First Drive: 2002 Mercedes-Benz C230 Kompressor Sport Coupe
A hatchback by any other name wouldn't be a Mercedes
By Todd Lassa
Photography by the author
Mercedes-Benz' new Sport Coupe does indeed look like one when viewed from the side. Get behind it, though, and you can't miss its hatchback styling. With this all-new C-Class variant, Mercedes hopes to change Americans' perception of hatchbacks as entry-level cars-while also altering the perception of Mercedes as a brand many can't afford.
Designed to compete with the Acura RSX (Integra), BMW 3 Series Compact (not yet committed for our market), and maybe even VW's GTi VR6, the C230 Kompressor Sport Coupe mixes the feel and versatility of those sporty hatchbacks with the solidity and quality of a Mercedes-at a base price well below 30 grand.
Its 2.3L/190-hp 200 lb-ft supercharged I-4 provides sprightly performance-Mercedes conserv- atively estimates 0-60 mph in 7.5 sec. The four works best with the six-speed manual gearbox, because the optional five-speed automatic emphasizes supercharger lag. Shift throws for the six-speed feel shorter than in the SLK. Steering is like the C-Class sedan's-quick and crisp. The rear-drive Sport Coupe's suspension, identical to the C-sedan's optional Sport setup, is compliant yet serves up good cornering grip and no excess body roll. It feels quite tossable and lighter than its 3300-lb (European-spec) curb weight. At 171.1 in. in overall length, the Sport Coupe is about 7 in. shorter than a C240 sedan, but just 60 lb lighter than the U.S.-spec C240 V-6.
The coolest option-a panoramic sliding sunroof that really lets the sunshine in-adds just 44 lb. Like the '88-'91 Honda CRX, the Sport Coupe has a small strip of glass in the vertical part of its hatchlid, below the backlight, to aid parallel parking.
Will the Sport Coupe succeed as an entry-level Mercedes in the U.S.? Probably. Euro-centric buyers who like the modern, versatile style of hatchbacks will appreciate it-not to mention young buyers looking to move up to a premium nameplate. Expect a base price of about $27,000, with lots of standard equipment. A fully equipped model, with panoramic sunroof and navigation system, should sticker in the low-$30s.
Is that a screamin' deal for a Mercedes, or a lot of money for a compact hatchback? Yes.