• Interior presentation still unbeatable
• Ride comfort makes a comeback
• Mild-hybrid powertrains don't feel as quick as numbers suggest

For the longest time, the common saying in the premium segment had been “BMW for driving, Mercedes for comfort.” But in the last decade or so, that saying didn’t quite ring true. If I were to be brutally honest, the F30 BMW 3 Series wasn’t just better to drive, it was more comfortable than the W205 Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

I’ve been rather critical of the W205 C-Class, going as far as saying it was a car that put style over substance. So when this W206 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class came about, I prayed hard that it will be good or at the very least, better than its predecessor.

Also read: Launched in Malaysia: All-new (W206) 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class - From RM 288k, CBU

Is the W206 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class better than before?

To find out, I jumped at the first opportunity to be a part of the media test drive event arranged by Mercedes-Benz Malaysia for the W206 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class. The drive took us from Damansara, PJ to Desaru Coast in Johor.

For the trip to Johor, I was handed the keys to a 2022 Mercedes-Benz C200 and was told that for the trip back, it will be swapped for a C300.

How’s the W206 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class' interior?

Post-coffee, I hopped into the C200 and set off towards the east coast of Johor. Immediately, I noticed that – from memory – the steering wheel isn’t as offset to the left as the W205 C-Class. It’s still there, but I believe the majority of people will not notice it save for the most analdiscerning buyers.

Footrest is still absent and footwell is tight, though at least there is a just about sufficient space to place my left foot on the blank step.

The rest of the interior is simply mesmerizing, even more so when specified in this brown/orange leather combo. The leather covered dashboard and door cards with contrast stitching put the C-Class in its own league in terms of interior execution.

The W205 C-Class’ interior was already ahead of the competition, this W206 C-Class just blows them away. Of course, if you start to feel around the lower areas of the interior, harder and cheaper-feeling materials can be felt, but it’s par for the course in this segment. Compared to before, the interior trim pieces make fewer creaking noises when pressure is applied.

The portrait-style infotainment screen is brilliant to use as well. Perhaps I’m accustomed to MBUX and its interface, but I find that the graphics, resolution, and response are all on point. Climate control settings are always displayed and it’s incredibly easy to operate, even on the move. This is how the minimalistic approach should be done. Take note Volkswagen.

If there’s a complaint about the interior, it’s the steering wheel and its haptic controls in both the C200 and C300. The buttons are fiddly to use and directional inputs are often confused.

To skip tracks for example, right swaps on the buttons are registered and up/down inputs half of the time. It just results in a frustrating attempt to merely skip a track in the music playlist. Perhaps a larger touch area would help.

On the topic of tracks and music, audio quality is rather underwhelming. Bass is shallow, vocals sound distant, and highs lack crispness. The Burmester system in the W205 C300 wasn’t all that great either, but it’s certainly better than this. I can only hope for the CKD model to get the Burmester sound system.

Also read: Similar price, less equipment: what’s removed from the Malaysian-spec CBU 2022 W206 Mercedes-Benz C-Class

What’s it like to drive?

Being a mild-hybrid powertrain, there’s no cranking sound and the associated vibration on start-up. The engine comes to live in an almost seamless manner, courtesy of the integrated starter generator (ISG).

Refinement has been improved and it was felt in just moments after setting off. There’s a newfound (or lost-then-found) sense serenity that was absent in the W205 C-Class. The powertrain feels smoother and cabin insulation is now worthy of its premium stature.

The engine is barely audible is normal driving and there’s not even a whisper of wind buffer at our national speed limit, while tyre noise is humming far away in the background.

In terms of suspension tuning, I am pleased to report that the W206 Mercedes-Benz C-Class is now properly comfortable. And what a sigh of relief it is. Regardless of either the C200 and C300, both ride on the Agility Control Suspension and feel pretty much identical in terms of ride quality.

It’s a softly sprung setup, paired with dampers with enough slack to breathe over undulations and just enough firmness to prevent unwanted body movements. I believe this is a fantastic setup for a Mercedes-Benz. The car is able to just glide along at highways while the suspension does the work to keep the car levelled as best as it can.

In fact, this setup is even better sorted than the W205 C300’s Airmatic suspension, which gave a sense of floatiness but without the composure and control that this W206 C-Class now has. This just proves that complex setups aren’t always superior, it’s all about tuning.

Also read: Carmakers don't know how to tune suspension properly nowadays

As the majority of the route involves highways, there weren’t many opportunities to find out its handling capabilities. But there were a few fast-sweeping bends that exposed the W206 C-Class’ tendency to lean, which is expected from the supple suspension.

Steering is well-weighted and variable ratio rack feels more intuitive as the turning rate picks up, making it easier to place the car accurately in corners.

The seats, while they look good and the cushions are relatively supple by European standards, lack upper back support. I found myself constantly tweaking the recline angle and lumbar support, from the starting point to Malacca or thereabouts and eventually gave up on it. 

It may be down to individual preferences, shape, and size, but I prefer seatbacks that supports the entire back with no pressure points. Though thankfully, I got out of both trips without a backache.

The mild-hybrid powertrains may have impressive headline figures, but neither the C200 nor the C300 feel like the numbers suggest. That’s not to say they’re slow by any means, but they don’t feel as quick as the quoted power and torque figures.

A part of it may be due to the added weight over the predecessor (it weighs nearly 200 kg more than its predecessor) and the other part could be the nature of the power delivery. It picks up speed in a more progressive manner instead of a violent burst of acceleration like before.

The 9-speed transmission is the most refined it has been in a C-Class, shifting through cogs nearly as slick and seamless as BMW’s ZF. It also responds swiftly to throttle applications and drops down the gears when needed. 

However, some judder can still be provoked with erratic throttle inputs as it decides which gear to use. But it’s only when looking for it and anyone with even an ounce throttle modulation control wouldn’t experience this.

With nine forward ratios and superb cabin insulation, the C-Class feels right at home doing long highway journeys. The C300 does provide the added oomph for high-speed overtakes over the C200, so if you’re a frequent highway user, the C300 will be worth the extra money.

Any real complaints? Well, it’s the brakes. Pedal is soft and lacks any sort of feel. There’s no reaction in the initial pedal travel and when it does bite, it’s a little abrupt and makes it trickier to be smooth. It’s probably the only gripe I have in the driving experience.

Conclusion

To answer the first question, yes, the W206 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class is most definitely better than before. It’s improved in almost every way over the W205 C-Class, particularly in ride comfort and refinement.

Also read: 6 things you may not know about the Mercedes-Benz C-Class beyond its baby S-Class tag

It isn’t flawless, just like any other car. But the W206 C-Class is now properly comfortable and refined, back to how we’ve described Mercedes-Benzes in the past. It’s not just the badge anymore when it comes to the C-Class, it has ride comfort, refinement, and best-in-class interior to back it up.

Also read: Here's how much you need to earn before thinking about buying a W206 2022 Mercedes C-Class

Now the saying is true once again - BMW for driving, Mercedes for comfort. The world of compact executive sedans is back in balance.

Also read: CBU 2022 W206 Mercedes-Benz C-Class sold out, now collecting orders for CKD, coming in H2 2022