Review of the new Mercedes-Benz C180 Kompressor BlueEFFICIENCY

Mercedes has made its entry-level C180 Kompressor model much for difficult to dismiss by adding a whole range of eco and cost-friendly BlueEFFICIENCY tweaks. The result is a compact executive car with impressively low running costs that's at last able to get on terms with the EfficientDynamics approach of the rival BMW 3 Series.

If, like us, you have an impression of Mercedes' C-Class as a £25,000+ car with relatively high running costs in petrol form, then a spin in the brand's C180 Kompressor BlueEFFICIENCY might come as a welcome breath of fresh air. No, scratch that, try checking it out on the balance sheet first. Lower CO2 means lower tax charges and a more affordable road fund licence, whilst improved fuel economy means the kind of running costs that leave you to wonder whether switching to diesel really is a good idea after all.

No changes here, despite the more efficient engine. Which means that the C180K retains performance sprightly enough to surprise you if you'd surmised that a 1597cc engine wasn't much to move a car of this kind of bulk. You'd think so but you'd be reckoning without the Kompressor supercharger that plumps power up to a very healthy 156bhp. This means that the C180K will zip off the line and through 60mph in an entirely respectable 9.2 seconds on the way to a top speed of 139mph.

Not too shabby indeed. With that small engine in the nose, turn-in and handling are both extremely vivid. There's no doubt that the motorway ride of this current C-Class is superb, refinement is excellent and steering response is also very good. Drive the car harder and it steps up to the plate at an acceptable level although the chassis is still a few degrees off the class best when really letting it all hang out. Mercedes play to a different script in this regard, opting for a more comfort-oriented set-up than rivals sporting roundels.

Some of this BlueEFFICIENCY model's emissions improvements have been achieved with the aid of 195/60 low rolling-resistance tyres. Smaller exterior mirrors also play their part, improving the aerodynamics of the car and featuring an LED arrow shaped indicator lens. Another advantage of the new BlueEFFICIENCY C-Class model is the efficient energy management system which only activates power-assisted steering when it is needed.

"A little thought can make a lot of difference. It has in this Mercedes.."

If you haven't tried the latest generation C-Class, you'll find it notably bigger than its predecessor, 55mm longer and 45mm wider, but in a welcome buck against current trends, the car has become lighter. Mercedes has also moved the engine down and back, improving the car's weight balance. The interior is supremely comfortable with decent storage space and it feels very well bolted together. Space inside is decent with more knee and shoulder room in the rear than before. There's even a respectable boot. As usual, both saloon and estate derivatives are available.

Old-school Mercedes-Benz enthusiasts will remember a time when equipment levels were Spartan to say the least. In the old days, you bought a Mercedes and thanked the dealer profusely if it came with a radio and rubber footwell mats. These days, things have progressed but it's still rather galling to buy Mercedes and then be expected to fork out extra for items such as parking sensors and satellite navigation which are fitted as standard to shopping hatches half the C180K's price. Of course, Mercedes will argue that this policy allows owners to specify the car exactly to their own individual tastes and that the money has been spent on the things that matter.

The C180K line up opens with the SE model, identifiable by its black grille detailing and rear boot handle strip. Then there's the luxury-oriented Elegance and the dynamic Sport. The Elegance features black dials and eucalyptus wood inserts as standard and the Sport features aluminium trim elements that rather cheapen the look of the otherwise excellent fascia. A multifunction steering wheel, ESP stability control and a multitude of airbags are standard on both models.

BlueEFFICIENCY is the name Mercedes-Benz has given to a range of measures to improve fuel economy and reduce CO2 emissions and this car does just that with weight saving measures, energy management and enhanced aerodynamics. Fuel consumption has been improved by up to 11 per cent with the manual saloon returning 44.8 mpg on the combined cycle. This can be improved further if you make good use of the fuel economy and Shift Point indicators on the dash. Both of these measures encourage the driver to monitor the effects their driving style has on fuel economy.

CO2 emissions have been reduced by an impressive 19%, with this car now emitting just 149g/km. The 18g/km reduction should make the C180 KOMPRESSOR BlueEFFICIENCY model an attractive choice for fleet managers as the CO2 improvements result in a shift from the 21 per cent tax band to the 17 per cent company car tax band. This will see savings of up to £30.90 a month and a yearly saving of £370.80 (based on 40 per cent taxpayer). Non-fleet customers also stand to benefit from the CO2 reduction as the model moves from road fund licence band E to C creating a £50.00 saving.

Those about to dismiss Mercedes' C-Class would do well to try a C180 Kompressor BlueEFFICIENCY before making a final decision. It may bear a clunker of a name but it's a very impressive and cost-effective all-round package. By the same token, if you were considering one of the C-Class diesel models but don't plan to cover a stratospheric annual mileage, one of these might well suit you much better. A little thought can make a lot of difference. It has in this Mercedes.

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