2001 Mercedes-Benz C320 Sport

When the original C-Class arrived in 1994, it heralded the start of an entirely new era in the history of Mercedes-Benz. Stunned by the meteoric rise in popularity of Japanese "second-channel" luxury offerings, the German automaker embarked upon a new course of action that placed as much emphasis on perceived value as it did on prestige and safety. Replacement for the entry-level 190 line, the seminal C-Class was a showcase for this radical—for Mercedes—line of thinking. Quite simply, it delivered more for less—the biggest "less" being a base price below $30,000. Buyer response was predictable; first-year sales shot up by more than 60 percent compared to the outgoing 190. With the introduction of the 2001 C-Class sedan, history appears ready to repeat itself.

Wind-cheating bodywork boasts a 0.27 Cd number. Front/rear fascia tweaks and side sill extensions indicate a Sport-spec model.

Initially available in two model designations, both equipped with standard V-6 engines, this completely redesigned platform expands on M-B's now firmly established more-for-less philosophy. It offers more power, more room, more safety and more sophistication than the vehicle it replaces while maintaining a sub-$30K base sticker. At $29,950, the C240 qualifies as a screaming bargain in the world of entry lux motoring. Opening at $36,950 and able to touch the mid-$40K range fully loaded, the more powerful and opulently appointed C320 might not exactly qualify for the same kind of super saver status. But it does one seriously impressive job of getting you from point A to point B, particularly when bolstered by the Sport Package, as was our C320 tester.


Borrowing key styling cues from its E-Class and S-Class lines, Mercedes designers imparted a new level of refinement to the 2001 C-Class sedan. Replacing the formerly squarish, angular look is elegantly flowing sheetmetal that gives this reborn four-door a distinctly coupe-like flair. It's also the major reason behind the car's class-leading 0.27 coefficient of drag. That attention to aero detailing not only improves fuel economy at cruising speeds, it helps keep wind noise at whisper-quiet levels well into triple-digit velocities.

Restyled interior has a more upscale look and feel. New instrument cluster and improved overall ergonomics add to the enhanced ambiance.

Properly complementing its recast exterior is a comprehensive interior makeover that further reinforces the C-Class' more upwardly mobile status in life. Judicious juggling of proportions coupled with one additional inch of wheelbase yield a touch more head and leg room in both front and rear quarters. The dash and center console also have been redone and house a new array of highly legible instruments and well-positioned switchgear. Real leather, real wood and a really long list of standard comfort and convenience features abound in both the C240 and C320, highlighted by items like power windows/lock/mirrors, keyless remote with anti-theft, trip computer, and redundant controls in the steering wheel. However, the senior partner does turn things up a couple of notches when it comes to pure hedonism. For instance, the baseline dual-zone climate control air conditioning goes digital and adds a smog-sensing filtration feature on the C320; the tilt/telescoping steering column ratchets up from manual to power activation; and the front buckets go from partial to full power while adding a memory function. Stepping up to the C320 also brings a Bose 10-speaker premium sound system.


Safety was an equally paramount concern in developing the new C-Class, which one-ups its admittedly impressive predecessor on several significant fronts. In addition to an even more crash-resistant/energy-dissipating basic structure, the airbag count rises from four (front and front-side) to eight (front, front-side, rear-side and side head curtains), all supported by "smart" deployment hardware and software. For 2001, the Tele-Aid emergency response and services package moves from extra-cost to standard feature and can be integrated with the optional COMAND (COckpit MANagement and Data) GPS navigation and information system.