Best of the beasts

It’s advantage Audi from the minute the heavily pregnant clouds empty their contents onto the roads below. Surprisingly, for a car with such fierce grip and low-profile tyres, ride quality is pretty good. There’s a driver selectable option for either ‘comfort’ or ‘dynamic’ ride quality.

Like all Mercs, the new C230 puts a layer of insulation between you and the road. The ride is very comfortable; but the steering is disconcertingly light and distributes little feel and though the fundamental handling and dynamics are good, nudging serious speeds in these conditions is a bit nerve-wracking.

Then, there’s the BMW 3 Series, represented here by the 325i, which is famous for its crisp handling and sharp steering. But the 325i feels even more skittish than the Merc and constantly on the move at very high speeds.

BMW has softened the suspension after customers complained that a stint in the earlier car left them clutching their backs. Ride quality, however, is far improved.

Power punch

So which one’s got the power to excite? The Mercedes is the one with the least power on paper. It’s four valves per cylinder, 2.5 litre V6 puts out 203 bhp and that gives it more pace than the supercharged C200K. The character of the motor is in sync with the nature of the car and power even in the top-end is strong but never frenzied. In isolation, the Merc is quick, with good performance.

But not in present company. The 325i is substantially quicker. There is no surge from 3500 rpm or even at 4500 rpm, just consistent and strong shove. It never feels as fast as it actually is and you do miss that extra slug of torque and acceleration from the motor. What compensates is the way it keeps pulling harder and accelerating faster to the redline.

Still it’s not as fast as the A4 3.2 FSI. This car’s V6 has an eye-popping 265bhp. Power is available from the time you tap the throttle and the burst of acceleration is simply massive. It may not have the finesse of the BMW’s straight-six or the refinement of the Merc, but for thrills it is unmatched here. The Audi is also a half second faster than the BMW to 100 and after that the gap opens up even further.

Driver’s deal

But on a dry, smooth road it’s the BMW that has the ability to bring a mile-wide smile to your face. The steering is a bit heavy at low speed but on the open road it communicates exactly what the car is up to. The amazing grip and body control allow you to drive as hard as you want.

The Merc enjoys a good thrash-about too, and handling is spot on, the C Class displaying almost perfect balance. The light steering however feels a touch disconnected, filtering out a lot of detail that the BMW gives you. Still, this must be the most sporting Merc saloon in the current line-up.

With its prodigious four wheel-drive grip and those wide tyres, the Audi sticks to the road. Grip is massive and it can stick behind the BMW at any speed. Because of the quattro system you can be liberal with the throttle and introduce power just about at any time. However, it’s not as tactile as the BMW and the Audi still drives like the nose-heavy car that it is.

Inside story

While the A4’s interior does look attractive, there are ordinary plastic bits that don’t fit perfectly. You get the feeling it has stinted a bit on the interiors. The Merc has some cheap bits on its otherwise high quality interior too. The central console has a lot of ordinary plastic, the grain of the dash doesn’t feel special and though the controls and knobs function perfectly, an over-riding sense of quality is missing. The BMW has it. The steering wheel, centre console, dash and buttons deliver that ‘cost no object’ feel.

Final verdict

Time to choose. The Merc is a great all-rounder. But if you want to spend that extra amount on something fun and exciting, it’s down to the BMW and the Audi. The BMW is the better driver’s car. But it can’t match the thrills the A4 can deliver. The 325i is a laser-guided precision instrument, the A4 is a smoke belching chainsaw, a bit crude around the edges but a bunch of laughs — what you want.


Shapur Kotwal, The Personal Telegraph