Category: Compact Executive 
Price Range: £19,672 to £52,567
Agile handling, driving position, quietness at speed, clever electronic controls and features, indicator repeaters built into door mirrors, big glovebox
Foot-operated parking brake, cheap, hard plastics in facia, hard ride on optional low-profile tyres, baffling array of buttons
The C-Class is a (relatively) affordable way into Mercedes ownership without compromising on the key Mercedes qualities and characteristics.
This generation of C-Class was more subtly curved than its predecessor, more sporty and a lot more modern; in fact, it looks so modern that the latest version, which goes on sale in summer 2004 (see separate road test), is barely discernibly different on the outside. It's still a fairly conservative car, however, and not as thrusting as a BMW 3-Series, which is a big plus point for many buyers. The (relatively) affordable way into Mercedes ownership - A-Class aside - the C-Class shares most of the virtues of the larger E-Class it resembles, and represents all you'd expect from a 'proper' Mercedes bar a few cheapo plastic bits. It makes a thoroughly sensible, solid choice, even if it's not the most dynamic or exciting model in its class.
Eight different engines are offered, from the entry-level C180K (143bhp) to the 354bhp C32 AMG (see separate road test for more on this). There are three diesels, the C200 CDI (122bhp), C220 CDI (143bhp) and the C270 CDI (170bhp), which account for the majority of C-Class sales. Sybarites will opt for the smooth, refined C320, however (218bhp). There are three trim levels, the usual Classic (entry-level), Elegance (plush) and Avantgarde (sporty-ish), plus there was a lengthy options list, so it's possible to choose a car to an almost-bespoke specification.
Latest Readers' Drives About the Mercedes C-Class
wrote on 14 11 2006