The New Mercedes-Benz C-Class... has grown up.

Here is the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class, the true entry-level Mercedes. (I don't count the B-Class, c'mon, have you SEEN one??!). It used to be such a cheap car in what it offered, size and performance wise. I'm not trying to insult the C-crowd, one of my colleagues owns one of the very first C-class Benzes. But it wasn't so much of a 'Benz' back then as it is now. Look at the pics above, you can see how the C-class evolved.

It started after M-B dropped the numerical monikers. Remember the 420 SEL; the 300E; the 190E and so on. The 190 was such an embarrassment to M-B, it was said that it wasn't a real Benz. But it did teach M-B that they needed something in the lower pay-scales. They couldn't survive on just selling the big Embassy vehicles. In order to build a loyal fan base, you needed to get the customers interested in your products when they were young and had money. But what 24 year old is going to buy the big long-wheelbase SEL? Enter the new entry-level C-class and the new classing system.

Although a Civic-sized car, it was still a German car, rear-wheel drive, front-engined, independent A-arms suspension, it did a good job of being a mini-Benz. But it wasn't quite 'there' yet. The styling was bland, looking more like a miniature version of the E300, (which was of course, renamed the E-class). And then in the second generation, the styling was far more refined and unique, although it was still a miniaturized copy of the very successful E-class, most notably the twinned oval headlights.

An AMG version was later released as the C32 and then the C55 which housed a robust 5.5 liter V8. Putting such a huge engine in such a small car led to some entertaining blogs, I'm sure. I've never had the pleasure of driving any of these AMG Benzes but I'm sure they'd put a smile on my face. But it was still a subtle, though stylish small car.

Also available was a very successful and popular C230 Kompressor (turbo in German) hatchback. With a short-wheelbase and tinted glass hatchback, this small car was probably its most popular version. Perfect for the up and coming rich 20 year old IT professional with no children and seriously disposable income.

Enter the newer version. Growing in length considerably and taking styling cues from the late 80s models such as the SEL 1000 (very rare) and the AMG body add-ons, which I will admit, the Germans know how to add skirts and air-dams very stylishly. Now the C-class looks like a serious performer. But that's the problem.

Available now in two significantly different body styles and three engine choices, (excluding the AMG engines), the C-class has 'grown up'. Available now is the 'Classic'-themed model with the more subtle and E-class inspired Mercedes styling. And then there`s the more popular AMG-themed models. Available with the 2.3 liter four-cylinder (C230); the 3 liter V6 (C300) or the more popular 3.5 liter V6 (C350), all models now available with M-B`s `4Matic`all-wheel drive system. I was told that after last winter`s record snow fall in Ottawa, their orders for 4matic-equipped more than tripled, they can`t keep up with the demand. Harder to find now is the rear-wheel drive-only models.

And now comes the part where I tell you how fun it was to drive one of these. I must the C350 in that Arctic White with the panorama roof is just a head-turner! It looks fantastic and like one seriously fast and entertaining car. Sadly, it`s in the looks only.

Unable to get my hands on a rear-wheel drive C350, I took what was available, a C350 4matic. Not being particularly fond of all-wheel-drive cars for `fun driving, (not all, it`s just that some are bland as heck), I didn`t have a choice. However, as the day that I took one out was raining heavily, I thought okay, perhaps the M-B AWD system may offer more fun-to-drive cred compared to other all-wheel-drive cars I`ve driven.

Well, unfortunately it didn`t. Add to that the fact that when it rains in Ottawa, it`s as if all drivers are suddenly struck with what I call `Vancouver syndrome`. By that I mean all drivers suddenly drive as if they have NO experience driving in the rain much like drivers from Vancouver would react to driving in snow! They drive either incredibly slow to the point of absurdity or with absolutely no understanding of the physics of driving in the snow!

On this day when I drove the C350, traffic was crawling. So I couldn't 'open 'er up'. But I can tell you this: it was one of the most neutral cars I've ever driven. In the few times I got the speed over 70kph, I could not tell what the wheels were doing. In spirited driving, you NEED to 'feel' or some other way understand what's going on underneath you where the car makes contact with the tarmac. You and the car need to communicate in order for you to get the most out of the driving experience.
It couldn't have been communicating any less with me then if it had been using an Enigma coding machine!

Now I'm sure that the 4matic system performs its traction duties perfectly for snow-laden streets. But for any spirited driving, if you can afford the C62 (6.2 liter V8), go ahead, get one. It's only available in rear-wheel drive. In a comparison test in Spain, Top Gear compared it to the BMW M3 and the Audi S4. The Benz came in second out of the three. Perhaps that shouldn't matter. After all, how much fun would it be to drive a car that's slightly larger than a Civic but is hiding 400+ horsepower under its hood?!

But as muscled as the car looks, the lower models just 'look' faster than they are. The interiors were bland and dull too. Too much of the same color inside and frankly, not much going on inside. There was too much plastic that LOOKED plastic. There was a cheap-looking cubby above the center-console in which the available navigation system is hidden. Frankly, for the near-50K this car costs, the Nav system should be larger, should not "pop-out" of a small alcove atop the console. It should be visible at all times and integrated into the console re the Lexus IS350 / IS-F.

Sadly, this car 'looks' like it's more fun than it actually is. But frankly, how many of us can go out and buy a car just because it's fun? Not too many. And as any drive down the city streets may show you, that's not hampering sales of M-B's baby-Benz.