Oshawa, Ontario - Despite our country's geographical size, it's still not a primary player on the world stage: more cars are sold each year in the state of California than in all of Canada. Even so, a considerable number of automakers cater to us with trim lines and equipment aimed at our climate and our tendency to frugality, including Mercedes-Benz.

Alongside the B-Class hatchback - a model not sold in the U.S. - Mercedes now offers the Canada-only C230, the new entry-level version of the C-Class, itself the starting point for Mercedes' sedans.

It joins the C300 and C350, both of which were completely redesigned for 2008.

Like those models, it's also available in either rear-wheel drive or with 4Matic all-wheel drive.

The C230 starts at $35,800, while my C230 4Matic had a starting price-tag of $39,500. That's enticing for the range, when compared with the C300's starting price of $41,000, and the $47,900 that gets you the C350 (the 4Matic models are $44,700 and $50,100, respectively). However, it might also be that Americans don't need a cheaper C-Class: there, the C300 starts at $32,425; the top-of-the-line C350, which comes only in rear-wheel drive in the U.S., starts at $1,775 less than my C230 tester.

While the C300 uses a 3.0-litre V6, and the C350 a 3.5-litre V6, the C230 breaks with the naming tradition by carrying a 2.5-litre V6 that makes 201 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque. The rear-wheel C230 comes with a six-speed manual transmission that can be optioned to the seven-speed automatic that's the only choice on the 4Matic version. I've driven a C300 with a six-speed and while it's a nice unit, the C-Class' interior is ideally set up for an automatic: the console is too tall for comfortable shifting, and all models have a foot-operated parking brake.

Naturally, premium performance comes with the premium models. The C230 lacks the snappy acceleration of the bigger V6 engines in its siblings; when you want to pass at highway speeds, there's a momentary lag when the transmission downshifts. Still, it's more than sufficient for city driving, and once it gets going on the highway, it's an absolute delight for a long-distance haul. One major drawback is that it calls for premium fuel, which isn't a very pleasant trip to the pumps these days. Officially, the C230 4Matic is rated at 11.9 L/100 km in the city and 7.9 L/100 km on the highway; overall, I achieved 11.6 L/100 km.

The seven-speed transmission is well-mated to the engine. A button on the console lets you select "Comfort", which takes off in second gear for smoother starts and for better traction on slippery roads, or "Sport", which holds the gears a bit longer.

The 4Matic system distributes torque 45/55 front to rear, and while I never had the opportunity to try it on wet or slippery pavement, it helps the C230 to power tightly and flatly around curves. The brakes are equally suited to the task, bringing the car down from speed in a short, straight line, with good pedal feel.

Overall, this is an extremely nice car to drive. When compared to BMW and Audi, I find that Mercedes feels like it has more heft to it, although it's never cumbersome: the competitors seem sportier, while Mercedes is old-money luxury. The C230 may be the least expensive C-Class, but it still has all the sumptuous feel and silky ride inherent to the brand.

The 2008 remake brings several changes to the C-Class' design: the general shape is still there, but it's smoother, and with an upswept body line that updates the car considerably. The prior twin-oval headlights are gone, replaced with backswept ones whose brows remind me of BMW.

The most noticeable styling feature is the new grille, an attractive, AMG-inspired front end with massive three-pointed star. It's a look that Mercedes is introducing gradually, since you can also get a more traditional, unadorned three-bar grille with upright hood ornament on the C230 and C300. It's part of a "Sport Package" that's a no-charge option on the C300, but you'll pay $800 to add it to the C230. The price and the package also add 17-inch alloy wheels with all-season performance tires (the C230's standard rims are 16-inch), sport suspension, AMG-style skirts and aprons, upgraded brake calipers, sport steering wheel and aluminum pedals.

The reasonable price for all of that is undoubtedly part of a grander marketing scheme tied in to the fact that this is the only model with the extra-charge package (it's standard on the C350), since my tester's Premium Package of heated seats, sunroof, power-folding mirrors and auto-dimming rearview and driver's side mirror seemed pricy at $2,200.

If the outside looks good, the inside looks even better. The previous "double dash" design is replaced with a smooth one that cascades down into the centre stack.

