Mercedes-Benz C-Class All-Terrain – First Driving Test

The slope is wet and slippery and has a percentage of no less than 50 percent. But apparently that’s not enough. The ambitious Mercedes employee sitting next to me asks me to stop. As was to be expected, after we come to a stop, the car first slides down a meter and a half. And what now, Mr Mercedes? “Well, just drive away again,” he says. And it works, because thanks to 40 millimeters extra ground clearance and standard four-wheel drive, the new Mercedes C-Class All-Terrain can handle the terrain better than we expected.

The power distribution is fixed: 45 percent of the power goes to the front axle, the rest is sent to the rear axle. Two new driving programs, Offroad and Offroad+, are intended to ensure that the station wagon, which stands tall on its feet, can also operate off the beaten track. The DSR (Downhill Speed ​​Regulation) system is a downhill assist that allows a speed of up to 18 km/h. Both forwards and backwards. If you opt for the Digital Light option, you have access to special off-road lighting, which puts the area directly in front of the car in the spotlight as much as possible. And with that, you are all set to go on an adventure, even if it may be in Almere-Buiten.

Off-road information

The All-Terrain is also based on the Avantgarde equipment variant. The MBUX control system provides the driver with off-road information such as gradient and steering angle, as well as geographic coordinates and a compass. The side skirts and the wheel arch trim give it a more robust look. And we really mean appearance, because this car has, for example, ‘optical underrun protection’. In other words, it looks nice, but it doesn’t do anything. And that makes it clear that this car will mainly wear its days on the asphalt, just like the E-class in All-Terrain version that has been available since 2017. The Estate – this version is not available as a sedan – is four centimeters longer (4,755 mm) due to the gray trim and the width increases by 21 mm to 1,841 meters. In the interior nothing really changes, apart from the slightly higher seating position. The luggage compartment has, as before, a capacity of 490 to 1,510 liters, the rear seats can be folded in the ratio 40:20:40.

The Comfort suspension with passive shock absorbers and high absorption capacity makes driving on the asphalt very pleasant. The noise level is low, the quality level is high. With its trailer ESP, a maneuvering assistant and a towing weight of up to 1.8 tons, the All-Terrain is the ideal companion for people who regularly tow a horse or boat trailer. It is advisable to opt for the diesel engine, because it offers a lot of pulling power.

The All-Terrain comes with just two engines, and it will stay that way. The petrol variant, the C 200 4Matic, produces 204 hp. Thanks to the integrated starter alternator, an electrical boost of approximately 20 hp is available for a short time. It is a pleasant power source, with excellent running characteristics if you do not depress the accelerator too deeply. However, if you kick it on the tail, the 1.5-litre four-cylinder shows itself from a completely different side. Then the high weight of the All-Terrain becomes tangible. The standard automatic transmission allows the engine to run at high speeds, making the consumption figure specified by the manufacturer from 1 to 13.2 to 1 to 14.7 unachievable.

Easier

The diesel engine in the C 220d 4Matic, which produces 200 hp, performs much easier and, as mentioned, offers considerably more pulling power. This variant also does its best to recover energy and can accelerate briefly with twenty extra electric horses. With a consumption that, according to the manufacturer, is between 1 in 18 and 1 in 20, it is a lot more economical than the petrol version, and it is also more enjoyable to drive. But you have to dig a little deeper into your pocket, because the 220d has a starting price of €70,186, while the petrol variant costs at least €64,916. Mind you, then you have not yet put a single cross on the endless list of options.

You will get a car that can do more than expected, although with these types of models it is mainly about the appearance. That does not alter the fact that it is an elegantly styled tow car, which looks just a bit tougher than the regular C-class.