2007 Mercedes-Benz C230 Sport Mini-Review

So what’s a BMW fan like myself doing reviewing a Mercedes? Well, like the old saying goes “know thy enemy” and as far as rivalries go, BMW and Mercedes are one of the most well known. Although Mercedes-Benz answer to the latest BMW 3-series is still several months away the current C-class is no slouch. Offered in two separate versions dubbed Sport and Luxury this sedan attempts to please all drivers ultimately resulting in a very difficult decision when it comes time to make a purchase. For this mini-review I had the chance to once again spend some time in the driver’s seat, this time behind the wheel of a 2007 Mercedes-Benz C230 Sport. So how did the C230 stack up? Not bad, although performance junkies might want to look elsewhere this Mercedes does offer a healthy dose of luxury for a fantastic price.

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Visually, my first impressions of the C230 were very positive. Simply put, this car looks awsome. The body shows off classic Mercedes lines and has a almost sculpted look to it. The test car had the AMG package which featured different front air dam and side skirts along with tinted glass and chrome exhaust tips. These visual changes serve to differentiate the Sport model from the Luxury model and make the car look very similar to last year’s C55 AMG which is no longer being produced for 2007. Unfortunately although the C230 gets it’s looks from the C55 thats about where the resemblance ends since the C230 features a 2.5 liter V6 which produces 201hp, quite a bit less than the power of the C55. In addition to the added bodywork the C230 Sport features 17″ staggered wheels riding on Z-rated rubber combined with large cross-drilled rotors up front and good sized discs in the back, making for a very impressive side profile.

From a driving technology standpoint the C230 does well with standard ABS and Mercedes ESP (Traction Control + Stability Control) safety features. This compares well to offerings from BMW and others in this class. Being a rear-drive sedan, the C230 depends on these features to ensure driver (and passenger) safety in the unlikely (in my case, very likely) event that the driver does something stupid. These days I would not recommend that any car be purchased without both of these features and its nice to see it standard here on the C230.

So what about performance, can the C230 play with the likes of BMW or Infinity? The short answer is no but that’s not to mean the C230 can’t offer up some performance value for those who don’t drag race their way into the office every day. Where BMW prides itself on pure driving performance the Mercedes seems to strike more of a balance between ride comfort and agility. The suspension did a good job of soaking up the bumps without being overly jumpy and the close-ratio steering made quick turns easy. Acceleration with the optional 7-speed automatic was silky smooth and is by far my favorite feature in this car. Gear shifts are virtually undetectable which makes for a very enjoyable driving experience during normal driving. When pushed the transmission responds well but those who need the best performance will want to manually shift through each gear, a process that was surprisingly intuitive. Even though the C230 might not have the raw power to please the die hard sport sedan fan it has just enough to add a bit of fun to your daily commute.

Behind the wheel the C230 presents a nice impression with a clear, easy to read display between the tach and speedo. It took me a few minutes but I did manage to figure out how to navigate through the menus and was rewarded for my efforts. All types of information can be displayed, stereo track/station, fuel status, and even when the next service is. Once you get used to this system it works reasonably well keeping you from spending undo time looking down at the center console which I guess is a good thing. The rest of the interior is cozy, featuring wood or metal trim and depending on options, several other buttons. Overall the interior fit and finish was what you would expect for a car in this category, with quality materials being used and few gaps between seams. As for the overall interior design I did find the arraignment of the optional controls and center console a bit confusing when I was trying to find something in a hurry but not something I would consider a major issue. Rear seat room was average, with no complaints unless the front seats were moved all the way back.
Overall I found the C230 to be a very competent sedan even though it lacks the level of performance I usually expect from sport sedans in this class. By combining features such as the 7-speed automatic and the 2.5 liter V6 with AMG looks its clear Mercedes is targeting this model more towards the kind of folks who want more show than go. So does this mean I don’t like it? Not in the least, this car really looks good and with an actual sale price of under $30,000 (very nicely optioned) you can’t really deny that the C230 is a compelling deal for those who want affordable luxury.