Mercedes-benz C 350 4matic. Operation "Edelweiss"

In winter, edelweiss in the Alps is probably something out of fairy tales. But we managed to accomplish almost the impossible: on the steep slopes of the Austrian mountains, we found a new "flower" — the all-wheel-drive C-class from Mercedes-Benz. Admittedly, I had never before opened the ski season behind the wheel, even with all-wheel drive. However, the C-class 4Matic handled both the role of a lift and the function of a "descent vehicle" perfectly. It confidently conquers the snowy serpentines of the picturesque Gurgl valley.

On the ascent, the familiar 7-speed automatic from Mercedes forcibly downshifts one or two gears, and the rear axle, which receives 55% of the torque, gets noticeably more load. As a result, on the ascent, the all-wheel-drive C-class feels an order of magnitude more responsive than on descents, where the herd of 272 "horses" is strictly controlled by auxiliary electronics. This approach seems quite reasonable: dynamics on the ascent and safety on the descent.

2008 Mercedes-benz C 350 4matic
© Photo: Mercedes-Benz

One of the key innovations in the new generation of the Mercedes all-wheel-drive system was the dual-disc clutch of the center differential. It locks the differential and limits the torque supplied to the front and rear axles to approximately 50 Nm. Thanks to this, when the wheels of one axle slip, the friction torque through the relative movement of the friction discs is automatically transferred to the slower-rotating wheels. As a result, the new Mercedes-Benz 4Matic has become noticeably more tractive and stable than its predecessor. Although, of course, the ESP update also contributed.

In the design of the all-wheel-drive C-class, the standard ESP stabilization system is supplemented by the ASR anti-slip function and the 4ETS electronic traction control system. The latter is essentially an electronic analogue of self-locking differentials: it redistributes torque and braking force if two or even three wheels hit ice. The new electronic assistant has made the all-wheel-drive C-class more predictable in handling. And together with the ASR system, it has noticeably improved acceleration dynamics on slippery surfaces. If on dry asphalt the all-wheel-drive C 350 accelerates to 100 km/h in 6.3 seconds, then on rough ice with a friction coefficient of 0.3–0.4, the Mercedes-Benz takes 9.5 seconds to reach a hundred — almost a second less than the previous generation.

2008 Mercedes-benz C 350 4matic
© Photo: Mercedes-Benz

Moreover, this works both with the stabilization system enabled and disabled. This once again proves that the ESP Off mode is quite conditional. When ESP is turned off, the car naturally becomes a bit livelier, and the threshold for electronics activation increases, but nothing more. It is no longer possible to completely remove the stabilization system from vehicle control. However, if you think about it, this is more of a plus than a minus. After all, the C-class from Mercedes-Benz, although it allows you to enjoy the drive, cannot be called a 100% extreme car. And potential buyers place much higher demands on the safety of this model than on the ability to tickle their nerves.

In total, the model range of all-wheel-drive Mercedes-Benz includes 46 models, four of which are based on the new C-class. However, only two sedans with 3- and 3.5-liter petrol engines will be presented on the Russian market. The diesel sedan and station wagon C 320 will not yet be supplied to Russia. Although the first step towards the long-awaited appearance of diesel Mercedes-Benz on our market may be taken in the near future. But for now, this only concerns the possible start of sales of German SUVs.

Driving
Slightly less sharp in handling than the regular C-class, but practically flawless in the mountains.

Interior
The familiar C-class interior, meeting the highest quality standards.

Comfort
Not too spacious in the back. Otherwise, it's hard to find fault with anything.

Safety
The electronic systems are configured so that even with ESP disabled, they won't let you cross the line of reasonable risk.

Price
Quite on par with the main competitors.

Advantages and disadvantages

+ Reasonable settings of auxiliary electronics and fuel efficiency have made the new C-class 4Matic an order of magnitude more advanced than the previous generation.

- Not too spacious trunk.

Technical specifications

Make and model - MB C 350 4MATIC
Dimensions - 4581x1770x1448 mm
Engine - petrol, 3498 cm3, 272 hp/6000 rpm
Transmission - automatic, 7-speed gearbox, all-wheel drive
Dynamics - max 250* km/h; 6.3 s to 100 km/h
Competitors - Audi A4 2.0 TFSI quattro, BMW 335xi

Our opinion

The C-class 4Matic is an image car aimed mainly at Northern European markets, so it's hard to expect record sales of all-wheel-drive C-class on a global scale. However, in our country, Scandinavia, Finland, and mountainous Austria and Switzerland, this car will undoubtedly be in demand. Moreover, in terms of sales of the C-class 4Matic with petrol engines, Russia will certainly become a leader.