The Mercedes Benz AMG is one of the most sought-after vehicles in the world. The combination of power and speed is unrivaled. Getting behind an AMG Benz is euphoric for anyone who loves a powerful engine. I spent a week with AMG’s newest addition, the 2017 C43 Coupe. I drove through the streets of NYC filled with potholes, which can easily hinder cars of this kind. Any car that dares go through the New York City better have great tires, an elite suspension system, and it must be quick to avoid those damaging potholes.
After one week with this magnificent specimen, the C43 Coupe was more than amazing but not without its shortcomings.
Key Highlights for the C43 Coupe
Let's start with the power specs, the C43 coupe has a 3.0-liter V6 bi-turbo engine, it goes 0 to 60 in 4.6 seconds, and it has 362 horsepower with a 384 torque. It’s equipped with a 9-speed automatic transmission with double declutching function. One of my favorite features in this car is the different drive modes; this car features five modes - eco, comfort, sport, sport plus, and individual. As far as practical functionality, the safety features go above and beyond: starting with anti-lock braking, blind spot assist, brake assist, anti-theft alarm system, collision prevention assist and parking assist cameras that give you a surrounding 360-degree view.
Although the C43 looks like a gas-guzzler, when in ECO mode, you can drive through a big city for more than a week without filling up the tank. The base price for the C43 starts at $55,000 and tops at around $67,000 fully equipped.
Mercedes Benz AMG C43 coupe competitors
One main competitor that has similar stats to the C43 is that the 400-hp Infiniti Q60 Red Sport 400. Both have 3.0 V6 engines, both also go over 350 horsepower, and both are almost identical in gas performance with the Benz at 20/28 MPG and the Infinity with a 20/27 MPG. The C43 and Q60 start at $50k+ and top off over $62k plus, fully loaded. The biggest difference is the Q60 goes to 400 horsepower for about 5K less than the C43.
As great as the C43 is, it doesn’t come without its drawbacks. The price is pretty high considering that the upgrade from the C43, the C63 at its base starts at $67k plus. The suspension system is lacking, which makes a ride through bumpy road difficult. Lastly, the touchpad controller is finicky, and for the life of me, I don’t know why Mercedes Benz refuses to add a touch screen system. It’s very easy to be on the touchpad longer than you want to because it’s so sensitive and you find yourself making mistakes and going back to correct those mistakes. Overall, I give the C43 AMG coupe a 4.3 out of 5. I love the safety features, gas performance, aesthetics, and design and there’s no other feeling than sitting behind the wheel of a new Mercedes Benz.