1993 MERCEDES BENZ C-Klasse (W202) 280 4AT RWD (197 HP)

Vehicle Overview

In 1993, Mercedes-Benz changed the designation name for its compact-class lineup. The successful 190 model had to retire and the new C-Class was shown. And it was a big success.

In May 1993, the C-Class was shown and it had the internal code as W202. It was a step forward from the angular lines of the 190 series, which lasted since 1982. A novelty was the concept of a different styling. There were three trim levels: Esprit, Elegance, and Sport. The Esprit featured a lowered suspension than the Elegance and was addressed to younger customers. The Elegance had a higher ground clearance to offer a bigger wheel-travel and more comfort. For this trim, the turn-signal lamps had colorless cover glasses. The Sport version had the ground clearance of the Esprit, but with stiffer suspension and standard wider tires.

Inside, there were different color schemes according to the trim level, with a chess-like pattern on the seats and door panels for the Esprit. Depending on the options, the car featured air-conditioning and power-windows for all. The sunroof was available as an option.

At the time of launch, there were seven engines available: three diesel and four with gasoline. Over time, other engines joined the lineup, including an AMG version. As a true novelty for the era was the optional 5-speed automatic transmission with electronic control, which has a better fuel-efficiency over other automatic transmissions on the market.