I don't get how the same company can create this, pretty handsome, suv, while at the same time, the horrible EQC

 

Did anyone notice that it's now a 7-seater?

 

^^ Yes, I wrote that in the first post lol. Great way to combat the RXL

 

Pleasant exterior styling, with some odd touches. Fake air intakes on the front bumper. It doesn't look like they even tried to make them look like intakes. Weak effort.
Tires are too wide and look related to a 70's conversion van with T/A radials from CHiPs.
That is the first MBZ dash that actually does not look like an imposing block wall. A step in the right direction. But why add a Chevy bowtie emblem on the steering wheel? Tacky.
This will sell well, but overall it is nothing super special from a design perspective. Any SUV could have had this body shape and greenhouse structure.

 

I was specifically referring to the design details - not really the quality of the MB cars. I'm not a fan of the MBUX system or the tablet just stuck on there like an afterthought. Its my personal preference and it looks cheap, in my opinion. But it doesn't mean I think its ugly. The interior is pretty.

Secondly - I'm assuming you are talking about the pre-refresh W205 C43 AMG. As the 2019s are not here yet and mine is still on order que. That being said, while I do have a C43 AMG on order and I love the C43 AMG sound/performance, the interior quality is not good (definitely not class-leading.) I give this to the Audi A4 and S4.
The MB W205 interior feels cheaply made in some areas.
1) The wood trim side panels on the door. Push them, they bend a bit. They scratch easy too.
2) The center console cup holder case. It feels cheap. It doesn't open smoothly and feels janky at times. My friend's Acura TSX cup holder closer felt more solid.
3) The rear mirror makes noises when moving.
4) The center dash in the ceiling where the moonroof controllers are. That thing pushes into the roof itself if you press it. It don't feel solid and feels like its tacked on.
This is my experience with 2 different W205 C-Classes. I had a brand new one as a Turo rental for vacation and my friends C43 AMG.

There is a couple of other things too but it would just make this comment long. Look - I love MB and I have one on order. But lets call out a duck, when its a duck. While MB interiors are pretty - they aren't solidly made. I think Audi and the Japanese have the best interior quality in terms of how solid something is built.

 

exterior looks from 2000's... very hard to understand why they made it look so old and plain.

 

because it sells? audi and bmw suvs are actually pretty plain outside too.

 

 

 

 

The badge and marketing is what sells MB and BMW most of the time. There is a reason why people think the G Wagon is great. If the G Wagon was made by a Japanese luxury company, say Lexus, it would get insulted and laughed at. The power of the badge is greater than we all think.

The stitched dash and upgraded leather has nothing to do with the things I mentioned.

The fact is - MB build quality for the interior isn't solid. While its not the worst in the business, its definitely not class-leading or good.

Here's one example:

The center stack creaks and doesn't feel solid. Similar to the door panels, rear view mirror and upper center moonroof controls. There are more of these issues too. Like I said earlier, my friend's old Acura TSX from 2007 doesn't even have these issues. Its horrible that MB legit gets away with these because of brand. This is coming from a future C43 AMG owner - we just have to own it up. We are buying the car for performance and brand - not the quality.

These glaring issue doesn't go away until you reach probably the S-Class level or the AMGs from Germany.

 

^^ if you get the upgraded interior where that is all wood trim, I suspect it doesn't make any noise. I haven't noticed that at all in my sisters W205. But if that video is real, I cannot defend MB as I made the same video of the Chevy Malibu last week. Lol

 

Headlights I feel is going to look good in person. It makes sense though since this is an "E" based vehicle with the two eyebrows. I originally thought they looked funky on the E too but they've grown on me. Im pretty sure the GLS is going to debut with the three eyebrows.

 

It happens on the wood trim too. I had a fully loaded C300 with wood trim (I believe it was the natural grain brown ash wood) as a Turo rental. It made the same sounds and squeaks too. The cup holder was the most jankiness cup holder I ever used in a car as well. This is very real - not sure why it would be fake. I'm not trying to hate on MB. I'm just calling it out because I want to be objective and call it as it is.

The problem here is - a lot of the average owners won't go around and push their cars to see if its build solid. When I was at the MB SF ordering my C43 AMG, I was the only dude in the whole dealership sitting in cars and actually pushing the crap out of everything. I still ordered my C43 AMG knowing the interior will be made poorly because I got a good deal (dad knows MB SF owner) and the performance is just too good to pass up for the money.

 

Drab and boring inside and out. If this was a Lexus it would be roasted on this forum.