The standard eight-way power seats are clad in "man-made leather", which felt so good that I only discovered the cowhide was fake when I checked the specifications (as with all C-Class models, genuine leather can be added as an option). The new instrument cluster includes a needle that floats around the outside of the speedometer, with the digital information centre in the middle of it, accessed through wheel-mounted buttons.

All C-Class models now hide the display screen behind a cover on the dash; push the button to open it, and the stereo automatically comes on, and stays on when the cover is pushed back down. The C300 and C350 can be equipped with a navigation system that isn't available on the C230 (the cover opens and closes by itself when that system is ordered); the entry-level model is equipped nevertheless with the system's console-mounted control button, which is programmed here to return to previous screens.

Overall, the fit and finish is very good, with textured, soft-touch materials everywhere; the only jarring note is the plastic used on the shifter knob and the climate control dials, which feels thin and cheap. All controls are backlit, with soft lighting in the foot wells and door handles.

I like that the myriad stereo buttons only light up when the stereo is on; turn it off, and the lights go out, making the dash sleeker and reducing distraction at night.

The standard music system is an MP3-compatible single CD stereo, with an auxiliary music player input jack in the glove compartment (an upgraded Harman/Kardon system can be added); other standard features include Bluetooth integration, fog lamps, heated windshield washers, dual-zone automatic climate control, one-touch up/down express windows, cruise control and automatic headlamps. The wipers are rain-sensing, which I don't like; as with every system I've ever used, regardless of price or manufacturer, these proved unsure of themselves when a rainstorm turned to drizzle, and either didn't come on when required or scraped away on dry glass. Automakers, take note: variable intermittent wipers always do what you tell them, when you tell them, and I'm smart enough to figure out that it's raining.

Given the C-Class' footprint, rear legroom is generous; the car is comfortable in all seats. The trunk is nicely sized, with a length of 104 cm, but a folding rear seat is an option that wasn't added to my tester. Loading is simple: tap the control on the key, and the trunk lid springs up fully open and out of the way. In fact, the hardest part is finding the button, since the key's functions are all black plastic. A splash of white paint on the little pictographs would go a long way.

Marketing is a funny business. It can be very difficult for a volume manufacturer to successfully introduce a premium model (which is why the Japanese automakers spun off new, top-line brand names), but an upper-level company can do well with an entry-level model, as evidenced by the large number of B-Class hatchbacks that Mercedes has sold. The trick is to make the lower-priced models as enticing as the more expensive ones, and with the C230, Mercedes has succeeded: it may not be as powerful as its siblings, but it's every bit as comfortable. For me, it came down to whether I'd pay the price for this model, and the answer is yes, I would. From behind the wheel, this all-Canadian German machine is a winner.

- ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER


M

i find it funny with frugality, that in Australia, we start with the 200K, and skip to C280 as the top petrol line-up (top of C is the 320CDI, with 220CDI sibling)

indeed the c-class is a well priced car, and even more so when you compare the price in canada to that of australia (according to those figures in the post, can purchase 2 C350 for the price of 1 C320CDI?.. i'm just surprised, never figured out they were that cheap in US/CA)

speaking of thin crisp plastic on the two temperature dials, the window buttons also feel a bit flimsy

having mentioned that the plastic on the gear knob feels cheap, i think the non-AMG sport pack gear knob with the black on it looks less plastic-y

The majority of the C-class sales are 200k, and the C180k is the most popular for the previous generation C-class. I think the numbers just doesn't add up for MB Australia to import anything inbetween, even if they loose a few potential customers. We won't mind a C 230 if MB Australia decides to import one.

One thing I have noticed is that unlike the previous generations of C-class where most of them are just basic zero option specs C180, the owners of this generation of C-class usually load up their car with options, I have seen a few fully loaded C200k around, so I guess those people wanting something inbetween are now buying a C200k but spend their cash to fully option the car.


The plastic shifter knob never felt nice in the old C-class, I was hoping MB won't carry it over, but they did. Those climate control rotary nobs are a real let down, they do feel thin, brittle and with no weighting at all when you turn them, and they are a bit loose. The E-class has the same problem as well.

I think I am going to apply at Canadian Driver for a proper job as a photographer! Their pictures are so dull and uninspiring!

you can be both the photographer and the reviewer. Seriously do it !!! become their euro correspondent.