Devon test drives a Mercedes C-class coupe (Used)

The Mercedes C-class coupe pins itself against the Audi A5 and BMW 4-series. In coupe form the C-class looks sleeker and much more aggressive. But does it have what it takes to compete with two very competitive keen rivals?

Performance: The standard 1.8-liter turbo four-cylinder producing 201hp will satisfy most buyers. But those who really want that six-cylinder experience will be much more satisfied with the 3.5-liter six-cylinder which pumps out 302hp. Top of the range AMG has a 451hp 6.3-liter eight-cylinder which is wicked fast. Pick of the range is the standard C250 which is all you’ll ever really need. Running costs are decent and the starting price is decent as well.

On the road: The C-class comes standard with a sports suspension. With the 17-inch alloy wheels on the C250 things are somewhat bearable. However things are a lot worst if you get the 18-inch alloy wheels or choose the higher trims with larger alloys. The ride is just too firm and is fidgety over anything but the smoothest of surfaces. Handling however is the tradeoff. It’s pretty good with decent body control. The steering lacks the sharpness the 4-series has. Interior quality doesn’t even feel up to par with its rivals. There’s just too much wind and road noise that enters the cabin. This is disappointing because the C-class has such a prestigious badge.

Behind the wheel: Just like the C-class sedan the C-class coupe inherits several of its annoyances. There are too many menus to scroll through with the infotainment system which can become distracting if you want to use it while on the go. Entry into the rear is easy thanks to the front seat which automatically moves forward which helps get in out the back more dignified. The slopping roofline however does hinder rearward visibility and headroom. But the boot is a decent size.

Equipment: Dual zone climate control, Attention assist, LED daytime running lamps and 17-inch alloy wheels come standard. You’ll have to step up to C350 to get 18-inch alloy wheels, eco start/stop system and heated front seats. Top of the AMG trim adds get body-kit, sports suspension with bi-xenon headlamps.

Buying & owning: The C-class is priced about average with its keen rivals from Audi and BMW. The badge really does help save resale value. Running costs will be okay if you stick with the four-cylinder or six-cylinder. The AMG trim pushes running cost and purchase price very high.

Quality & Safety: Much of the materials used in the C-class just don’t feel as classy as in the A5 or 4-series. The design is rather bland. But it does feel sturdy and long lasting. Plus on the upside many C-class owners haven’t really complained too much about it in terms of reliability. Stability control with pre-crash bracing system is standard. There’s also a special system which warns driver of fatigue. Plus there’s lane departure warning which prevents you from wandering out of your lane on the highway.

Overall: The C-class coupe is a great alternate to the Audi A5 and BMW 4-series. However don’t expect too much of a discount and you’ll have to pay for some options that you’ll find standard on the 4-series. Also the quality isn’t even up to par with Mercedes standards. Picking a C-class is clearly for those who want the Mercedes Badge. However those who know Mercedes quality will be disappointed.

Likes: C-class AMG body-kit and alloys really do make it look classy. AMG is wicked fast.

Dislikes: The C-class with AMG package may look good but isn’t great to drive and is punishing to live with. Quality isn’t up to the typical Mercedes standards.

Devon’s Choice: The C250 is the only one that makes the most sense if you are trying to walk away with the most reasonably priced C-class coupe. The C350 has more oomph while the C63 AMG is wicket fast. However both are fitted with 18-inch alloys and sport suspension combination. This makes the ride comfort punishing to live with and makes it hard for us to recommend them.

(Used) Devon leaps into luxury with a Mercedes E-Class

The BMW 5-series and Audi A6 are both great sedans. Both are fun the drive and offer distinct personalities. But what if you don't want a conventional 5-series or an A6? You can always choose the Mercedes E-class.

Performance: The E-class comes with three gasoline engines and one diesel. The E350 comes with a 3.5liter six-cylinder with 268hp. Mid-range E350 BlueTech has 3-liter turbo-diesel with 210hp. Near the top is the E550 with 5.5-liter V8 with 382hp. Top of the range E63 AMG has a hefty 6.3-liter V8 with 518hp. Pick of the bunch is the turbo-diesel. It offers plenty of torque for city and motorway speeds. While offering better fuel economy than the base six-cylinder. The V8s are loads of fun to drive, but command a premium price.

Ride & Handling: The standard sport suspension on our tester car made the ride feel firmer than usual. Although it helped a lot in terms of handling, and even made the E-class feel well balanced on curves.  We'd stick to the standard suspension. There's an air-suspension system available, but it comes at a cost.

Refinement: At highway speeds, the E-class feels at peace. There's little wind and road noise. This is a very refined machine. The turbo-diesel produces very little rattle at idle and low speeds. When revved hard, it produces a nice snarl that's not intrusive or tiresome on long journeys.

Behind the wheel: The front seats feel comfortable with plenty of adjustments for one to get comfortable. Some will find the seat doesn't go low enough. The steering adjust for reach and height, making the ideal driving position very obtainable. Many of the fucntions are controlled with a central dial, but the on-screen menus can be distracting. The foot-operated parking brake and single stalk for the indicators and wipers can be a bit annoying as well.

Space & Practicality: There's plenty of room for four adults. Adding a fifth adult will be pushing it. The transmission tunnel is bulky and makes comfort for the middleman hard to obtain. The boot is big with a square floor, but the folding rear seats are an option.

Equipment: As with most luxury cars, the standard equipment list is extensive. There's plenty of options that will custom tailor to your desire. However, the price will jump up quickly if you're not careful with the options.

