The new Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate is a car Liana Reiners would choose if she won the lotto. Read all about her road test of this luxury stationwagon.

A tale of two Mercedes lovers

My husband and I don’t agree on many things. He likes heavy metal music, I like music where you can actually hear and understand the lyrics. He likes whiskey, I think it tastes like cough medicine. He squeezes the toothpaste tube from the bottom, I squeeze it in the middle. The list goes on.

Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate is a winner

Price: From R306 000 To R738 000 Article Options Email to Friend Print Article Remove from Favorites Add to Favorites Remove from 'Articles to Read' Add to 'Articles to Read'

But before you start wondering why we ever got married if we have so little in common, I have to say that there are certain things we agree on. One of these is that we both love Mercs. In fact, if we ever won the lotto, we agree that our first automotive purchase would be something from the Merc stable. And after I had the opportunity to drive the new C-Class Estate, this newcomer now features vey high up on our list of possibilities.

A Mercedes that is also the ultimate mom's taxi

Is the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate the ultimate mom’s taxi? Probably. It’s spacious, safe, comfortable and remarkably agile. And of course its station wagon configuration also makes it very versatile.

In terms of safety, the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate sets the standard with innovations the likes of PRE-SAFE and the optional intelligent light system. Other standard specifications include seven airbags, belt tensioners and belt force limiters, as well as crash-responsive NECK-PRO head restraints.

There is a choice of three specification levels available: Classic, Elegance and Avantgarde.

The Avantgarde line features a large Mercedes star positioned in the centre of the radiator grille that emphasises its sporty, agile nature. In Elegance guise, a three-dimensional, louvred radiator grille with a high-gloss paint finish accentuates other brand-typical attributes such as standard comfort and luxury. And finally, the Classic is stylish and traditional and raises the bar for an entry level model.

This C-Class Estate has more space than its rivals 

But let’s talk some more about the Estate’s spaciousness and versatility. Compared to its predecessor, the rear of the new estate is slanted far more steeply, a crucial factor for enlarging the vehicle's load volume. This now varies between 485 and 1500 litres, depending on the position of the 1/3 : 2/3 split-folding rear seat. This is more than any of the model's rivals in this class of premium estate car are able to offer.

This makes the estate a thoroughly practical vehicle in every respect. It is able to accommodate, for example, four golf bags including trolleys. And if the need should ever arise, you can fit a front loading washing machine in the back, packaging and all.

Thanks to a host of practical details, the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate can be loaded more easily, more conveniently and more safely. For instance, two bag hooks and four rings for anchoring loads are included in the load compartment as standard.

New C-Class Estate has more power and torque too 

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate line-up boasts a range of brand new or redeveloped engines under the bonnet, all offering greater power and torque. The four-cylinder power units include  the C180 KOMPRESSOR and C200 KOMPRESSOR. For the six-cylinder engine range, there is a choice of two petrol units developing 170 kW and 200 kW and the new C320 CDI with an output of 165 kW. The C180 KOMPRESSOR and C200 KOMPRESSOR estate engine variants are coupled to a six-speed manual transmission as standard. The C280, C320 CDI and the C350 estates are partnered by the so-called 7G-TRONIC seven-speed automatic transmission.

One of the main strengths of the new C-Class is its agility and comfort. This can mostly be attributed to the standard-fit AGILITY CONTROL package. This features shock absorbers which automatically adapt to the current driving situation for a noticeable improvement in ride comfort when driving normally. But as soon as a more dynamic driving style is adopted, the maximum damping forces are set to stabilise the estate effectively.

A safety system that gives it the edge

The anticipatory occupant protection system PRE-SAFE® gives the new estate the edge over other models in this segment. This standard system makes use of the time before an imminent accident to prepare the vehicle and its occupants for a collision. The result is a considerable reduction in the loads exerted on the passengers upon impact. Inside, the attractively styled dashboard, the high-class materials and appealing colour schemes create a homely atmosphere. On CLASSIC and ELEGANCE models, the customer's selected appointments colour is used for both the carpeting and the side trim. On the AVANTGARDE line, the rear compartment is carpeted in black too. Newly developed seats, as well as a powerful air conditioning system add to the estate's excellent comfort on long journeys.

With winter on its way, it’s good to know that the new estate from Mercedes-Benz is the first model in this class to offer individually adjustable three-zone climate control as standard on the C280, C320 CDI, C350 and C63 AMG models. 

Features a built-in navigation system and telephone

What else is worth a mention? Well, the colour display in the centre of the dashboard is linked up to the controller on the tunnel console. This is where the driver can operate the audio and navigation systems or the telephone. A clear menu control structure makes it simple to access all of these functions and more besides. Alternatively, there are the direct selection keys in the centre console: the car radio, CD/ DVD player, navigation system or telephone can be switched on at the push of a button.

The new C-Class Estate will be available at Mercedes-Benz sales and service dealerships from May 2008 and prices range from R306 000 for the C180 K Classic Estate, to R738 000 for the C63 AMG Estate. The MobiloDrive 120 maintenance contract is available as standard.