2023 Mercedes-AMG C43 video review: Australian first drive

For 2023, the Mercedes-AMG C-Class range has undergone radical change.

Where last-generation of high-performance C-Class were powered by either a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 or 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6, the new models move exclusively to using the 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine as per cars like the Mercedes-AMG A45 S.

The difference now between the 2023 Mercedes-AMG C43 and upcoming 2023 Mercedes-AMG C63 is a factor of electrification. The insane-sounding 500kW/1020Nm C63 E Performance is a twin-motor plug-in hybrid, whereas our C43 is simply sees the same 2.0-litre turbocharged four augmented by a 'simple' 48-volt mild hybrid system.

So, has the move to four-cylinder power changed things up?

Let's find out with the more affordable of the pair, and the first to launch in Australia: The 2023 Mercedes-AMG C43.

The new 2023 Mercedes-AMG C43 is the first of two high-performance models in the range and is priced from $134,900 before on-roads and optional extras.

That's $21,324 more than the outgoing car's cost. Our test car was equipped with two options: Manufaktur Hyacinth Red Metallic ($1500) and Anthracite linestructure lime wood trim ($700).

Its total price comes to $137,100 before on-roads, or about $144,000 drive-way depending on which state or territory you live in. As mentioned earlier, the 2023 Mercedes-AMG C43 is powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with 48-volt mild hybrid system that makes 300kW/500Nm.

Power goes through a nine-speed wet-clutch auto and to all-four wheel via the brand's 4Matic permanent all-wheel drive system (31:69 front:rear). Trick standard features include an electric turbocharger, rear-wheel steering, a feature that trails the throttle in-between gearshifts for an "emotive" experience, and highly-customisable performance driving aids.

Mercedes-AMG cars generally have awesome sports seats, and thankfully this one does too.

Not only are they supportive, highly adjustable (lateral headrest adjustment anyone?) and comfortable, they are also elegantly thin too. The other thing that grabs you is the steering wheel shod with little LCD dials and toggles.

It's easily the best performance-car interface out there, as accessibly to every function and adjusting it simply a few taps away. You can tab between sports exhaust, driver dynamics, exhaust and even stop-start, then pick which two you want displayed at all times on that drive.

It means it quick and easy to open the sports exhaust when a tunnel presents itself. The rest of the interior is minimal, with a simple 11.9-inch display dominating the dash, alongside a 12.3-inch driver display and some huge and ornate air vents.

They also light up at night, in case you're wondering. The lower centre console features a oddly-shaped and large opening that houses some cup holders and wireless charging for your phone.

If the opening were 10 per cent bigger it'd be happy, as it's just slightly awkward to use due to being orientated slightly strangely. Over in the second row, those elegant and thin front seats mean there's a fair amount of room in the back.

It's comfortable enough for adults and kids, albeit the hunkered down roof lining which some taller guests may find annoying. There are rear air vents but no USB power ports, and a cool double-action cup-holder that also features a device holder.

Opening the boot with the super-fast electric tailgate reveals 455L of boot space. The area is nice, wide and large, however be prepared to bend over acutely to access its most rearward areas.

Classic sedan stuff, but the stretch is worth it considering the styling.

The 2023 Mercedes-AMG C43 features the brand's latest 'MBUX' twin-screen infotainment system.

There's a centre 11.9-inch display that features wired and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android auto, connected services with remote smartphone telematics and SOS feature, plus a 15-speaker Burmester premium sound system.

The infotainment system features a clever interface that genuinely dissolves complexity and makes it easy to use, however the lack of physical buttons for its climate control system is annoying.

However good voice commands are I – and others – feel stupid using them and prefer adjusting things with dials and buttons, call me old fashioned if you will. I obviously tested it anyway, and found simple voice commands like "open my window" and "turn the passenger seat heating on" worked first-go.

The 15-speaker Burmester sound system is fantastic too, with Baroness' Gold & Grey sounding faithful to how it does on wax through a good Hi-Fi, and King Gizzard's Changes as spacious and airy as it needs to be.

Clarity and general soundstage is right-on too, with a stereo or reference mode truly bringing out music in new ways, too. It's worth walking through the customisable sound profile system a few times too, as it helps you understand the different operating dynamics of the stereo and then lets you tune it live to sample music.

Smart stuff, and it sounds bloody good too.

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class was awarded a five-star ANCAP safety rating under the latest (2022's) testing criteria. This rating allies to all models except the plug-in hybrid C63, but covers the C43 tested here.

The car performance well, with adult occupant and child occupant protection at 91 and 90 per cent, vulnerable road user (pedestrian) protection at 80 per cent, and safety assist systems at 84 per cent.

In terms of passive safety in the segment, it's one of the best.

As a six-figure European performance car, the Mercedes-Benz is loaded with smart safety technology.

There's blind spot monitoring and avoidance, lane tracing, a high-resolution 360-degree parking camera, speed sign recognition with automatic adaptation, and plenty more too.

