Our view: 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class

You can’t really blame Mercedes for shying away, wincing or looking down its nose when the word “hatchback” is dangerously associated with its new C230 Kompressor. Hatchback on a Benz? That’s kind of like putting a $5 frame around a Renoir, or attaching a Wal-Mart to the Waldorf.

For decades, Mercedes has prided itself on its ability to draw the creme de la creme to its creamleather seats – without slashing prices or adding more suburban add-ons. Stooping to the Corollas of the world was unheard of.

No more.

Believe it before you see it, hide the children in the back seat and hang onto your cupholders: Hatchbacks, affordable prices and – gasp! – cloth seats have made it into a Mercedes. Practicality has hit the luxury market and performance has a new style and shape. And, just in time for the recession. Maybe their timing couldn’t be better.

They won’t call it a “hatchback” – “sports coupe” is the language of preference here – but make no mistake, this is all about flip-up trunks and more economical pricing. Another thing we can call it: Cheap. Like, less than $25,000 kind of cheap. Like, less than a Chrysler Sebring or a Toyota Camry kind of cheap.

(Taking a seat at this point would be advised.)

Mercedes actually says the downsizing isn’t about money as much as it is mass marketing. It doesn’t take an engineering degree to figure out that if you introduce a new model, price it right and scale it down, young people who’ve always wanted a Benz will buy one. And another one. And another one.

Pretty soon, the 30-something C230 owner will be driving into your lot as a 50-something buyer looking for an S-Class and dropping loads of dough. It’s kind of like brainwashing your buyer with a Benz. If the C230 is any indication, it will be alarmingly effective.

As for the name, we’ll go ahead and give them the benefit of the doubt on the “sport” label, especially considering the C230 rolls in with rakish styling and standard sport suspension. We’ll also give them the benefit of having perhaps the best value for-dollar car we’ve ever driven. And that’s saying a lot.

Where the C230 scores is in performance, handling, driveability and personality.

Where it rocks is in the fact it is not just a dressed-down Benz.

Six years ago, BMW tried to lure customers to a cheaper version of its 3-Series by borrowing everything from the more expensive models. Few buyers were interested. And the entry-level luxury division is serious business. Those cars priced between $28,000 to $40,000 make up 75 percent of all luxury vehicles sold in the U.S. – with Benz holding a tiny 3.6 percent. This is their step up.

Based on the 2001 C-Class sedan (which we reviewed here last April), the C230 Kompressor shares the same wheelbase, suspension, steering and brakes as its larger, and more expensive, cousin but nothing more.

This is a completely distinct image – attractive, uniqu e and all its own. With four, rounded figure-eight Benz headlights, the front nose squats down into a low-profile stance and slowly rises up to the hatch … er, back, almost as if it’s ready to pounce. Molded in the rear, is a back end that is completely new, squared off and very European. Some might call it too radical, but that’s the appeal.

Under the skin, the C230 is tuned to perform. It comes with strut-front and multilink rear suspension that imitates the C-Class four door’s optional Sport package. Riding on 16inch performance tires (standard), the C230 delivers a flawless, composed ride with tight, responsive steering and enough control to easily make you forget you’re driving something affordable.

Under the hood, the C230 Kompressor comes with one dynamic engine choice, an improved version of its traditional 2.3-liter supercharged four-cylinder, the same engine found in the SLK roadster. You knew there was a catch. Oh, it’s only a four-banger, you say? Not just y old four. Mercedes tuned the fuel-injection and intake system to give the C230 a growl and a bite. Its low-end power amounts to 190 horsepower and 200 pound-feet of torque, or about 0 to 60 mph in about 7.5 seconds – clearly, not just an ordinary hatchback.

One thing: It loves to rev. Unfortunately, our model came with optional automatic transmission. We suspect the manual is even more of a delight.

The automatic shifts with skill and precision, but it takes some of that coupe feel away. But even in auto mode, Mercedes delivers a Triptonic shifter that allows the driver to toggle through the gears with clutchless shifting. You can’t really red-line the engine – it shifts for you at about 5,500 rpm – but it’s still a racer that loves to hear its own low-end grunt.

Inside, it’s a compromise of traditional Mercedes luxury and practicality. The faux wood has been replaced with a brushed-aluminum satin, the controls and dials lose some of that Mercedes complexity, and then there’s the addition of – dare we say? – cloth. Unlike any other Benz this side of the Atlantic, cloth comes standard in the C230. Leather is optional. Like a lot of other things. But the seats are firm, supportive and more sporty than the sedan. The rear-seat leg room area is decidedly smaller than what you’d expect, but the (foldable) bench seat is downright epic, not to mention comfortable.

So what else don’t you get for $24,900 in a Mercedes? Benz owners hide their eyes: No power-adjusted seats, no Bose stereo, navigation system or Panorama sunroof (that’s 30 percent larger than a traditional sunroof and includes a rear, fixed glass area over the back seats). Add those extras and you’ll approach $30,000.

But what you do get is Mercedes engineering, anti-lock brakes, the safety of eight airbags (including side curtain bags to prevent head injuries), traction control, tilt steering and the security of knowing you are driving one of the world’s best.

And what you do get is a whole lot of fun, for a reasonable dip in the wallet – for a Mercedes. That’s the key.

Can you find a lower-priced hatchbacks? Absolutely. Can you find a more inexpensive luxury car? Sure. Can you find a luxury division willing to dumb-down its price, revamp its look, still give you quality, style and even a little fun?

Unlikely.

2002 MERCEDES-BENZ C230

Rating: 3.5

High Gear: Mercedes delivers a whole lot of good things – safety, performance, style and swagger – in a hatchback sports coupe designed for the “average” buyer.

Low Gear: Rear-seat leg room is a little tight and standard features become optional in the base model, quickly ballooning the price if wanted.

Vehicle type: Rear-wheel-drive, front engine, two-door, four-passenger sports coupe.

Standard equipment: Six-speed manual transmission; ventilated front disc/solid rear disc brakes; ABS emergency braking assist; traction control; stability control; fr ont and rear side-mounted airbags; front and rear head airbags; remote vehicle anti-theft system; auto delay off headlamps; front fog lights; remote power door locks; power windows; power mirrors; cruise control; power, tilt steering; AM/FM stereo w/cassette.

Competition: Acura RSX, Mitsubishi Eclipse GT, Subaru Impreza WRX, Volkswagen GTI VR6

Engine: 192 horsepower, 2.3-liter inline four cylinder

Torque: 200 foot-lbs. @ 2,500 rpm

Wheelbase: 106.9 inches

Length: 171 inches

MPG rating: 19 mpg city/29 mpg highway

Manufactured: Germany

Warranty: Basic warranty is four years/50,000 miles; the drivetrain is four years/50,000 miles; body corrosion is four years/50,000 miles and roadside assistance is unlimited years/unlimited miles.

Base price: $24,950

Price as tested (including options, destination and delivery): $28,490