[ecaedus]

Just stumbled on a review from R&T on the new C400 4matic.

http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-revi...nz-c400-4matic

The part on the interior really got me thinking, is it THAT good?

And then you open the door. Close your eyes and picture the most expensive luxury car you’ve ever been in. Then shrink it in size but not substance. That is the 2015 C-Class. Every element of its cabin is a piece of modern art.

We’ll let the photos do the talking here, but when you sit in the new C, whether up front or in back, you’re sitting in the nicest cabin in this class. The still-pretty A4 has nothing on this; the 3 Series’s best materials can’t compare to the worst in this car. Wow.

I haven't sat in the new C yet but i've driven a 328i loaner from the dealership i thought it was roughly the same interior wise with my car. materials used above "testie heights" was soft-touch but nothing too special.

my friend has the current gen C300 and i must say his interior is actually not that "luxurious" at all, especially around the shifter and the dash, lots and lots of hard plastic. the reviewer seems to be making a pretty big fuss about the C class interior, what do you guys think?

[DrivenByE30]

I thnk it is true...not the first time anyone has made the same comments on the c400... dont have the source but yeah... i believe it ..

Time for bmw to step their game for the next gen 3.

Too late for the F30 to compete this time around... i have always thought the c class and 190 have the advantage of a superior car due to the fact that MB always releases their model after BM reveals a new 3 series model...

Industry competition strategy...

[auf Deutsch]

As an enthusiast, the quality of interior materials and luxury items is not high on my list. Rather, tactile items, things you constantly have contact with such as steering wheel, seats, shifter(s) as well as seating position are imperative for a positive driving experience. My 4 has these. My old C doesn't. Now I'm sure the C400 is better I that regard but is it a true driver's car?

[dL.]

Not surprising. Pretty much any car (especially in the same class) has better fit and finish and quality of materials than ours. Pretty much bang on with "best material vs worst material". The best material on this car matches some of the MY14 Mazda3's material, and the latter is half the price.

The new C interior certainly looks luxurious, but can it match the F30's driving dynamic and feel? Seeing how the shifter became a minivan-styled windshield wiper stick already concerns me.

In an ideal world, I hope to get a car with BMW driving dynamics, MB luxurious quality, and Audi's fit and finish.

dL

[drob23]

Sat in the car at the Detroit auto show, it was certainly nice, but not OMG NICEST INTERIOR EVAR!!! I'm not really much of a MB fan, don't like the exterior at all.

[Sherhart]

It is definitely a nice looking car. I am not usually a fan of Mercedes conservative styling, but they did a nice job on this one.

Interesting that they raved about the interior and then show only one picture. The materials definitely look nice, but I have trouble getting past that nav screen. The way it is just sitting there makes it look cheesy aftermarket to me.

The comments at the end about drivetrain issues would be a real turn off for most of the 3er crowd that still places value on an engaged driving experience.

Jimbo

[DrivenByE30]

Originally Posted by Sherhart

It is definitely a nice looking car. I am not usually a fan of Mercedes conservative styling, but they did a nice job on this one.

Interesting that they raved about the interior and then show only one picture. The materials definitely look nice, but I have trouble getting past that nav screen. The way it is just sitting there makes it look cheesy aftermarket to me.

The comments at the end about drivetrain issues would be a real turn off for most of the 3er crowd that still places value on an engaged driving experience.

Jimbo

True, i agree with you on all account.

That nav screen is just awkward. And people were shouting louder in this regard when the F30 came out.
The best nav screen integratiin is on the 2015 A3 sedan.

The c class seems to be chasing once again the old, conservative crowd, and trying to steal the lexus driver away.
mB has openly admitted with this Cclass, they are not mimicqing the 3.

[Tommy_hf]

The font used on the new C-class infortainment is just hideous, it reminds me of playstation. I like the business style of the NBT much much more. And interior wise, it's all down to taste. I don't want a bling interior with round vents everywhere and the starship Enterprise as a controller. Keep it simple, it's car. The best feature of the new C is that it's back to where Mercedes has Always been good at, ride comfort. So back to old folks and taxi's. :-)

[metrathon]

All magazines that sampled the C say the same thing about the interior: amazing.

[fecurtis]

With the exception of the nav screen placement and treatment, the interior does look top of it's class.

Hell it looks better than the E-Class interior. Hope it's ergonomically sound and the infotainment system is up to par. Audi and BMW have the best in the business IMO.

[drob23]

The best thing about the c class is merc is finally delivering in the powertrain dept. The c400 should be a beast and force the others to up their game if they want to remain ahead. The n55 is essentially a cheaper n54 (one turbo is cheaper than 2), which has been out since 2007. The vw group 3.0T is based on the n/a 3.2, and actually has less tech (no cam phasing on exhaust valves or variable lift that the 2.0T has). The crown is going to go to either gm with the 3.6TT (hopefully going in ats-v) or the 3.6TT in the new Macan.

[Dr.HiTcH]

Originally Posted by drob23

The best thing about the c class is merc is finally delivering in the powertrain dept. The c400 should be a beast and force the others to up their game if they want to remain ahead. The n55 is essentially a cheaper n54 (one turbo is cheaper than 2), which has been out since 2007. The vw group 3.0T is based on the n/a 3.2, and actually has less tech (no cam phasing on exhaust valves or variable lift that the 2.0T has). The crown is going to go to either gm with the 3.6TT (hopefully going in ats-v) or the 3.6TT in the new Macan.