None of it is intrusive in any way, and the adaptive cruise control system can pick up cars from quite some distance away. Interestingly, the automatic high beams also function more than your average German sedan.

The continual adaptation of its high-beams mean you get the ideal amount of illumination where possible. Like a lot of things in this car, its clever calibration, and just what you expect (and pay for) with a brand that's proudly led by a strong engineering philosophy.

We only tested the car over one day, however saw a final fuel-consumption figure of 11.5L/100km.

The official combined claim is 9.1L/100km, but as this was a launch drive, we were unable to test the vehicle over our usual seven-day-or-longer loan period.

That gives us a more accurate reflection on fuel use, so it's best we reserve final judgment until we get a 2023 Mercedes-AMG in for proper testing over a longer period of time.

Let's address the elephant in the room to start – the four-cylinder Mercedes-AMG C43 has lost some soul moving to four-cylinder power.

No matter how you try to cut it, sound plays an incredibly important and evocative part in the story of a performance car. It's even more the case with something AMG-branded, too.

The brand is known for some smashing symphonies: the mega-loud and baritone '63' family of V8s among them, or the silky-smooth six-cylinder burble of 53 and 43-badged models. Even with the valved exhaust set to open and the 'fake' interior noises dialled in, the humble four-cylinder found in the new C43 isn't as pleasant on the ear as the old six-cylinder model.

But, the new powertrain is plenty fast, and the 48-volt mild-hybrid system has its benefits. It'll shut the engine off a pinch earlier and coast the car at a set of lights to save you fuel, but also reignite the engine quick-enough to not be an encumbrance.

According to the data, the mild-hybrid system "boosts" the driveline with an extra 10kW-or-so down low to make-up for those missing cylinders. From the seat of the pants it seems to work, with the resulting combined powertrain feeling potent and zingy. The all-wheel drive system also helps the driveline punch harder than the numbers, due to excellent traction (and thus acceleration) in pretty much all conditions.

But there's also another trick aiding low-end torque delivery and general response. Not only is there a small electric starter motor (and alternator) strapped to the engine providing extra performance, but the engine's turbocharger is also electrified with a small e-motor that spools the turbo before exhaust gasses do.

In terms of a mechanism for extending the life of dirty performance car engines, it's a great solution and one I admire – they just need to fix the melody next. The C43 does offer impressive performance from a massively downsized engine.

The nine-speed auto is a multi-wet-clutch type, so offers some smoothness, but still feels overly grabby. Low speed on-and-off inputs in traffic can create obvious lurching, and reversing up a steep-ish driveway still does require some Jedi-like insight, but these are tropes of this particular gearbox type.

On the topic of smooth inputs, lifting does result in excessive deceleration. Whether it's the vehicle's energy recuperation system being a bit harsh or simply an aggressive gearbox calibration is neither here nor there – the sensation creates a car that feels hyper-tense, far from luxurious, and not very relaxing.

After all, this is a warmed-up Mercedes-AMG C-Class, and not a flagship high-performance offering. At times the jerkiness feels uncouth and out of character, especially when comparing it to a regular Mercedes-Benz product.

As for our testing route; we spent one day with the car in-and-around metro Sydney, then conducted some driving through the Southern Highlands district's best driving roads.

Starting around town, ride comfort is borderline busy. The car is unquestionably tense and needs to be as a performance car, but in its softest setting it can bounce and jiggle on a tatty road surface.

Firming things up just makes it more tense, so it's a 'lesser of two evils' situation if the road is worse than average. You'll probably become accustomed to its firmness and not all roads are imperfect, but there are other competitors out there who strike a better balance between comfort and performance.

Out on flowing, tight and twisty roads, the C43 becomes far more enjoyable. It has rear-wheel steering, which on a good road helps the car shrink and dig in. It turns in fiercely, feels way more agile than it ought to, and genuinely becomes fun to drive if the road and conditions allow.

The rapid-fire multi-clutch feels absolutely at home in this environment, with slick-shifting downshifts and lightning-fast upshifts keeping momentum on the boil.

Again, sport mode is all you need to wake the thing up.

It feels confusing – and our test car's configuration ironically speaks to that point.

The maroon exterior and woodgrain interior both gesture toward a brisk, suave and comfortable experience, whereas in reality you get a whole-heap of urgency and something that can never be wound-down.

Picking the carbon-fibre interior inlays and gloss black paint are probably more fitting. Speaking of cost-extra options, its asking price is up more than $20,000 versus the old car. Sure you get a bit more power with the new model, but you actually lose an arguably more important 20Nm worth of torque, too.

In the right scenario it's still great to drive however, and the 48-volt mild-hybrid powertrain is genuinely potent and impressive considering the combustion engine's size and displacement.

As a method of keeping the petrol-powered performance car alive it's awesome, so hats-off to Mercedes-AMG for treading down the same path I would in my own theoretical car company.

The rear-wheel steering is another great feature too, as it genuinely makes the car feel agile on a fun back road. In a nut shell, it ought to be better-manned when not being thoroughly enjoyed.