This video features the Mercedes-AMG C-Class range.

Ten Second Review

This fourth generation C-Class really does democratise Mercedes luxury for a wider audience, lighter, cleverer, nicer to ride in and beautifully finished. True, pricing still reflects its premium positioning but in this guise more than ever, this more efficient, more desirable design now has a look and feel worth every penny. A cut above its BMW 3 Series and Audi A4 rivals? Many will think so.

Background

How can it be that the car that Mercedes-Benz calls its best selling model has, for so long, felt a bit of an underachiever? The C-Class ought to have been all that the company knows about luxury saloons distilled into a smaller form, but for many years it was instead a car that was short on quality and long on price tag. The 2007 model repaired much of its reputation and the subsequent 2011 facelift brought even more features and better efficiency, but in this country, the C-Class always lagged a distant third in the compact executive sales charts behind the BMW 3 Series and the Audi A4. Much has changed in the interim though. The introduction of a smaller four-door saloon, the CLA, has allowed the C-Class to become a bit bigger and a good deal more luxurious. The current MK4 model is a fresh design from the ground up and it shows. BMW and Audi will need to be at the top of their respective games to keep this generation C-Class on the third step of the podium.

Driving Experience

The C-Class has for some time been, and will continue to be, focused on comfort and refinement. It's clear that this is where a good deal of the development budget has been spent in differentiating this generation car from the BMW 3 Series, the Audi A4 and the impressive Jaguar XE. To that end, it's the first car in its class to offer air suspension. This comes with an AGILITY SELECT switch that allows the driver to select between Comfort, ECO, Sport, Sport+ and Individual settings. Even if you stick with the standard steel springs, the front suspension has been greatly improved with a very clever four-link setup that isolates the struts, allowing for optimised geometry and better grip. The diesel engines begin with a Renault-derived 1.6-litre diesel unit that develops 136bhp in the C200d model. Next up is the 2.1-litre diesel unit, offering either 170bhp in the C220d or 204bhp in the C250d: with both C220d and C250d derivatives, there's the option of 4MATIC 4WD if you want it. If you need a bit more technology, there's a C300h hybrid model that combines a four-cylinder 204bhp diesel engine with a compact 27bhp electric motor and looks interesting. Alternatively, there's an even more sophisticated C350e plug-in hybrid model that mates 211bhp four cylinder petrol power with a 27bhp electric motor. Talking of petrol power, it comes in a simpler guise in the form of the 184bhp C200. There are Mercedes-AMG performance petrol models too. The C 43 gets 4MATIC traction and a twin-turbo V6 engine putting out 367bhp. It's the perfect choice if you can't quite stretch to the range-topping Mercedes-AMG C63. If you can afford this flagship though, you'll be getting quite a car, with a 4.0-litre V8 putting out either 476 or 510bhp, depending on the state of tune you select. Back in the real world in the mainstream C-Class line-up, there's a choice of two six-speed manual transmissions. Auto buyers get either 7 or 9-speed G-TRONIC units, depending on the derivative chosen. The electromechanical Direct Steer system is also fitted as standard.

Design and Build

Looking at the exterior of this C-Class, you'd be forgiven for thinking that this was the most conservative of styling directions. Any notionally car-literate person would be able to tell you it was a Mercedes C-Class, even if they'd never clapped eyes on the thing before. It's tidily executed, with hints of the latest S-Class in its detailing. The long bonnet, a passenger compartment set well back and short overhangs define the C-Class's classic proportions. Large wheels emphasise the rear and communicate a stylishly sporty character. Halogen headlamps are fitted as standard, but there are also two LED options offered: a static system and a dynamic version with an 'LED Intelligent Light System'. There's an estate model option, but its 490-litre seats up boot capacity isn't much greater than that of the saloon. You do get 1,510-litres of space in the station wagon variant though, if you're able to fold forward the rear bench. Drop inside and you'll see where this Mercedes differentiates itself. It's radically different to its predecessor with a broad centre console swooping between the front occupants, In automatic vehicles, a large one-piece centre console panel performs an elegant sweep from the centre air vents to the armrest. On vehicles with manual transmission, the centre console is slightly steeper and features two separate trim elements in order to create ample space for ergonomic operation of the shift lever. There's also a free-standing 7-inch central display - unless you opt for the ritzy COMAND Online package, in which case an 8.4-inch item is specified. Materials quality is much improved and there are some slick details like the five metallic round air vents and the touchpad in the hand rest over the Controller on the centre tunnel. There's even a head-up display option.

