We may be old-fashioned but we prefer separate climate controls.
Since Mercedes’ new C Class was unveiled a little more than a month ago we have been watching the German configurator closely to see the entry-level trim and the smaller central screen. Why? Spy shots revealed prototypes with the central screen. This was evidently not in the official image gallery, as all other photos showed the high-end version.
Finally, the W206 has been loaded into the Mercedes-Benz Deutschland Online configurator. This shows the “spartan C180” in all its glory. The interior features one feature that we love is separate controls for climate settings. This is because the MBUX infotainment shrinks from an optional 11.9-inch diagonal screen to 9.5 inches, leaving less screen real estate for the HVAC controls.
Some will see this as a downgrade due to the smaller display, but we think having quick access to the functions you’re probably going to use the most is more important. In addition, old-fashioned folks like yours truly prefer the center console design of the base model since it has a less screen-centric design. If only Mercedes and other automakers would still offer this sort of layout for people who don’t want their dashboard to be an amalgam of screens.
However, not everything is perfect. You will have to use the smaller driver’s screen and the base HTML22 C-Class. The screen is 10.25 inches rather than the 12.3 inches that you can choose, but the large bezels are a problem. We are reminded of old low-cost tablets and smartphones from years ago. The thick frame doesn’t compare to a new Mercedes-Benz, even though we’re talking about an entry-level C.
Last note: Yesterday was the first time that the three-pointed star displayed the base HTMLS without the Hyperscreen. This meant that the front passenger-side display was removed and the 12.8-inch OLED screen replaced it with the S-Class’ 17.7-inch touchscreen. We like this arrangement better, but we are fairly certain that most people will prefer the more screen-heavy dashboard, which is exclusive to the EQS.