Then again, you also gain an Eco setting that maximizes fuel efficiency, in large part by engaging a ‘Sail’ mode when the driver lifts off the accelerator, which automatically disengages the engine from the drivetrain between 60 and 160 km/h, and essentially ‘idles’ the engine in neutral until you call up more power with your right foot. There is an occasionally noticeable de-clutching feeling that may have some drivers at first wondering if they accidentally slapped the car into neutral, but in the usual bump and grind of commuting, it will be largely transparent to most owners.

Transparent that is, until one reaches the fuel pump. The C 450 AMG still doesn’t have the more realistic five-cycle North American fuel efficiency ratings, but its European figures suggest it will average a combined city and highway rating of 7.6 L/100 km. The 450’s twin-turbo V6 setup produces 367 hp and 384 lb-ft of torque, which represent increases of about 35 units each compared to the current C 400 that the C 450 AMG will replace.

Given the identical engine displacement and layout, chances are the C 450 will ring in closer to the current C 400’s 9.8 L/100 km average in the real world, which is the exact same rating as close market rivals from BMW in the 335i xDrive and notably lower than the Audi S4’s 11.2 overall rating.

What’s not nearly as close compared to these 2015 competitors are those power ratings, with the Mercedes-Benz outmuscling these well regarded sports sedans by a substantial amount, as both were neck and neck with the current 400’s output. The C 450 AMG’s 0-100 km/h figure of 4.9 seconds seems to back up this claim, and lands the new sport sedan only 0.9 seconds behind the AMG C 63 in this benchmark dash, though the C 450 likely gains an edge in this test courtesy of its rear-biased all-wheel-drive system compared to the C 63’s rear-drive only setup.

From behind the wheel, the C 450 AMG feels like a regular compact luxury sedan in the default Comfort mode, with relaxed suspension settings and smooth shifts that prioritize quiet or quick response. But push that prominent AMG Dynamic Select toggle to engage Sport, and a noticeably perkier demeanour comes alive: shifts come quicker, the car seems to grow an exhaust note, and the sharper throttle response tempts you to play with the shift paddles more. The Sport+ brought along more extreme versions of everything, allowing the car to be revved to redline under hard acceleration before shifting for you instead of a few grand shy of there, but would be overly loud for day-to-day commuting for most drivers.

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