STAYING TRADITIONAL

• Published date: 01 June 2022
• Publication title: Sowetan (Johannesburg, South Africa)

Are BMW 3-Series and Mercedes-Benz’s C-Class: still relevant

BMW 3-Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class: still relevant?

There was a time in South African motoring history when the Audi A4, BMW 3-Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class were produced locally. Now that honour is held exclusively by the three-pointed star contender.

Just a decade ago the medium-sized, premium sedan genre accounted for notable volumes among the big German three.

In 2012 Audi had updated its A4 (B8); BMW had just launched the F30 generation of the 3-Series, while a year prior, Mercedes-Benz released a refreshed version of the W204 C-Class.

Then, there were fewer representatives of the sport-utility vehicle and compact crossover genres in these respective stables.

Today, aside from the rising popularity of the SUVs and crossover formats, the traditional three-box Teutonic trio faces internal competition from a more compact, affordable saloon set: think A3 sedan, BMW 2-Series Gran Coup& xE9; and Mercedes-Benz A-Class sedan.

Mercedes-Benz recently introduced its W206 C-Class to the country. We took the opportunity to reacquaint ourselves with the segment that was a former mainstay – and arranged a showdown with the BMW G20 3-Series, credited by most as the category benchmark. We opted to leave the Audi A4 B9 behind; keeping this duel between the rear-wheel drive tools.

SPORTING APPEARANCES

The BMW cuts a spiffy profile, but seems a little demure next to the edgy W206. Maybe nowadays we have been conditioned to pay less attention to products donning kidney grilles that are normal in size.

In fairness, the manufacturer released details of the life-cycle improvement (LCI) version in the same week we conducted this comparison. There will be aesthetic and under-skin revisions – but thankfully no cartoonish grilles.

The 3-Series has always had more than an inkling of athleticism about it, right from the shark-like, lean-forward appearance of the E21.

The Mercedes-Benz on the other hand was born with sober lines: look back to the restrained, tasteful shape of its W201 190-series genesis. Even as it morphed through the years, the C-Class was a conservative looker, perhaps right up until the last W205, which we grew accustomed to seeing most in AMG Line regalia.

With the former car, buyers were still able to have the classical hood ornament and slatted grille. That is no longer the case in the W206, which is a full-on stylistic rebel.

Its scowling mouth and furrowing gaze are anything but friendly or...