Agile wagon can carry the goods
Once they roamed the Earth, the ultimate family mover, but now the luxury market is one of the last bastions of the station wagon, such as today’s 2018 Mercedes-Benz C 300 4Matic wagon.
With the surging popularity of SUVs, the market for wagons has shrunk to only a handful of manufacturers, with the majority of them luxury brands.
It has long been said that Canadian tastes are more aligned with Europe, and the C 300 wagon is just another indication, as it is not offered south of the border. Mercedes-Benz Canada also offers the Canada-only B 250, which sits somewhere in between the definition of a small wagon and large four-door hatchback.
The C-Class is smaller in size than the E-Class, which has had a wagon option in its lineup for decades.
You can count the C 300’s competitors on one hand — the BMW 330i Touring, the Volvo V60 T5 and the Audi A4 Allroad.
With a base price of $46,000, the C 300 is the least expensive car in this group, a pleasant surprise.
Apart from a boxy rear end, there is little to differentiate the wagon from its sedan brothers — apart from its 1,510-litre cargocarrying capability, of course.
There is even an under-floor bin, complete with a stowed collapsible carrying crate for items that might roll about in the back.
The main difference is under the hood. Unlike the rest of the line, the wagon has only one engine available, a turbocharged 2.0-litre four cylinder producing 241 horsepower and 273 footpounds of torque. While it has less horsepower than the Audi A4, it is equal in torque. The manufacturer says the zero-to100 km/h dash can be accomplished in 6.1 seconds, with a top speed of 210 km/h.
The C 300 wagon is as agile and engaging to drive as the sedan, with a planted feel at all speeds. One advantage the C 300 has over a similar-sized SUV is its lower centre of gravity when tackling winding, country roads. With light traffic, the C 300 can be a delightful companion for some canyon carving.
Enthusiasts will be impressed with the rubber the wagon comes with — staggered with 225/45 R 18’s on the front and beefier 245/40 R18’s on the rear, all mounted on five-spoke AMG rims.
Credit has to be given to the ninespeed automatic transmission, which has two more gears than the Audi.
The driver can select up to five different modes, from Eco to Sport+, depending on the trip expected. The default is Comfort for everyday driving, which gives an all-round balance between performance and practicality.
Buyers choosing between a sedan and wagon should be aware the premium between the two body styles includes standard all-wheel drive, a feature not always found in the sedan.
The interior is well-appointed, with obvious attention to detail and impeccable fit and finish. My tester featured an optional open-pore wood trim that was quite attractive.
As is common these days, a seveninch infotainment screen is perched atop the centre console, while a smaller digital display is nestled between the speedometer and tachometer binnacles. The larger screen is controlled via a rotary dial and touchpad conveniently located between the seats.
The entertainment system includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but the feature I missed most was wireless phone charging, a feature fast becoming a must-have on premium offerings.
The display screen gets top marks for resolution and picture display, especially when the 360-degree cameras or back-up cameras were in use.
The camera is part of an optional Premium Plus package that adds a number of desirable features, such as the ability to open the rear hatch with your foot, illuminated door sills, rear side sunshades and active parking assist.
The $5,000 Premium Package includes a navigation system, power liftgate, LED headlights and a panoramic sunroof.
My biggest beef is that leather seats are an extra $1,990. Granted, the standard upholstery does a commendable job as the best-looking faux leather in the industry.
The driver’s seat has an adjustable thigh support for those with long femurs. The passenger seat is missing that same feature, as well as programmable memories — a cost-cutting feature?
A heated steering wheel is also a $250 option.
Despite the rush of the market to produce SUVs one after the other, it is refreshing to see Mercedes-Benz offer a worthy alternative. While SUVs have gotten better over time, they can never replicate the handling of a sports sedan (or wagon). Hats off to Mercedes-Benz Canada for bringing this little gem to our shores.
THE SPEC SHEET
Type: Luxury four-door station wagon, front engine, all-wheel-drive Engine: Turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder, 241 hp at 5,500 r.p.m., 273 lb.-ft. of torque at 1,300 to 4,000 r.p.m. Transmission: Nine-speed automatic Dimensions (mm): Length, 4,700; width, 1,810; height, 1,460; wheelbase, 2,840 Curb weight (kg): 1,705 Price (base/as tested): $46,000/ $59,460 (incl. $2,495 freight and PDI and $100 AC tax) Options: Premium package $5,000, premium plus package $2,300, metallic paint $890, heated steering wheel $250, satellite radio $475, open pore wood trim $250 Tires: 225/45 R 18 front, 245/40 R18 rear on alloy wheels Fuel type: Premium Fuel economy (L/100km): 10.7 city/ 8.0 hwy Warranty: Four years/ 80,000 km new car