Mercedes-AMG C43 4Matic Review: The Best Performance Sedan in India Under Rs 1 Crore?

Buying a performance car in India could mean a lot of compromises, which can range from reduced everyday driving comfort to limited practicality and, in most cases, exorbitant prices. The Mercedes-AMG C43 4Matic, however, promises to minimise such compromises while offering enough power for an exhilarating drive. But for AMG purists, perhaps all this doesn’t matter, and their sole concern is likely to be the fact that the C43 is powered by a four-cylinder engine. I mean, can you really be an AMG purist if you don’t desire a V8 or a V12 or, at least, a V6? But as they say, ‘Never judge a book by its cover.’ After spending a few days with the Mercedes-AMG C43, that’s exactly what I discovered. In short, there is more to this 4-cylinder AMG than what meets the eye.

Mercedes-AMG C43 Review: Democratising F1 Technology

While reviewing a car, I usually refrain from delving too deep into the technicalities and prefer to focus more on the experience. However, allow me to make an exception in this case for the simple reason that what Mercedes has achieved here is nothing short of brilliant engineering, and such an accomplishment deserves recognition.

The 2.0-litre in-line four-cylinder engine comes with a turbocharger, which uses technology derived from the Mercedes-AMG F1 team. You see, the thing with turbochargers is that you can either fit the engine with a small turbo for a quicker spool-up, providing a power boost at lower RPMs, or opt for a larger turbo with a slower spool-up, providing an increased boost at higher RPMs, which the driver may rarely, if ever, reach.

Now, in the C43, the turbo is assisted electrically through a 48V system, which allows it to spool up relatively early. In order words, you get instantaneous throttle response with abundant power throughout the rev band. This F1-derived technology gives the C43 an edge over the competition. Thanks to this, the engine makes over 400bhp of power, making the C43 considerably more powerful than its rivals, like the BMW M340i and the Audi S5. Not to mention that it is the first series-production engine to get an electric exhaust gas turbocharger!

Mercedes-AMG C43 Review: On-Demand Performance

Now, with the technical stuff out of the way, let’s delve into the other noteworthy aspects of the C43. Despite its F1-derived technology, the car still incorporates the good old strut brace over the longitudinally mounted engine. It also gets other bits like a dual-stage fuel injection system, the aforementioned 48V on-board electrical system, which can also provide additional overboost of 13.8bhp during hard acceleration, and a clever rear-axle steering system, which can turn the rear wheels in the opposite direction of the front wheels at speeds of up to 60km/h and in the same direction above it by up to 2.5 degrees. This artificially shortens the wheelbase of the car, resulting in a tighter turning radius while turning counter to the front wheel angle, enhancing the car’s agility above 60km/h of speed.

All this, along with the adaptive adjustable damping suspension setup and a 9-speed multi-clutch transmission with a ‘race start’ launch control feature, makes the Mercedes-AMG C43 a car that’s packed to the brim with features and technology, all seemingly geared towards a singular purpose – delivering a fast and exhilarating driving experience.

Mercedes-AMG C43 Review: Cocooned in Luxury

I wanted to focus mostly on the car’s performance in this story – it is an AMG after all – but we cannot talk about a modern Mercedes and not mention its interior. Amongst the big three German automakers, I do tend to lean towards the design of Mercedes’ cabins. In the case of the C 43 too, the offering from Mercedes-AMG outshines its rivals, namely the BMW 340i and the Audi S5. It makes you feel like you are in a cabin from a car that belongs to a segment above, given the quality of materials used and the attention to detail throughout.

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There is no area to mark it down, really, when it comes to the cabin experience. But what stood out for me is the AMG-specific steering wheel. The 3-twin spoke design wheel feels perfect in size and comes with digital circular displays on both sides of the centre spoke. These allow you to change things like the suspension setup, exhaust valves and the driving modes on the go.

And it doesn’t end there. The vertically laid out infotainment screen is massive in size and has fantastic touch response with crisp graphic animations and clarity. Same can be said for the all-digital instrument cluster which shows all the information you would need. Both of these screens are customisable for colours and layout which go in-line with the driving mode selected by the driver, which is a nice touch. In terms of space, the cabin seats 4 comfortably with enough room and comfort, leaving no scope for complaints.

Mercedes-AMG C43 Review: Is it Perfect?

Despite the intricacies of its impressive array of features, the C43 offers a straightforward result on the road – it’s a seriously fast car. It can sprint from a standstill to 100km/h in just 4.6 seconds and reach a top speed of 250km/h. While the car is heavy, with a kerb weight of 1,840kgs, it successfully manages to mask its weight around corners. With exactly 69% of power directed to the rear wheels, the C43 happily kicks its tail out to make you grin like a Cheshire cat.

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So, is it perfect? Well, no – it’s not without its flaws. For instance, the chassis and the suspension are so stiff that the car seems to rock from side to side over road undulations. Fortunately, you can fine-tune the engine, suspension, and driving dynamics to your preference. Plus, you also get the option to select from multiple driving modes, which automatically adjust everything accordingly. Surprisingly, I found the ‘Sport’ mode, rather than the ‘Comfort’ mode to be the most comfortable.

Personally, I feel that the biggest problem with the C43 is its exhaust note, which feels muted, despite the efforts made by the speakers inside the car to make up for it. It does not complement the explosive performance of the car and leaves you wanting for more. And if you’re someone like me who enjoys the aural experience while driving, you might want to look for a different exhaust system.

Mercedes-AMG C43 Review: Verdict

To call the C43 just a car with a 4-cylinder AMG would be unjustifiably reductive, for it is a lot more than that. While the heart may desire at least a V6 with a spine-tingling exhaust note, the brain cannot but acknowledge the comprehensive package that is the C43. Well, if you are ready to ignore its exorbitant price, that is. Costing almost a crore, exclusive of taxes, the car is undeniably expensive. That said, it does stand out as the most powerful car amongst its competitors and, at the end of the day, is still a practical 4-door sedan with an impressive boot space of 455 litres. If the price is not a problem, I would unhesitatingly recommend it to those looking for both distinction and speed without crossing the one-crore mark (ex-showroom, of course). Unless you decide to opt for the C43’s cousin – the Mercedes-AMG A 45 S, which not only offers more power and costs less but is arguably a lot cooler too.