I shouldn't have worried. The C230 is no wussy econobox. (And Mercedes calls the 230 a sports coupe, not a hatchback, despite its sizable liftgate and rear shelf.) The C230's 1.8-liter in-line four is a DOHC, 16-valve aluminum engine that is supercharged to a decent 189 hp at 5,800 rpm. It has a lot of zip and a fast second gear in the six-speed manual shifter. Tests have pegged the car's 0-to-60-mph speed at a respectable 8-sec range. It features sporty handling and a ride quality that is surprisingly good for a small vehicle. Indeed, the C230 smoothes out bumps like a much larger vehicle but without losing the road-connected feel of a sporty coupe. It gets our nomination for the best-riding small car we have driven in recent memory.
mercedes c230 kompressor sport
mercedes c230 kompressor sport
mercedes c230 kompressor sport
mercedes c230 kompressor sport
mercedes c230 kompressor sport
There are very few bones to pick with the little Mercedes. The split fold-down rear seats are probably fine for kids and dogs but cramped for normal-sized adults. A windshield wiper would help with visibility out the hatchback in rain. Some reviewers question its $24,950 base price as being aggressive for a small sport coupe. But the C230 has been selling well probably because it gives refined features in a Mercedes package that won't break the bank.
