Overview
Offered as a coupe and convertible, the 2022 Mercedes-AMG C43 provides sports-car attitude with luxury-car accoutrements. These two-door C43 models come standard with a 385-hp twin-turbo V-6 that provides ample power and sounds fantastic. All-wheel drive is standard, and the C43’s handling is razor sharp. Unfortunately, the same can be said of its ride quality, which can be tortuous over rough stretches of road. Like most cars with sporting intentions, the C43 requires you to take the good with the bad. The cabin is stylish, well-equipped, and comfortable for front-seat riders, but those relegated to the back may want for head- and legroom. Likewise with trunk space, which is merely average for the class. This current crop will likely be this generation’s last, as the C-class has been redesigned for 2022, meaning an AMG-tuned variant should be on its way to replace the C43 with something more modern and, hopefully, just as fun to drive.
What’s New for 2022?
The C43 is offered only in coupe and convertible forms, as the C-class sedan has been redesigned for 2022 and the AMG-tuned variant has not yet been unveiled. Automatic high-beam headlamps are now standard and two new paint colors are available: Starling Blue and Cirrus Silver.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
While we love the feeling of the wind in our hair, the coupe is probably the better choice here. The hardtop looks more beautiful than the convertible does with its cloth top in place, plus its extra structural rigidity aids handling. We can’t resist a few options, and we’d pick the Driver Assistance package that includes adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
Carried over from 2016’s C450, the C43’s twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 is a gem. Powerful and torque rich, the 385-hp engine pairs with a nine-speed automatic transmission that swaps cogs with speed and precision. The boosted six has deep wells of power and never feels overwhelmed or overworked when you call upon it. Despite the boost in power from 362 to 385 horses, the 2019 C43 delivered the same 4.1-second zero-to-60-mph time at our test track as the 2017 model we last tested. While Mercedes-AMG equips the C43 with a pair of steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters, we found the nine-speed gearbox a competent enough companion when left to its own devices. Befitting its AMG badging, the dynamically adept C43 is a joy to pilot through twisty two-lanes. Credit its quick steering that’s both direct and precise, as well as its rear-biased, all-wheel-drive system that allows a dollop of chassis rotation before requesting additional assistance from the front wheels. The suspension can be adjusted between Comfort, Sport, and Sport+ settings. All three modes are needlessly stiff, however, and make driving over rough pavement a bone-jarring experience.
Keyword: 2022 Mercedes-AMG C43 Review, Pricing, and Specs