Market and Model

Prices for the C-Class start at around £29,000. There's a £1,200 premium if you want the estate variant. There are three trim levels, SE, Sport and AMG Line.To gain an insight into quite how deep the thought process behind the MK4 model C-Class is, consider this. The air conditioning system talks to the car's satellite navigation system. When you enter a tunnel, rather than start sucking diesel fumes into the cabin from that labouring artic, the car knows it's entering a tunnel and automatically switches the air conditioning to recirculate, bringing in fresh air only when you've emerged again. That's smart. As indeed is the COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS system. When a danger of collision persists and the driver fails to respond, the system is able to carry out autonomous braking at speeds of up to 125mph, thereby reducing the severity of collisions with slower or stopping vehicles. The system also brakes in response to stationary vehicles at a speed of up to 31mph, and is able to prevent rear-end collisions at speeds of up to 25mph. Each C-Class gets pelvis airbags for driver and front passenger as well as window bags, sidebags for the outer rear seats and a kneebag for the driver. The front passenger seat can also be fitted with automatic child seat recognition, which deactivates the airbag when a child seat is fitted and reactivates it once it has been removed. The sound system is also worth a mention, utilising the Frontbass system, which uses the space within the cross-member and side member in the body structure as a resonance chamber for really punchy bass response.

Cost of Ownership

We've been accustomed to Mercedes featuring a whole host of efficiency measures such as start/stop, advanced aerodynamics and low internal transmission friction but the MK4 model C-Class has been on a diet to help things improve. Despite being a significantly bigger car than before (some 95mm longer and 40mm wider), weight has been cut through extensive use of aluminium in the 'body in white'. In fact, use of aluminium here has gone up from around 10 per cent in the old car to around 50 per cent now, with the result that around 70kg, or the weight of an average adult, has been trimmed from the body structure. It's all led to some impressive efficiency stats. Where the old MK3 model C220 diesel emitted 117g/km of carbon dioxide, the fourth generation version latest model trims that down to just 103g/km, with combined cycle fuel economy improving to over 70mpg; a quite remarkable number to be associated with a compact executive car. Even the entry-level petrol model, the C200, manages 123g/km of CO2. Predictably, the C63 AMG super saloon is thirstier, returning 34.5mpg on the combined cycle and 192g/km of CO2. The headline-makers here though, are the HYBRID models. The diesel/electric C300 HYBRID delivers 78.5mpg on the combined cycle and 94g/km of CO2. The petrol/electric C300 PLUG-IN HYBRID variant meanwhile, does even better, recording a scarcely-believable 134.5mpg on the combined cycle and 48g/km of CO2.

