Written by Keith Adams Published: 27 December 2023 Updated: 29 February 2024

Overview

Since its launch in 2018, the Mercedes-AMG C43 has undergone a revolution. It started with a six-cylinder engine and served as an option for those who didn’t need a fire-breathing V8 C63. Then, in 2022, it was overhauled to feature a smaller but more powerful engine to continue the good fight with its ever-present rivals, BMW M340i and diesel Audi S4.

Electrification is the name of the game here. Step forward the mild hybrid, four-cylinder C43. The old and new cars might share their nameplates but, mechanically at least, this latest model is a stark departure from its predecessor. It’s powered by a turbocharged 1,991cc mild-hybrid engine, packing 408hp.

Not only is the C43 more powerful than its predecessor, but more economical too. The technology to create this amount of power from a 2.0-litre engine is mind boggling – for instance, a small electric motor spins up the turbo whenever the accelerator is pressed, while the mild hybrid’s integrated electric starter-generator adds a little boost when needed. In theory, that means no more waiting around when you want more power.

This clever new powertrain is also 10kg lighter than before, which means it’s more agile in corners, while the instant on-demand turbo will give the driver more punch when exiting corners or when safer overtaking is needed.

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What’s it like inside?

So far we’ve only driven the C43, and its interior is a lovely place to spend time. With its large 12.3-inch and visually-appealing digital instrument cluster ahead and the vast 11.9-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen in the centre, it looks like a very technical car to operate. But the good news is that the latest iteration of Mercedes’ touchscreen operating system is a cinch to use, with easy-to-understand menus, brilliant graphics and not forgetting the excellent MBUX voice control system.

Mercedes’ ‘augmented reality’ satellite navigation is available, which displays your turns in real time on the centre screen or the instrument panel, and makes light work of negotiating those tricky city centre one-way systems. There’s also a high-quality head-up display available, but with such good instrumentation, we’re not sure you need it.

Overall quality is top notch, and it’s trimmed in the finest materials. Being an AMG, you get red stitching for the leather surfaces and sports seats with cutouts in the front that hint at competition items ready for four-point harnesses (it’s for styling only). The seats are firm, but super supportive, while the rear is cramped compared with the 3 Series and A4. If you have a growing family, you might want to look elsewhere – or at least go for the estate version.

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What’s it like to drive?

With all that power and a very useful 500Nm of torque (pulling power) performance is rapid enough for UK driving. The benchmark 0-62mph time is 4.7 seconds with a limited maximum speed of 155mph (which you can upgrade to 165mph with one of the performance packages available). That makes it quick, but outgunned by the latest generation of super-hot hatches.

For most drivers, this level of acceleration will be more than enough – it feels pretty eager under hard acceleration, and there’s a sporting growl that might not be dramatic enough to satisfy hardcore AMG fans. Get used to it, too, because the next C63 is also going to use this engine – albeit with considerably more power. Once underway, the nine-speed automatic transmission is pacy in its response, although the engine is punchy enough that you won’t find it hunting through ratios too much.

Throttle response is good in isolation, but it’s not as instant as the old C43, although shifting it into Dynamic mode sharpens things up a little. In all, it’s soon easy to forget that it’s a 2.0-litre car, because it feels like a larger-engined motor, with oodles of overtaking grunt and and an easygoing nature when you’re not in a hurry. Being a mild hybrid, it’ll coast silently at speed when you don’t require power, and it’s quiet and unobtrusive in city driving.

Through corners, the C43 is a delight – it’s surefooted and agile and, thanks to its four-wheel steering, it’s manoeuvrable in town and seriously stable in high-speed corners. The rear-biased four-wheel-drive system works very well, giving the car excellent balance with a useful safety margin when the conditions become treacherous. Finally, there’s a race start function, which easily allows you to launch it off the line like a pro – perfect for trackday showboating.

We were impressed with the ride quality for the most part, but the overall sense of calm takes a dive on broken, potholed roads. That being said, it’s more restful than a BMW M3 or Audi RS4. In Comfort mode in particular, it came across as an excellent cruiser for when you need to take it on a long motorway journey – no doubt assisted by its adjustable dampers.

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What models and trims are available?

Currently, there’s just one Mercedes-AMG C-Class saloon to choose from – the C43. But it wil be joined later by the C63S version. But for now, the C43 is available in the saloon form tested here, and as a more practical estate and glamorous coupe and cabriolet versions. In terms of trim levels, there are Premium and Premium Plus to choose from – and a myriad of option packs to sift through.

What else should I know?

The Mercedes-AMG C63S is going to be something very special indeed. Powered by the world’s most powerful production four-cylinder engine, packing 671hp, it might not have the V8 soundtrack of old, but it’s going to be seriously quick. Like the C43, expect surefooted handling and bags of four-wheel drive grip and traction – which it’s going to need, with a 0-62mph time of 3.3 seconds. Expect it to go on sale later in 2024.

See our verdict to find out how we rate the C43 and whether we’d recommend buying one over its less costly rivals.