Totally agree with you

[Falafel Combo]

Originally Posted by auf Deutsche

As an enthusiast, the quality of interior materials and luxury items is not high on my list. Rather, tactile items, things you constantly have contact with such as steering wheel, seats, shifter(s) as well as seating position are imperative for a positive driving experience. My 4 has these. My old C doesn't. Now I'm sure the C400 is better I that regard but is it a true driver's car?

+1

[tturedraider]

Originally Posted by ecaedus

Just stumbled on a review from R&T on the new C400 4matic.

http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-revi...nz-c400-4matic

The part on the interior really got me thinking, is it THAT good?



I haven't sat in the new C yet but i've driven a 328i loaner from the dealership i thought it was roughly the same interior wise with my car. materials used above "testie heights" was soft-touch but nothing too special.

my friend has the current gen C300 and i must say his interior is actually not that "luxurious" at all, especially around the shifter and the dash, lots and lots of hard plastic. the reviewer seems to be making a pretty big fuss about the C class interior, what do you guys think?

I have spent a fair amount of time in the new C Class at the Detroit auto show and yes, it is true. Which may be a good thing or may not be such a good thing.

Merc has turned the new C into a mini S Class. After sitting in the new C I went so far as to say that Merc has made it so that it no longer competes with the 3er. It is now a full on luxury sedan. Period. I don't want a luxury sedan. I want a well done sport sedan. If BMW did to the 3er what Merc has done to the C I would be royally pissed. Whatever smattering of youthful, vibrance the C Class had is now completely gone. It is now a car for women and soft, middle aged men who think of themselves as older than they are.

Whatever pretense of sportiness Merc may try to fool people into believing can be had with this new C is just that - pretense. There's no more sporty there.

[Tacoma]

Originally Posted by auf Deutsche

As an enthusiast, the quality of interior materials and luxury items is not high on my list. Rather, tactile items, things you constantly have contact with such as steering wheel, seats, shifter(s) as well as seating position are imperative for a positive driving experience. My 4 has these. My old C doesn't. Now I'm sure the C400 is better I that regard but is it a true driver's car?

As an enthusiast, I would agree with you about the E9x and before compared to W204 and before, but not so sure about the F3x vs. W205.

The W205 hasn't been tested yet and given that the F3x has lowered the bar (i.e., gotten softer) in terms of being the ultimate driving machine, I would not be surprised if the MB comes closer then ever before. Yes, it looks more luxurious but until we see some tests in the coming months, I wouldn't give the F3x the win just yet. After all, it's already lost due to poorer driving dynamics against the new IS and ATS in previous comparison tests. BMW's used to be unbeatable. But no more.

[300hp]

The more powerful and heavier C400 is a different story. First of all, the C400 comes standard with all-wheel drive. Couple that to the heavier V-6 powerplant and it’s obvious that the C400’s weight balance is much more nose-heavy than the C250/C300. The handling wasn’t as crisp. The ride was both more wallowing and clunkier than the C250, and the shifts were more sluggish. Still, with four adult, American males inside, everyone was comfortable and you had to stop and look for peccadillos. Despite what some Mercedes engineers later told us, I’m not convinced the particular C400 I drove was a finished product. The transmission could use a remap and the suspension could use a retune, and a few of the early-build gremlins need to be ironed out -- a trunk that doesn’t always close, errant rear seatbelt warnings and air conditioning that refused to blow cold. But don’t make mountains out of molehills. The 2015 C-Class doesn’t go on sale until September and that gives Mercedes plenty of time to make them correctly. .

Read more: http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...#ixzz2wkRDFK5K

[Tommy_hf]

Has anyone wondered how the C-class interior will look in less than top spec trim?

[Bluelondon]

In order of importance when I decided to get the 4; Feel and drive, then the looks of the car, and lastly the interior.

Having said that, the 2014 interiors with touchpad idrive are pretty sexy if you ask me. Especially at night when everything turns orange with the ring around the idrove knob. Ooo baby.

[f30er]

"When the corners came, it pulled sports-car grip numbers, but it leaned toward the outside like a whore in a packed church." (Referring to old 190E)

Yup, definitely a great read!!!

[Bahn360Photo]

saw new c class in person and was not impressed, kind of went bad to the previous generation round and girly look
inside that bmw screen tablet knockoff is a disaster

[Blubaron79]

Originally Posted by DrivenByE30

True, i agree with you on all account.

That nav screen is just awkward. And people were shouting louder in this regard when the F30 came out.
The best nav screen integratiin is on the 2015 A3 sedan.

The c class seems to be chasing once again the old, conservative crowd, and trying to steal the lexus driver away.
mB has openly admitted with this Cclass, they are not mimicqing the 3.

I sat in an S3 at the DC car show. The interior looked like the interior of a Pontiac Bonneville. So cheap looking..

[Jit_340i]

Try to spec one online. The interior you see in the pics costs a lot of money. Leather is not even standard! If one puts the equivalent individual interior on a 3 - it looks more mordern and has much better ergonomics.