a blue called Cavansite. All of those are available on all C-Class Coupe models, but if you want to stand out then Mercedes also has a Platinum Silver that is exclusive to the C250 Sport as part of its Designo program. It costs to be different though, with Mercedes charging $5990 for the unique satin silver paintjob.
If it were a movie star, who would it be?
Get a great deal today
Interested in this car? Provide your details and we'll connect you to a member of the Drive team.
Nicolas Cage; not quite in the same action hero league as Schwarznegger and Stallone but a decent all-rounder that acts like a tough guy.
Why would I buy it?
If you're looking for a classy, well-equipped four-seater coupe that looks and feels sporty but you don't need the neck-snapping performance and brashness of a V8, then the C250 Sport is a great compromise.
Will it let me down?
Only if you really want it to be a C63 AMG, because it just doesn't deliver the same brutal acceleration and have the guttural exhaust note of its V8-powered big brother. But in terms of reliability, Mercedes-Benz's reputation is almost peerless, so it's highly unlikely it'll cause too many headaches.
Does it cost too much?
At $78,550 plus on-road and dealer costs, it's almost half the price of the C63 and its efficient four-cylinder engine will drink about half as much petrol as the V8. So in that respect, plus the fact it gets exclusive AMG equipment and suspension tuning, it's a bargain. But, if you don't require the Sport pack, the standard C250 is $8000 cheaper and there are similarly priced alternatives from BMW (325i Coupe) and Audi (A5 1.8 TFSI).
Will I get a deal?
It will depend on how you buy it. Mercedes will probably shave a few shekels off its list price if you pay cash or through its own finance division. But it will also try to protect the C250 Sport's exclusivity too, so it may require some hard haggling.
Is it safe?
Even though the C-Class range is only two steps into the Mercedes-Benz range, it still carries the German car maker's exemplary reputation for safety. It has a five-star ANCAP rating, scoring 35.41 points out of a possible 37, thanks to a suite of active and passive safety systems. It has a grand total of 11 airbags, ABS brakes, stability control and a bonnet that pops-up to protect pedestrians from serious injury in an accident. The Sport's AMG-tuned suspension, bigger wheels and larger brakes also improve its roadholding to potentially avoid accidents in the first place.
Will it get me noticed?
Depends on how much your golf club charges for annual fees. You'll blend into the rest of the Benzes and BMW's at the top end of town, but the three-pointed star still commands a fair deal of attention everywhere else. The red paint, body kit and contrasting black alloys of our test car give off the impression that the C250 Sport is a “real” AMG, and if you don't try to race anyone in a traffic light grand prix, they might not know any different.
Any gadgets I can brag about?
It's got plenty, but nothing that's revolutionary in this segment. It comes loaded with equipment such as sat nav, Bluetooth phone and audio streaming capabilities, and sports seats with red seat belts. You could impress your mates, though, by claiming the C250 Sport attempts to keep you awake with Mercedes' Attention Assist system monitoring your inputs and sending audible alerts if it detects the car wandering off the road.
How's the cabin ambience?
Pretty nice actually. The mix of brushed alloy highlights on the dash and door trims, racy red seat belts and snug sports seats provides a sensation that the C250 Sport is beyond a conventional C-Class Coupe. The full-length glass sunroof also ensures the predominantly black cockpit feels more spacious, the instruments are clear and concise and the secondary information/audio screen is well-positioned and easy to use. Adults aren't too cramped in the rear seats either, but the seats are more suited to occasional four-up commutes or children.
Does it go?
Here's the dilemma. With healthy outputs of 150kW and 310Nm from its 1.8-litre turbo four-cylinder, it's certainly no slouch, but it's not all that quick either, with Mercedes claiming it'll sprint to 100km/h in just under eight seconds – slower than most hot hatches that cost half as much. The engine has a unique AMG-tuned sports exhaust that makes it sound a bit fruitier than standard, and there's a sharper throttle map when using the seven-speed auto in Sport or manual modes.
Does it like corners?
Yep, and here's where the AMG-ness finally comes into play. The standard C-Class Coupe already has a nicely balanced rear-drive character, but the Sport's lowered, stiffer suspension, bigger 18-inch alloys and larger, cross-drilled brakes make it a delight to punt through the twisties. The challenge then becomes keeping the engine spinning in its sweet mid-range while managing the low threshold of the stability control's intervention.
What about bumps?
The added stiffness of the suspension is quite noticeable, even at low speeds, and sharp-edged bumps will be felt through the seat. But the overall impression is one that is nicely balanced between handling and comfort.
What about service stations?
You certainly won't be visiting them as often as if it was a C63 AMG with its 6.2-litre V8. With a claimed combined average fuel consumption of 6.4L/100km, and stop-start technology, it's pretty frugal for a 1700kg-odd sports coupe.
Would you buy one?
For the same money, I'd wait until the Mercedes A45 AMG hot hatch arrives later this year. It will be almost as efficient as the C250 Sport, but significantly more powerful – and almost as quick as the C63 AMG – and still have the ability to seat four. But if you don't want a Benz baby boy racer small car, the C250 offers just enough taste of the AMG experience without breaking the bank.
What else should I consider?
BMW's 325i Coupe is the only other European rear-drive, four-seater that provides a direct rival for the C250 Sport. And BMW has just dropped its price as it prepares for the arrival of the all-new 4-Series due later this year. Audi's A5 coupe is also worth considering, but is only available in front or all-wheel drive configurations. And then there's Infiniti's G37 Coupe, which is faster than the Merc, but feels a generation behind in ambience and doesn't have the badge cache of the three-pointed star.
The spin
It's a four-cylinder C-Class Coupe tuned by AMG
The translation
It's not quick enough to be a real AMG