Buying & Owning: The E-class is a bit pricey compared to rivals. But with strong resale value, your investsments will be protected. The E-class offers competitive fuel economy and the eco-friendly diesel engine gets a tax credit from the government.

Quality & Reliability: The cabin of the E-class is sheer luxury. Something you'd expect from the company. Everything feels well put together, and the quality is what you'd expect from Mercedes. In terms of reliability, Mercedes has improved over the years. However, all the technology equipped on most E-class models may cause worry of electrical problems.

Safety & Security: The E-class comes with loads of safety features for your money. After all, if you're paying for luxury one would expect nothing less. A driver drowsiness detector and pop up bonnet to protect pedestrians in collisions are both standard. Lane-change and blind-spot warning systems are optional, as well as a night-vision camera. There's an engine immobilizer and alarm system. However, Merceds rejects deadlocks on safety grounds.

Likes: Turbo-diesel impressive performance and fuel economy, excellent fit and finish, prestige image of owning one.

Dislikes: Not as engaging to drive as you'd think, sport suspension has a firm ride, expensive compared to rivals, on-screen menus are distracting.

It's classy, stylish and offers a prestige image for those who seek traditional German Luxury. It's all luxury and conservative feel makes its rivals feel more engaging to drive. If you want a saloon that's roomy, comfortable and offers a good blend of style and luxury. Look no further than the E-class Saloon. However, if you desire more driver entertainment we suggest looking at the 5-series.

Devon M

(Look-back review) Devon test drives Mercedes version of the Suburban

(Photo provided by Devon M)

If you ever wanted a vehicle that made you feel like king of the road, the Mercedes GL fits the bill perfectly. There's room for seven passengers, with several variants to pick from. A fuel stingy diesel, smooth eight-cylinder engines and a widly fast AMG trim. With the constant rise in gas prices, will Mercedes be able to justify a purpose for the GL? Let's find out. 

Performance: There are four engines to choose from. The standard 3-liter turbo diesel producing 240hp is quite enough for the GL considering how large and heavy the SUV is. The benefit of having an abundance of torque really helps in everyday driving. If you need the extra horsepower or desire an eight-cylinder engine the 4.6L bi-turbo eight-cylinder will satisfy most buyers. The higher the range you climb the more potent the engines become as well as the price tag.

Ride & handling: The GL feels comfortable and agile for such a large vehicle. The only time the GL feels out of its element is when you drive it around in tight urban areas The sheer size makes it a chore to drive around, but then again so are its rivals. The ride comfort is smooth and irons out bumps well without sacraficing handling, even though most won't push the GL to its handling limits.

Refinement: When it comes to refinement the GL lives up to the standards set by Mercedes. Wind and road noise are so well surpressed that it feels like you're in a luxury lined Jet. The most impressive feature is the lovely snarl from the turbo eight-cylinder engine that's emitted when pushed hard. The turbo-diesel is clatter free and operates almost as if it were a gasoline engine.

Behind the wheel: The position and visibility outwards is good. The dashboard layout is similar to that of the E-class. Everything is controlled through a touch-screen menu that can be rather distracting. Some controls are tricky to use, including the all in one single stalk that controls the wipers and indicators.

Space & Practicality: There is plenty of space for five adults, the third row can be used by two adults. But the space is rather tight and would probably benefit more for small children. The GL can manage to do the passengers and their luggage trick, even though with the rear seats down. The boot is massive and much more usable.

(Photo provided by Devon M)

Equipment: LED daytime running lamps, rear view camera and sunroof comes standard on the base trim. You'll have to step up to the mid-range trim to add sporty lower bodystyling, xenon headlamps and keyless start. Considering how the starting price of the GL certain features such as Xenon headlamps and keyless start should be standard across the range.

Buying & Owning: The GL is not a cheap SUV to buy. There are keen rivals that are slightly cheaper to buy, but running costs will be just as high as the purchasing price. The diesel engine is slightly cheaper to buy and run than the eight cylinders. The AMG tuned version is wildly fast and the gas goes just as fast. Resale value should be strong considering how strong the GL sales have been.

Quality & reliability: The GL feels very well put together, the interior quality feels sturdy and long lasting. Many of the bits and componets feel borrowed from the M-class. In terms of reliabiliy, Mercdes has been improving slowly with their products.

Safety & Security: 10 airbags are standard across the range with plenty of electronic aids to help assist in traction and braking peformance. The electronic aids include a 360-degree parking camera, collison avoidance with towing stability assist. An engine immobilizer is standard with an theft alarm, however Mercedes rejects deadlocks due to the grounds that it hinders safety efforts in a crash.

The GL is an intimidating vehicle to drive due to its sheer size. Most SUVs that are simliar size also face the same problem. The GL however is much more posh and sophisticated to drive. It's agile and quite comfortable to drive on long journeys. The only problem is the high purchase price and running costs. Some items that should be standard across the range are only optional, and at this price point it makes no sense for them to be considered options. If you like the GL and really want the badge of a Mercedes we say go for it. Otherwise there are cheaper rivals that offer the key features you'd probably want standard for way less.

Devon's Pick: The 3-liter turbo-diesel makes the most sense. Not only is it the cheapest to buy, but it has the lowest running costs compared to the eight-cylinder engines. You still have plenty of torque for towing and enough luxury features to satisfy most buyers needs. 

Likes: Agile and comfortable to drive for such a large vehicle. Luxurious interior with room for seven. Standard diesel engine is all the engine you'll ever need.

Dislikes: Purchasing price is hefty, the eight-cylinder engines rack in higher running costs. Some options should be standard across the range at this price point.