BUY, LEASE OR FINANCE A MERCEDES C-CLASS SALOON FROM OSV: http://bit.ly/38GKDVx

The Mercedes C-Class has sharpened up its act and in doing so has become a force to be reckoned with.

This much improved version of the fourth generation Mercedes C-Class features a package of significant enhancements. The exterior revisions are subtle but inside there are important changes, including the option of a fully-digital instrument cluster. As previously, the core range is built around saloon and estate models and there are fresh entry-level petrol and diesel engine options. Plus the driving experience has been enhanced with the optional application of Mercedes' latest autonomous driving technology.

Background
This fourth generation '205' model series C-Class has delivered a stronger proposition with a greater focus than was the case with its predecessors. That's been necessary for two reasons. First, stronger competition in the mid-sized premium badged executive saloon and estate segment, not only from the usual suspects, BMW's 3 Series and Audi's A4, but also from cars like the Jaguar XE and the Lexus IS. Secondly, there's been the fact that Mercedes buyers have had an alternative to this car in the shape of the brand's similarly priced and comparably sized CLA four-door coupe.

Since this MK4 model's original launch at the end of 2013, Mercedes has gradually broadened out the range, first with fire-breathing Mercedes-AMG performance derivatives, then with sleek Coupe and Cabriolet body styles. By early 2018 though, it was clear that a little more remedial work would be needed to keep this car competitive with the best of the opposition, hence the introduction of the heavily revised version we're going to look at here.

Driving Experience
The C-Class has for some time been, and will continue to be, a car with a clear focus on comfort and refinement - at least in its mainstream guises anyway. It was the first model in this class to offer the option of air suspension, though most buyers stick with the standard steel springs. As before, across the range there's a standard 'DYNAMIC SELECT' driving modes system - and you can add to that with optional 'DYNAMIC BODY CONTROL' adaptive damping. All models come as standard with 9G-Tronic automatic transmssion, which now features nine speeds and buyers certainly aren't short of engine options, with most still likely to want a diesel. There's a base 160hp 1.5-litre unit in the C200d. But most buyers opt for the 2.0-litre 194hp unit on offer in the C220d variant, which offers the option of 4MATIC 4WD.

The entry-level petrol unit in the base C180 is a 1.6-litre 156hp powerplant, but ideally you'd stretch to the more modern, much perkier 184hp 1.5-litre engine installed in the C200 which features the brand's latest 'EQ Boost' technology using a 48volt on-board network with a belt-driven starter/alternator. When accelerating, 'EQ Boost' system can assist the engine with an additional 14hp, bridging the brief moment until the turbocharger has built up its full charge pressure. 4MATIC 4WD is optional. Mercedes has also developed a 2.0-litre 258hp version of this petrol engine for the C300 derivative. Beyond that lie only the Mercedes-AMG high performance derivatives. The first of these, the 3.0-litre V6 C43 4MATIC, now puts out 390hp, 23hp more than before. Beyond that lies only the V8 C63 AMG model, with a 4.0-litre V8 Biturbo engine offering either 476 or 510hp.

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