The C230 Kompressor seats five passengers, but is more comfortable for four. The two front buckets are firm and supportive. The rear seat is a bit too narrow for three adult males to ride shoulder to shoulder for long distances. Rear legroom is less than an E-Class sedan because the C-Class is a smaller car. Leather seating inserts are standard; full leather, which covers the seats entirely and is used on the door panels is an option.The Sport model has special sport seats, upholstered in leather, that have more side bolstering for better lateral retention. You don't slide off the seat when cornering hard. These seats are in the firm German tradition and provide excellent support for long drives. BabySmart is the automatic child seat recognition system that deactivates the passenger-side airbag whenever a BabySmart compatible child seat, available from Mercedes-Benz dealers, is used in the front seat. It's standard on all Mercedes automobiles for 1999. Child seats designed specifically for different cars seems like a great idea to us as it reduces the chance of an improper installation. Mercedes-Benz has a way of making an ordinary gauge panel look like a precision instrument. There's no doubt you're going exactly the rate shown on the speedometer. Mercedes dresses up the Sport models with faux carbon fiber trim on the dash, doors and center console. It's a bit over the top, perhaps, but looks as good as the common gratuitous wood inserts and makes more sense. Unlike the automatic climate control systems on the upscale C-Class cars, the C230 Kompressor has manual heating and air conditioning. The system works well and is easy to operate and comes with dual-zone left and right controls. Hay fever sufferers will like the dust and pollen filters. Owners living in the snow belt will appreciate how the system can recirculate residual warm air for up to 30 minutes while the car is parked -- great for quick dashes into the store. A new-generation radio unit features fiber-optic technology and integrates controls for the sound system and optional CD changer and cellular telephone in a single unit. It may require some study of the owners manual to fully appreciate. A power driver's seat is standard. Power windows with auto-up and auto-down are standard with a highly sensitive anti-pinch feature to protect small heads and fingers. Every C-Class gets an integrated three-channel garage door opener, outside temperature gauge, auto-dimming mirror, cruise control and heated power side-view mirrors. A single wiper with an articulated mechanism clears the entire windshield. The C-Class comes with the Mercedes-Benz SmartKey system -- the latest word on high-tech keys. Although the key fob uses a radio unit for remote locking, the ignition key is a miniature infrared unit that exchanges a code with the key slot. The code to open and start the car changes every time the car is used. For added theft resistance, the engine is disabled and an alarm sounds if thieves use a tow truck or roll-back to take the car. The trunk is adequate for a car this size, and makes the most of its capacity with a practical shape and no intrusion by the struts, which are hidden behind the trunk liner.
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