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Follow-Up Test: 2002 Mercedes-Benz C320 Sport Wagon
Getting Back On the Wagon
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By Liz Kim
Date posted: 12-14-2001
Remember the station wagons of yesteryear? Everyone seems to have fond childhood memories of sing-alongs in wagons crammed full of kids sitting cross-legged in the rear, of cozy family road trips with luggage and camping gear packed so tightly in the cargo area that the rearview mirror became a moot accessory.
Of course only reprobates ride in cars without being properly secured by a seatbelt nowadays. But all those kids have grown up, have discretionary income to spare and a need to relive their Proustian youth. With environmental and social concerns eroding the popularity of sport-utes, wagons seem to be making a comeback. But station wagons still have the stigma of being big, lumbering and ugly. That won't do for this image-conscious generation.
Manufacturers are doing all they can to overcome this image, and many carmakers now have a wagon or five-door hatchback in their lineup that emphasizes the sport over functionality, from the humble Kia Spectra to the iconic BMW 5 Series Sport Wagon.
With a spate of luxury sport wagons that have invaded these shores of late, it was only a matter of time before the boys of Stuttgart decided to join the fray. Their offering is the C320 Sport Wagon, set to compete directly against the redesigned Audi A4 Avant, BMW 325i Sport Wagon and Lexus IS 300 SportCross.
We've already done a thorough road test of the C-Class sedan and analyzed how it stacked up against the competition in our nine-car Entry-Level Luxury Sport Sedan Comparison Test. However, the Sport Wagon has a different mission than the sedan, and upon cursory glance, the Benz has the competition beat. With the rear seats in use, 25.2 cubic feet of cargo space is available. Fold the rear seats and an impressive 63.6 cubic feet opens up, which beats both the BMW's and Lexus' numbers. Heck, it even bests the BMW X5's laughably puny 54 cubic feet. There's a power point in the cargo area, as well as useful storage bins on either side of the space that contains a first aid kit and a toolbox. A clever partition net separates the cargo area from the passenger area. Doggy would be very happy back there, but full-size rear seat passengers may find their quarters a bit lacking, with only 33 inches of legroom.
As for the sport part of the equation, the Benz obliterates any perception that wagons aren't much fun to drive. The wagon at 3,495 pounds gains only 56 pounds over the sedan and actually produced more impressive performance numbers than the sedan did. Our tester, equipped with the sport package (elegantly named the Avant Garde package), came with five-spoke light alloy wheels with 225/60VR16 high-performance tires, sculpted lower body trim, monochromatic exterior door handles, textured B-pillar trim, blue-tinted glass, premium charcoal leather upholstery, sport front seats and textured aluminum interior trim.
Most importantly, it was equipped with a sport-tuned suspension with strengthened front and rear stabilizer bars and higher-rate shocks, which we much prefer over models with the regular suspension. We wonder if the C-Class sedan would have placed higher than fifth in our comparison test had it come with the Sport package. In any case, the Sport Wagon was as perfectly composed on mountainous roads as it was on city streets, and little of the regular suspension's comfort was sacrificed. The wagon's ability to run our 600-foot slalom course at 64.9 mph positively spanks the 61.8 mph that the C320 sedan attained, and, in fact, trumps the winner of that particular aspect of our comparison test, the Lexus IS 300 (with 64.3 mph), by a hair's breadth.
There's plenty of power being provided to the rear wheels (we think that a 4Matic all-wheel-drive version could prove interesting) from the 3.2-liter V6, with the possible exception of the Mercedes trademark off-the-line lag. It's good for 215 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, allowing the Sport Wagon to zip from 0 to 60 mph in 7.5 seconds, besting our testing times of the Lexus and BMW.
The five-speed automatic with Touch Shift, the only transmission available for the C-Class with the 3.2-liter engine, is amazingly competent, with little compromise between the convenience of an automatic and the quickness of row-'em-yourself gears. Both up- and downshifts were handled with precision, and although we find fault with Touch Shift's right-left setup (we prefer an up-down action and don't like having to shift past fifth gear to get back into Drive), its performance left our drivers satisfied.
Brake performance was impressive, with the ventilated front four-disc dealies enhanced by ABS and BrakeAssist, which aids in providing full braking power even if the driver doesn't slam on the pedal hard enough. Deceleration from 60 to 0 mph occurred in a very brief 116 feet. As with all Mercedes, the C320 comes with electronic stability program (ESP) to rein in an unruly trajectory; we've found most Benz systems to actuate with more force than other makes, but it's nice to know it's there and makes itself known. If you still insist on stuffing your car into a wall, no fewer than eight airbags (front, front side, rear side, head curtain) wait to be inflated into service.
We've seen that the driving experience is laudable. What about its luxury quotient? As we've complained ceaseless times before, interior materials could be nicer for a car at this price point. A patterned aluminum trim that comes with the sport package aroused more discontent than not; Mercedes should offer wood trim even with this package. Some of the switchgear has an unpleasant click-clack feel. No issues with fit-and-finish were found, although it's been our experience of late that there's always something wrong with the doors of Benzes, whether it be a loose bolt on our C230 Sport Coupe or a broken rear driver-side lock on our Sport Wagon. Ham-handed journalists or DaimlerChrysler cost-cutting? The front seats are comfortable and supportive, with a tilting-and-telescoping steering wheel and dual-zone climate controls helping you to find your groove. All the windows are one-touch open and close, as is the sunroof.
Our Benz came with a six-disc CD changer, part of a pricey package that includes a phone and handset. The changer is inconveniently mounted in the glovebox. This is an improvement over trunk-mounted systems, but it's still not as good as one that's integrated into the face of the stereo. The Benz doesn't come standard with a CD player.
The Sport Wagon is clearly an appealing car, with more power, performance capability and utility than a BMW 325i or Lexus IS 300. But all this comes at a price. Its base price of $39,095 is greater than a Lexus or 3 Series equipped with such fancy options as a navigation system. Heck, this is the base price of a 525i Sport Wagon. If you don't mind the latter BMW's weaker engine, you'll get slightly more cargo space (65 cubic feet) and the choice of a manual transmission.
We're tickled by the resurrection of station wagons with their new mantle of being "it" cars. We think that in a few years we'll probably see an emergence of "cool" sporty minivans. That'll be a hoot.
See all the Ratings: 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class C320 4dr Sport Wagon (3.2L 6cyl 5A) Road Test Scoreboard
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(Enlarge photo)
The Sport Wagon's sleek lines should quell any lingering stigma of the lumbering station wagons of yore.
(Photo by Scott Jacobs)
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