The automotive business is just that — a business. Carmakers might be making transportation devices, but at the end it’s all about profits. At the moment, SUVs and crossovers are the best bet for black ink.
Still, the car business needs a certain amount of passion. And few vehicles are more emotional than a two-door coupe. They ooze a sort of wild abandon. The lack of rear doors, the crouched entry to the invariable cramped back seat, it says something about the owners. Maybe they have embraced the reality that they seldom carry more than one passenger. Maybe they’re just impractical. Or hedonistic.
All of which makes it easy to understand why Mercedes-Benz C300 Coupe buyers would skip the sedan version, if only for the feel of leaving adult responsibility in the slow lane. Then, too, one need not squint much to see contours of the S-Class Coupe in the C’s lines.
Starting at just under $44,000, the C300 is a design bargain, though undoubtedly, most will add some luxury kit.
My test car had the Premium 2 Package with a powerful Burmester audio that costs around $5,000. Add the $1,675 Sport Package with body trim and AMG floor mats and the total settled in at $59,165. That a rearview camera is a $460 extra seems rather penny-pinching for a luxury brand. But this is a business, after all.
Coupes have sporty reputations, and the C300, with its suspension lowered by about a half an inch compared with the sedan, skews that way. At $1,190, the Airmatic adjustable suspension is a no-brainer, allowing either frisky or — after a tough day at the office — relaxed dynamics.
A note to Speed Racer: The 2-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder serving up 241 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque makes the C300 sporty-ish. But drivers desiring serious OMG should move up to the AMG variants. The C43, starting at $56,425, has 50 percent more horsepower. The C63, with a base of $67,925, nearly doubles the C300. (Oh, the C400 is no more.)
For the C300, choose between rear-wheel drive or the 4Matic all-wheel drive that I tested. The transmission is a 7-speed automatic with steering wheel paddles. (Sorry, clutch lovers). Throttle response, transmission mapping and steering heft can be dialed to your liking.
It takes about six seconds to go 0 to 60 mph. Those sprints do not feel that fast; maybe it’s the refinement. The cabin is quiet, with the silky engine exuding little emotion from the exhaust note.
The C300 slices through corners without drama, with moderate feel coming through the steering wheel. The EPA’s all-wheel-drive fuel economy numbers are 23 city and 29 highway on premium fuel. Driving harder than most might, my yield was a couple of notches below that.
An automatic engine start-stop feature switches it off seamlessly at stoplights. Restart is noticeable. If that bothers you, the function can be turned off.
Stuffed with wood and purposeful aluminum garnish, the interior is a space worth lingering in. It’s my vote for cabin all-star. Seats are well bolstered for a wide variety of occupants, and the optional head-up display is appreciated.
I’m not a fan of the transmission stalk operation. But if I owned the car, I suppose I’d eventually stop confusing it with the wiper controls.
The Comand — short for Cockpit Management and Data system — user interface can be operated with a jog wheel or touchpad. Like the transmission stalk, it occasionally vexes me. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are not available.
That back seat? The front seats will motor ahead once the seat back is tilted forward, making access as genteel as possible. The space is more generous than a Cadillac ATS coupe, but less livable than a BMW 4 Series. Adults under 5-foot-9 should find it tolerable for short trips. There are belts and cup holders for two back there, but, oddly, no seat back pockets for organization.
Mercedes has plenty of SUVs for those needing cargo capacity. At least this coupe gets 40/20/40 folding seats and enough trunk room for four carry-on suitcases.
The C300’s clean, elegant lines might cause a few sedan shoppers to take the more emotional route. The pricier AMG models will attract enthusiasts and gratify Mercedes accountants. Everyone’s happy.
Only those climbing into the back might grouse.
