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Despite the rise and rise of the SUV, the C-Class continues to be Mercedes' best selling international model. No pressure then for this redesigned fifth-generation 'W206'-series version. Which fully embraces various forms of engine electrification. And brings more than a dash of S-Class luxury to this important segment.

TIMESTAMPS
00:00​​​​ Introduction
00:37 Background
04:15 Driving Experience
14:03 Design & Build
29:38 Market & Model Range
44:10 Cost of Ownership
53:16 Summary

Background

Thinking of a German mid-sized premium badged saloon or estate? If so, then your options have always been pretty straightforward; the dynamic drive of a BMW 3 Series, the uber-cool technology of an Audi A4 or the aspirational image of a Mercedes C-Class. With this fifth generation 'C' though, Mercedes wants to offer more; a sharper drive to temp BMW folk; and a big enough step forward in technology and efficiency to make a potential Audi customer think again.

We've heard this before down the decades of course, since the first generation 'W202'-series C-Class was first introduced back in 1993. Particularly with this MK5 model's 'W205'-series predecessor, launched in 2014 which went on to sell 2.5 million units. But there are strong grounds for Mercedes' claims for conquest business this time round. Under the skin, many aspects of its updated 'MRA' ('Mercedes Rear Architecture') platform are shared with the latest S-Class - as is much else. The aim is to redefine what 'luxury' means in this segment. Sounds promising. Let's take a look.

Driving Experience

There's quite a change here. This latest C-Class is powered only by electrified four cylinder powerplants - yes, right up to the top C 63 AMG variant. The mainstream engines have mild hybrid tech, with pricier plug-in options if you want them. The entry petrol model is the C200, which has a 1.5-litre unit offering 204hp. Next up is the 2.0-litre C300 with 258hp.

Mercedes hasn't abandoned diesel either. There are three options, all of which use a revised 2.0-litre unit, which now gets an extra 42cc of capacity. The C220d has 200hp and the top C300d has 265hp. All C-Class models have to be had with 9-speed automatic transmission.

We mentioned plug-in options, said by Mercedes to be 'significantly more electric' - and so it proves. Courtesy of a much larger 25kWh battery pack beneath the boot floor, the C300e petrol PHEV manages between 34 and 62 miles of all-electric driving range. It's also pretty quick, courtesy of a combined 304hp output and can drive in all-electric mode at up to 87mph. Mercedes has engineered the usual flagship high performance AMG models to complete the range.

Design and Build

From the front end, the design cues echo those introduced with the facelifted E-Class, particularly the grille and the full-LED headlight arrangement. This 'C' has moved closer in size to an 'E' too, being 65mm longer and 10mm wider, though the roof line has fallen by 7mm. Key aesthetic features include the smart bonnet with its twin power bulges and the stronger shoulder line which flows into a neat boot lid that's flanked by angular LED tail lights and which features a subtle integrated spoiler.

The previous generation C-Class was heavily influenced by the larger S-Class model, as is this 'W206'-series model - and you notice that most of all inside. A huge portrait-style touchscreen now dominates the centre stack, with three 'jet engine'-style circular vents just above and single vents at either end of the dash. That screen is a real cabin talking point, as is the fact that for the first time in a C-Class, the instrumentation is all fully digital. A 'floating' 10.25-inch digital instrument panel takes the place of the previous more conventional binnacle, with a larger 12.3-inch screen available as an option. Either way, you can customise the display via three 'themes' - 'Discreet', 'Sport' and 'Classic'.

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