Heels & Horsepower Magazine

The new Mercedes-Benz C-Class is here and it offers a new kind of comfort

By H&H Admin

A new type of comfort zone is here to challenge the status quo. The 6th generation C-Class boasts minimalist design, luxurious comfort and innovative assistance systems. 

The new C-Class, which reaches local showrooms from December 2021, is manufactured in the Mercedes-Benz Cars plants in Bremen, Beijing and East London. 

Mark Raine, Co- CEO for Mercedes-Benz South Africa and Executive Director for Mercedes-Benz Cars South Africa says the fact that East London is one of three global manufacturing plants for the new C-Class is a ‘massive success story’ for the local industry.

Mark Raine:Co- CEO for Mercedes-Benz South Africa and Executive Director for Mercedes-Benz Cars South Africa Image: Going Places/Malaysia Airlines
Bigger, better, sleeker

“The new C-Class is a sportive incarnation of luxury. It combines dynamic proportions with reduced design lines and sculptural surfaces. I have no doubt that the new C-Class will excite current and future customers with its wide range of high-tech features derived from the flagship S-Class”, said Mark Raine, Co- CEO for Mercedes-Benz South Africa and Executive Director for Mercedes-Benz Cars South Africa. 

Considerably larger than its predecessor, with a length of 4751 mm and a width of 1820 mm, the wheelbase of the incoming C-Class has been increased by 25 mm to 2865 mm.   It features a dynamic exterior design and a sumptuous interior that borrows heavily from the flagship S-Class. 

“The new C-Class is being launched into the South Africa market initially with the C200 and C220d engine derivatives, both sporting four-cylinder units from the current modular FAME (Family of Modular Engines) Mercedes-Benz engine family,” said Selvin Govender, Director of Marketing and Sales for Mercedes-Benz Cars. 

The C200 boasts power delivery of 150kw and 300Nm of torque, while the C220d delivers 147kw and 440Nm of Torque. The C220d achieves a combined fuel consumption of 4.6l/100km and the C200 achieves a combined fuel consumption of 6.6l/100km. 

Govender added, “The C200 is also available at launch in a limited debut edition known as Edition 6, which has numerous visual accents which underlines its exclusivity. Edition 6 will be limited to 400 units. 

Technical view at a glance:

  C 200C 220 d
Displacementcc14961993
OutputkW150147
atrpm5800-61003600
Add. output (boost)kW1515
Peak torqueNm300440
atrpm1800-40001800-2800
Add. torque (boost)Nm200200
Combined fuel consumption[1]l/100 km6.6-6.24.6-4.3
Acceleration 0-100 km/hs7.37.3
Top speedkm/h246245
Total fuel consumption WLTPl/100 km7.2-6.35.2-4.4
Retail Price R849 000R908 500

At a Glance: Meet the GLB, the newest compact SUV from Mercedes-Benz

Vuyi Mpofu attended the media presentation of the new Mercedes-Benz GLB and shares a bird’s-eye-view of what the compact SUV has to offer.

The new Mercedes-Benz GLB has arrived in South Africa – and it’s aims to redefine the versatile compact SUV market. The new GLB is the first for Mercedes-Benz in the compact segment and is optionally available as a seven-seater. It is powered by completely updated four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines that offer a combination of fuel economy and performance.

The new GLB joins the Mercedes-Benz compact car family of the A-Class Hatch, A-Class Sedan, B-Class, CLA and the GLA. 

Powerful proportions with short overhangs and off-road-oriented design, standard LED headlights, as well as 4MATIC all-wheel drive in the GLB 220d make the GLB a versatile SUV and a spacious family car.

With a wheelbase of 2829 millimetres, the GLB is 10cm longer than the new B-Class. The car is 4634 millimetres long, 1834 millimetres wide and 1658 millimetres high. 

Driving assistance systems are drawn from the S-Class, with improved camera and radar systems that allow the GLB to see up to 500 metres ahead and drive in semi-automated mode in certain situations.

The MBUX infotainment system (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) offers powerful computer, brilliant screens and graphics, customisable presentation, full-colour head-up display, with optional navigation and augmented reality, learning software, and voice control activated with the prompt “Hey Mercedes”.

South Africans will be able to choose from the GLB 250 and the GLB 220 d 4MATIC at launch. Mercedes-Benz states that the GLB 250 offers a combined fuel consumption 7.4-7.1 l/100 km.

According to the German auto-maker, the two-litre diesel engine in the GLB 220d 4MATIC offers a combined fuel consumption of 5.4-5.1 l/100 km.

Seating variability in detail:

Variability Five-seater (Standard)Seven-seater (Optional)
First seat rowFolding front passenger seat (option) 
Second seat rowSeat backrest with 40:20:40 folding split  
Multi-stage seat backrest inclination adjustment  
Seat row can be moved fore and aft by 140 mm, seat with 40:60 split (option)Seat row can be moved fore and aft by 140 mm, seat with 40:60 split (standard) 
 EASY-ENTRY function 
Third seat row Two retractable bucket seats 

The two GLB models at a glance:

 GLB 250 GLB 220 d 4MATIC
Transmission 8G-DCT (automatic) 8G-DCT (automatic) 
Displacement Cc1991/L4 1950/L4 
Output kW165 140
At Rpm 55003800 
Peak torque Nm350400
atRpm1800-4000 1600-2600
Combined fuel consumption[1]l/100 km7.4-7.1 5.4-5.1 
Combined CO2 emissions[1] g/km 168 144 
Acceleration 0-100 km/h 6.9 7.6 
Top speed km/h 236 217
Image courtesy of Motorpress

 Priced from:

GLB 250 – R 831 000-00

GLB 220 d 4MATIC   R 841 000-00