1985–1987 Mercedes 190 E 2.3-16 Specs & Performance

The Mercedes 190 E 2.3-16 brought a motorsport-inspired character to the compact W201 sedan, combining understated four-door styling with a specially developed 16-valve engine. Its five-seat cabin retained the practicality of the standard 190, while rear-wheel drive, a front-mounted longitudinal engine and performance-focused engineering gave the car a much more sporting personality. The 2.3-16 became an important part of Mercedes-Benz’s performance history, helping establish the 190 E as a serious enthusiast model.

The 1985–1987 Mercedes 190 E 2.3-16 uses a naturally aspirated 2.3-liter inline-four producing 175 hp and 170 lb-ft of torque. A five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission sends power to the rear wheels, with 0–60 mph taking 7.9 seconds and 0–62 mph taking 8.2 seconds. Top speed reaches 140 mph, giving the compact sedan an impressive blend of everyday practicality, rear-wheel-drive balance and performance.