Mercedes AMG in Singapore: Does it Deliver on its Promise? Find Out

AMG, the Mercedes-Benz performance division, has built its reputation by squeezing ever larger engines into Mercedes-Benz cars. With increasing environmental regulations those days are coming to an end, and the new Mercedes-AMG C 43 4MATIC+ is an indication of AMG’s new direction. Can replacing the old twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 with a more powerful and high-tech 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine deliver on the AMG promise?

What is the Singapore Mercedes-AMG C 43 4MATIC+?

AMG takes the excellent W206 Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan and adds the engine from the frenetic A45 hatchback, an AWD system, and some other AMG goodies to turn it into a sporty executive express.

The engine is a 1,991cc four-cylinder with a high-tech turbocharger that – like all turbochargers – runs on exhaust gasses, but has an electric motor added. This should help avoid ‘turbo lag’, which is a lack of performance when there isn’t sufficient exhaust gas to spin the turbocharger.

For a 2.0-litre engine to produce 300kW (402hp) and 500Nm of torque is impressive, and it is actually more powerful – but slightly less torque – than the twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 it replaces. There is even a plaque on the engine with the name of the person who assembled it.

Power is fed through a 9G-TRONIC transmission to all four wheels.

Mercedes-AMG claims a 0-100km/h sprint time of 4.6 seconds, which is quick in anyone’s books.

Styling is smart, building on the sleek lines of the standard C-Class, but with touches like quad tailpipes, a rear diffuser, a subtle boot lid spoiler, wider grille, and lower front spoiler.

How does the Mercedes drive in Singapore?

Replacing a powerful but relatively relaxed engine with a smaller more frenetic unit is bound to have an effect, and this is our main complaint with the Mercedes-AMG C 43 4MATIC+.

An executive express like this should be comfortable and refined in urban driving, but able to surprise with its performance when pressing-on.

The proverbial Jekyll and Hyde.

The C43 plays the Hyde role as expected but can’t quite manage the more civilized Jekyll part.

The engine is fine when you’re pushing-on, but just never feels relaxed. It is not helped by the transmission, which is jerky, particularly at urban speeds.

The adaptable suspension is either too much Jekyll or Hyde. It’s too soft in comfort mode, with a lot of vertical body motion over bumps, and too brittle in sport, though on smoother Singapore roads that might be less of an issue.

What the C43 does really well is grip the road. And thanks to the all-wheel-drive system (split 69 percent rear and 31 percent front), the all-wheel-steering system, and lower weight over the front axle, it changes direction enthusiastically.

Mercedes-AMG claims 4.6 seconds for the 0-100km/h sprint, and we recorded 4.65 seconds. It’s definitely quick, but doesn’t feel that quick in reality, especially compared with the competition.

And it feels sluggish around town. In part this is the transmission response, but in part because the maximum torque is at 5,000rpm, where the old car peaked with more torque at a more sedate 2,000-4,000rpm.

There is a 48V mild hybrid system that fills in the gaps somewhat. But according to the old drag-racing aphorism: there’s no replacement for displacement. A smaller, more highly-strung engine was always going to involve some compromise.

What is the Mercedes’ cabin like?

We love the layout. The main central touchscreen loses the old rotary knob, but the new touchscreen is excellent. Key functions are at your fingertips, and not hidden under layers of menus, and the whole thing is easy to use.

There is a 12-inch digital instrument cluster for the driver. Controls for this are on the steering wheel and are quite small. Even if you have good eyesight you may struggle to identify the control you want.

There are two rotary dial switches on the steering wheel that are quite good though. You can set them to control frequently used functions like sport settings, loud exhaust, or to disable the engine stop/start function. The metal paddles for gear shifting have a good feel too.

Surprisingly, the C43 comes with standard C-Class seats. For a car with sportier ambitions this seems like an oversight. They’re quite wide and don’t have adjustable side bolsters, which means you can move around in them a bit when cornering quickly. There is the choice of more supportive AMG seats, but this is a whopping S$32,000 option.

The standard leather dash and Nappa leather steering wheel are lovely, and if you really want to upgrade things, full AMG Nappa leather is available, starting at a much more reasonable S$4,500.

The rear seat space is an improvement over the last car, offering quite good legroom and headroom. Probably the centre seat is not ideal for an adult over long distances with its higher position and transmission tunnel.

The boot space is reasonable at 455 litres and the rear seats fold for extra space.

Conclusion

Overall, it would be a stretch to claim the Mercedes-AMG C 43 4MATIC+ is AMG’s best work. The ride quality, transmission smoothness, engine response, and the weird piped-in engine noise let the whole thing down somewhat. Still, it is quick, the brakes are good, and the handling has improved, thanks to the lower weight. Add to this the nice styling and that coveted Mercedes-AMG badge, and we suspect it will still find homes in Singapore, despite its flaws.

Test Drive: The Mercedes-AMG C 43 4MATIC+ 

The video is produced by Chasing Cars, partner of our sister company Budget Direct Australia. Some features or options in the car build may not be applicable to the Singapore market (including the availability of car parts). Note that all prices quoted in the video are in AUD. Remember to check with your local dealer for details.   

Written by motoring journalist, Tony Tan  

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