Mercedes-AMG C43 First Drive Review - Eager, Fast Luxury Sedan

The C43 AMG may have lost two cylinders but it’s more powerful and looks sexy in red. But does any of that make it more fun or a better buy than before?

Mercedes-Benz has just launched the 2023 C43 AMG at Rs 98 lakh (ex-showroom). This sporty C-Class-based sedan is aimed at the BMW M340i and Audi S5 Sportback. 

The new C43’s engine has lost 2 cylinders and some displacement, but thankfully boasts a higher power output than the previous-generation model's six-cylinder unit. 

Is it worth the over Rs 1 crore asking price? What’s it like to drive? And should it feature in your garage? Let’s find out.

Looks

Differentiating the C43 AMG from the regular C-Class is the new Panamericana grill that gives the car a fierce look. On each side, there are sleek Adaptive LED headlights that can adjust the beam to avoid blinding drivers on the opposite side. And they even do a little dance when you start up the car.

The C43 AMG sits a bit lower than the standard C-Class. It rides on 19-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels, and there are sporty black side sills, giving it a cool lowered stance. You can choose from 10 different paint colours, including this Patagonia Red Bright.

Moving to the back, there are split-LED tail lamps with a detailed insignia that lights up as you lock or unlock the car. It looks pretty cool, especially at night. To complete the design changes, there are four exhaust pipes and a diffuser-like element on the bumper, giving it a sporty and athletic look.

Interior 

Inside, the new 2023 C43 AMG has the same basic dashboard design as the regular C-Class but still looks modern and luxurious. The big 11.9-inch MBUX touchscreen infotainment system and 12.3-inch digital display for the driver are similarly stunning, have clear graphics, and are easy to use. 

Since it's an AMG, there are a couple of special upgrades. First, you get sporty front seats with thick side bolstering for spirited driving. Both the touchscreen and the driver MID have AMG-specific graphics, which are great. You can control many car features using the touchscreen, and there's even an F1 sponsor-branded digital stopwatch for measuring lap times on a race track; a little gimmicky, but cool.

Then there's the unique AMG steering wheel with two spokes for steering controls. It also has two dials that let you change the car’s drive mode settings, while driving. To add to the aggressive theme, there are red seat belts, red stitching, and cool carbon fibre-like inserts on the dashboard and centre console.

The ambient lighting setup deserves a special mention. It changes colours while playing music or adjusting temperature (red for hot and blue for cold). You can choose from 64 single colours or pre-defined dual-tone colours.

Talking about quality, the top parts have soft-touch plastics, but the lower parts use hard plastics that are still good quality. Even the stalks and switches feel nice to use. However, if you explore the cabin, you might find some areas that could be better, especially the ones around the rear AC vents.

Features

When it comes to features, the C43 AMG has a lot to offer. Things like wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, dual-zone climate control, a great-sounding 15-speaker Burmester sound system, powered front seats with memory and heating, 64-colour ambient lighting, and a powered tailgate.

Safety

For safety, it's got multiple airbags, ABS with EBD, forward collision avoidance warning, front and rear parking sensors, a 360-degree parking camera, electronic stability control, and a tyre pressure monitoring system.

But considering the price, we wish it had a few more things like ventilated front seats (especially useful in our weather) and a full set of ADAS features. 

Space And Practicality 

Getting into and out of the C43 AMG might be a bit tricky because it's low, but once you're inside, it's quite comfy. The sporty front seats are good for people with wider frames, providing solid underthigh and side support. You can easily find the right driving position with the adjustable steering and seats.

In the back, there's enough room for two adults and a small kid in the middle. Even at 5’10”, I had plenty of space to stretch out behind the driver's seat. The underthigh and side support in the rear are adequate but not generous and the seat back is quite upright. There are rear AC vents, a centre armrest with cup holders, and rear sunshades for added comfort.

The front door pockets can fit a 1-litre bottle and other small items. There's storage in the centre console for your drinks and wallet, and the glove box is a decent size. The only downside is that the slim rear door pockets can't hold much.

As for the trunk, it's a nice, large space, perfect for a good amount of luggage on your weekend getaway. However, the space saver doesn't have a separate compartment below the floor, taking up some of the storage space.

Engine 

Now, let's talk about the engine, which is what AMG cars are known for. The new C43 AMG has a smaller 2-litre four-cylinder petrol engine instead of the older 3-litre six-cylinder unit. The new engine features an electronically driven turbocharger, and is the same powerplant you see in the A45 S AMG.

This four-cylinder engine has a smooth pull and feels easy to drive in the city. It shifts through gears smoothly enough and behaves like a regular C-Class when you are in comfort mode.  Passing other cars is a breeze — just step on the gas, and the gearbox shifts down, giving you power when you need it.

It’s quick too, with a claimed 0-100kmph time of just 4.7 seconds, but all this performance is up top. This means to get the most out of the engine, you have to work the gears and rev the motor, a side effect of the smaller engine. It’s exciting for sure, but it makes you work a little harder for that excitement too.

The exhaust note is louder than that of the stock car, but just loud enough for you to notice it, and it never becomes annoying. There is a loud button too, but even with this on it doesnt ever become obnoxiously loud.

Ride And Handling 

The C43 AMG’s handling is taken care of by adaptive dampers, grippy Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires, rear axle steering, and larger brakes than the standard C-Class. 

Despite the sportier suspension and low-profile tyres, the C43 AMG's ride is still comfortable in comfort mode. But this is at really slow speeds over smooth roads. At higher speeds the comfort mode feels a little too soft and there tends to be movement over undulations. Switching to sport fixes this but then you will feel the sharper bumps more. Overall it always feels like a sporty sedan that can be a little comfortable at times.

The C43 handles exceptionally well and is a lot of fun to drive. The rear axle steering means that even though this is a long sedan it turns very sharply indeed. Sporty driving is rewarding and fun with the amount of performance on tap. And when you feel like just cruising, the C43 is happy to do that too. 

Verdict 

Picking the C43 AMG is tough because there are cars out there like the BMW M340i and the Audi S5 which not only offer similar performance, but do so at a lower price point too. And even the A45 S AMG, with the same badge on the bonnet, is more exciting to drive.

But while we won't outright  recommend the C43, it gives you what a high-performance sedan should: excitement, exclusivity, luxurious interiors, and a reasonable amount of comfort. So if you're determined to have both high performance and the prestige of Mercedes-Benz' AMG luxury, and must have a great looking sedan, then the Mercedes-AMG C43 is definitely worth considering