In early July, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM) launched the locally-assembled (CKD) Mercedes-Benz C200 AMG Line with a newer 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged engine.

This new engine variant replaces the 1.5-litre turbocharged EQ Boost engine with mild hybrid. With that being said, the C200 Avantgarde is no longer sold here.

However, don’t be fooled by the term ‘new engine’ because in actuality the C200 AMG Line uses the same, familiar M264 engine and 9-speed 9G-Tronic transmission as the C300 AMG Line.

The differences between the two are the horsepower (C200 – 204 PS, C300 – 258 PS), torque (C200 – 300 Nm, C300 – 370 Nm), and the price difference between the two models is RM 40,000, which is a lot.

The biggest question here is, is it worth it?

The most obvious change in the exterior is the addition of a body kit on the AMG Line which makes the C200 look similar to the C300. The only visual difference here is the headlights on the C200 are normal adaptive LEDs while the C300 uses anti-glare MultiBeam LED headlights which are more sophisticated.

But what are the other differences between the two? Well, we have summarized it all up in little points below.

The Mercedes-Benz C200 AMG Line costs RM 251,587.39 (excluding SST) comes with the following as standard:

• Adaptive LED headlights
• LED taillights
• 18-inch lightweight AMG alloys
• Audio 20 infotainment with a 10.25-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support
• 12.3-inch digital instrument panel
• Mercedes me connect
• Open-pore oak wood trims

• Partly perforated Nappa leather steering wheel with metallic surface pads
• Galvanised paddle shifters
• Man-made Artico leather upholstery
• AMG sports suspension
• AMG sports pedals
• Dynamic Select drive modes (Comfort, Sport, Eco, Custom – for engine and transmission only)
• Speedtronic cruise control (non-adaptive)

Meanwhile, the Mercedes-Benz C300 AMG Line which costs RM 293,800 (excluding SST) adds on:

• 19-inch lightweight AMG alloys
• Airmatic air suspension (active and adaptive)
• MultiBeam LED headlights (LED matrix, anti-glare)
• Open-pore ash wood trims
• Burmester audio system
• Panoramic sunroof

On the safety front, the C200 AMG Line comes standard with:

• 7 airbags
• Blind Spot Assist
• Blind-spot monitor (BSM)
• Reverse camera
• PRE-SAFE system

• KEYLESS-GO
• Adaptive Brake Lights
• Active Parking Assist (APA)
• Active Brake Assist (ABA)
• Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB)

The C300 adds on the following features:

• 360° camera
• Active lane-keeping assist

If you compare these two models, there are only a few additional features on the C300 AMG Line. The powertrain and transmission are the same but obviously the C300 is quicker. The C300 takes 5.9 seconds to 100 km/h from rest compared to the C200 with a time of 7.1 seconds.

But if you think logically, it’s not like you will be speeding across traffic every day. If you are that person, why would you be reading an article about a couple of regular C-Classes?

Even the C300 only gains a mere 2 additional safety features. Despite what praises you might have heard over its Airmatic suspension, we reviewed both the C200 and C300 and both felt more or less the same.

The ride and comfort aren’t the strong suits of the C-Class because as we explained in that article, they felt too hard.

Also, how often would you even use a panoramic sunroof especially with our humid climate? Probably rarely. Meanwhile, the standard Audio 20 system in the C200 is quite clear and crisp.

Both are equipped with LED lights at the front and the back. You could even swap out the rims since both also share the same body kit.

To sum it all up, the C200 is already well-equipped in terms of looks, style, safety, and powertrain for daily use. Which is why we think it’s better to save up that RM 40,000 than spending it on the C300.