IN the current Mercedes-Benz C-Class, there are all sorts of characters. You have the big brother C63 AMG, wicked and large on performance from the get-go. You have the C350, second-tier yet snazzy amid a sinewy 3.5L V6. You have the C280, a middle child with a balance of poise, muscle and grace. Then there’s the C180 Kompressor or C180 K, the runt of the litter.

And then you have the C200 Kompressor or C200 K. But what is it amid its C-Class siblings?

Inside is a cabin that evokes relaxation, but still retains a businesslike feel. The black upper and the light khaki lower colorways combine to give all occupants a soothing ambiance. The gauge cluster is similar to that of its C180 K sibling, with the fuel and temperature gauges at the left, the tachometer on the right, and an arcing speedometer with a menu screen incorporated into the dial. Everything within the cabin shows excellent fit and finish, down to the various buttons and knobs for the Blue­tooth-ready Comand (Cockpit Management and Navigational Device) system. Speaking of the Comand system, it rivals that (in terms of sound quality) of the Bose unit on the Chrysler 300C. The Comand toggle setup is easy to use and reach for the driver, and you can key in your preferred radio station via the large aluminum knob southwest of the A/T stick, or the numeric keypad to the right of the CD insertion slot. A seven-inch screen in the middle dashboard has large fonts and white backlighting to make all occupants see what’s going on with regard to audio entertainment.

As with most variants in the current C-Class line, the C200 K can be somewhat lacking when it comes to taking in people and things. Put two six-footers in the front and there’s comfortable room for just one in the rear. The cupholders can only hold a C2 250-ml bottle, yet the glovebox can swallow two Bibles and two 250-ml C2 bottles. Fortunately, storage for bigger items is a plus, as the rear backrest can fold flat to swallow two golf bags. 

Despite toting a 2.0L straight-four, the C200 is mighty fast. You get into the powerband at a notch past 3,250 to 3,300 rpm, with partial boost from the supercharger at a notch under 4,000 rpm and full boost at around 4,500 rpm. The five-speed A/T upshifts when you need to, usually at roughly one-half to three-fourths throttle. But there’s a one- to two-second delay when using the lateral-moving Touchshift manual mode—just toss the A/T stick to the right to upshift, move it to the left for downshifts. It would be better to put the A/T stick on “D(rive)” and toggle the transmission setting to “S(port)” (via a button at the seven o’ clock side of the A/T stick) for quicker powerband entry. The results don’t lie—a 9.31 zero- to 100-kph time, a 242-kph top speed, and 6.70 km/l.

The C200 K exhibits a great compromise between ride comfort and handling. There’s little body roll, and the Pirelli P7s deliver grip up to 110 kph. The tires and the Agility Control suspension also prevent occupants’ backsides from experiencing any sort of road undulations, and the seats do a tremendous job of helping out as well. The steering response is surprisingly sharp, given the light feel. You find yourself constantly correcting the wheel on sweeping turns, but the front end obeys immediately. The braking is strong; just a motion of your big toe on the middle pedal and the stoppers bite.       

Although this C-Class variant is suited more for boulevard and highway rather than spirited driving, the C 200 Kompressor’s overall driving dynamics combine with top-tier features and kit to elicit a classy compromise.