Mercedes C-Class All-Terrain. Compact off-road estate
The Mercedes C-Class All-Terrain is an all-wheel drive estate, manufactured since 2021, based on the popular Mercedes C-Class estate. The production version of the new estate took place at the 2021 Munich Auto Show. European sales will start in autumn 2021.
The fifth generation Mercedes C-Class has finally got a cross-version based on the estate. The off-road version of the compact estate was created in about the same way as the previously released E-Class All-Terrain. The new model can boast a 4 cm higher ground clearance, a protective plastic body kit in a circle and an imitation of underbody protection, as well as a suspension adapted for driving on bad roads. The main competitors of the newcomer are the Audi A4 Allroad and the Volvo V60 Cross Country. Well, those who plan on buying a GLC SUV may consider the C-Class All-Terrain as a good alternative. The new Mercedes C-Class All-Terrain is in demand mainly in Europe, where many motorists consider full-size SUVs to be one of the symbols of overconsumption, that is, an incorrect, non-ecological lifestyle, and therefore prefer estates.
The new model can be distinguished from the ‘usual’ C-Class estate by the following characteristics:
- standard all-wheel drive with 45:55 torque distribution;
- towing hitch with optional trailer stabilization system that comes as standard;
- two new settings in the Dynamic Select, Offroad and Offroad+ driving mode selection system (for light and slightly more difficult off-road);
- off-road mode of operation of the adaptive lighting system Digital Light, which allows you to quickly see obstacles when driving over rough terrain, including when cornering;
- additional Offroad content on the screen, including compass and coordinates.
Exterior
The new Mercedes C-Class All-Terrain can be recognized by the black protective strips on the sills and arches, a slightly different radiator grille and an imitation of underbody protection. The original radiator grille is decorated with a massive horizontal bar. The entry-level off-road estate comes with front LED adaptive headlights with ‘off-road illumination’, which allows you to see obstacles when driving on rough terrain and when cornering. The options include matrix headlights (each with 1.3 million active pixels) with a special off-road mode in which they illuminate a particularly wide area (automatically turns off at speeds over 50 km/h).
The ground clearance has been increased by 40 mm to 170 mm. The front 4-link suspension has larger steering knuckles, so the chassis adapts well to road bumps. There are 225/55 R17 (standard equipment), 245/45 R18 and 245/40 R19 tires to choose from. The car is 4,755 mm long, 1,841 mm wide and 1,494 mm high, with a wheelbase of 2,865 mm. The trunk is 490-1,510 liters. The basic equipment includes a towbar that allows you to haul a trailer weighing up to 1,800 kg.
Interior
Interior fittings include a digital dashboard and media display (10.25 or 12.3 inches) that display coordinates, compass and off-road context, prompting downhill or ascent speed and steering angle. You can choose the Avantgarde interior package in black, beige and brown leather trim. Like the base estate, the new C-Class All-Terrain has a 3-section backrest (40:20:40). The seats, specially designed for the All-Terrain version, provide more comfort and better lateral support when cornering.
Engines and modifications
The 2022 C-Class All-Terrain comes standard with the 4Matic transmission, a permanent all-wheel drive with a center differential, which normally divides the input torque in a ratio of 45:55 in favor of the rear axle. Driving electronics now have additional modes: Offroad - for a regular dirt road and Offroad+ - for more relief roads. They complement Dynamic Select with the usual driving modes (Eco, Comfort, Sport, Individual). And yet, it won’t be able to conquer serious off-road. The default suspension is passive spring, with larger and more durable steering knuckles at the front.
There are two modifications of the 2021/2022 Mercedes C-Class All-Terrain on the market:
- The C200 petrol version is equipped with a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with 204 hp, while acceleration occurs in 7.5 seconds, and the top speed reaches 231 km/h.
- The C220d diesel version is equipped with a 2-liter turbocharged diesel engine with 200 hp, while acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h occurs in 7.8 seconds and the top speed reaches 231 km/h.
All engines come with a 48-volt mild hybrid EQ Boost superstructure and a 9G-Tronic automatic transmission. EQ Boost helps save fuel and boosts output shortly by 20 hp and 200 Nm. The C-Class is the first traditional Mercedes family, all models of which are either mild or full-fledged plug-in hybrids, and the All-Terrain is no exception.