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Specification

Body Glass
Rain sensor windscreen wipers
Heated windscreen washers
Electric windows one touch open/close
Green tinted glass
Brakes
ESP with ASR
Electronic parking brake
Hill start assist
Adaptive brake system
Red brake calipers
ABS with Brake Assist
Communication
Bluetooth interface for hands free telephone
Bluetooth system
Driver Aids
Dynamic drive mode selector
Speed sensitive steering
Attention assist
Active park assist with parktronic system
Collision prevention assist
Driver Convenience
Remote boot release
Driver Information
COMAND online nav with colour display, radio/CD/DVD/MP3, SD card, 10GB music, Emergency Call system, speed limit assist, linguatronic voice control
Mercedes connect me
Service indicator (ASSYST PLUS)
Multi function trip computer
Outside temperature gauge
Mercedes connect me with remote online
Driving Mirrors
Electric folding door mirrors + auto dimming rear view + drivers exterior door mirror
Electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors
Auto dimming rear view mirror
Embellishment Trims
Artico upholstered dashboard with contrast stitching
Entertainment
Frontbass loudspeakers
DAB Digital radio
USB Connection
SD card slot
2 usb ports in centre console
Exterior Body Features
Body coloured bumpers
Radiator grille with integral star
AMG body styling
Radiator grille with integral star and 2 louvres in matt iridium silver with chrome trim
Exterior Lights
LED daytime running lights
Adaptive brake lights
LED tail lights
Heating/Cooling/Ventilation
Dual zone automatic climate control
Interior Features
Nappa leather upholstery
12V power socket in centre console
Gearshift paddles
Multifunction steering wheel
3 spoke AMG steering wheel in Nappa leather/Dinamica
2 cupholders in front centre console
Sports pedals with stainless steel surfaces and rubber studs
Front centre armrest with storage compartment
Illuminated glovebox
Interior Lights
Advanced multicolour ambient light and LED interior light
Packs
Storage pack - C Class
Lighting pack - C class
Mirror pack - C Class
AMG Ride Control sports suspension
Memory pack - C Class
Safety
Child proof door locks
Warning triangle and first aid kit
Dual stage Driver/Passenger Airbags
Tyre pressure monitoring system
3 rear 3 point seatbelts
Active bonnet
Drivers knee airbag
Window airbags
Occupancy sensor for passenger seat
Front side airbags
Rear seatbelt warning indicator
Seats
Grey seatbelts
4 way adjustable lumbar support
2 way rear head restraints
AMG performance seats
40/20/40 split folding rear seats
4 way adjustable front head restraints
Rear top tether child seat ISOFIX attachment
Auto Mercedes-Benz child seat recognition sensor
Heated front seats
Front and rear head restraints
Lumbar support
Security
Alarm system/interior protection/immobiliser
Chrome surround electric key
Remote central locking
Vanity Mirrors
Sunvisors with illuminated vanity mirrors
Wheels - Spare
Tyre inflation kit

Options

Packs
Lane Tracking Package - C Class	£595.00
AMG interior glass fibre trim pack - C43/C63 AMG	£700.00
AMG interior carbon fibre trim pack - C43/C63 AMG	£700.00
AMG exterior carbon fibre pack 1 - C63 AMG	£3,370.00
Driver's pack - C63 AMG	£765.00
Driving Assistance Package - C Class	£1,695.00
Air-balance pack - C Class	£350.00
AMG exterior carbon fibre pack 2 - C43/C63 AMG	£1,260.00
Dynamic plus pack - C63 AMG	£4,590.00
Night Pack - C63 AMG	£585.00
Paint - Metallic
Metallic - Selenite Grey	£685.00
Metallic - Brilliant blue	£685.00
Metallic - Obsidian black	£685.00
Metallic - Diamond silver	£645.00
Metallic - Iridium silver	£685.00
Metallic - Tenorite grey	£645.00
Metallic - Cavansite Blue	£645.00
Paint - Solid
Solid - Black	Standard
Solid - Polar white	Standard
Exterior Body Features
Designo paint finish	£1,795.00
Solid paint	Standard
Designo metallic paintwork	£895.00
AMG performance exhaust system	£1,000.00
Two twin exhaust pipes	Standard
Metallic paint	£685.00
AMG body-coloured boot lip spoiler	Standard
Twin exhaust tailpipes x2	Standard
Interior Features
Gloss black/aluminium interior trim	Standard
Body Glass
Privacy glass (rear side windows and rear screen)	£385.00
Side windows surround in polished aluminium	Standard
Brakes
AMG ceramic high performance braking system	£4,285.00
Driver Information
Head up Display	£825.00
Analogue clock	Standard
Driver Aids
Cruise control with speedtronic variable speed limiter	Standard
Reversing camera	Standard
Surround camera system	£335.00
Exterior Lights
LED headlights	Standard
Intelligent LED headlight system with active Light System, cornering light function, Adaptive High Beam Assist and blue LED locator lighting	£545.00
Paint - Special
Designo magno - Selenite grey	£1,795.00
Designo magno - Iridium silver	£1,795.00
Designo metallic - Diamond white	£895.00
Safety
Pre-safe anticipatory safety system	Standard
Trim - Leather
Nappa leather - Platinum white/black	Standard
Nappa leather - Red pepper/black	Standard
Nappa leather - Black	Standard
Embellishment Trims
Black ash wood trim	£195.00
High gloss dark brown ash wood trim	£195.00

Performance

Performance
0 to 60 mph (secs)
0 to 62 mph (secs)	4
Engine Power - BHP	510
Engine Power - KW	375
Engine Power - PS
Engine Power - RPM	5500
Engine Torque - LBS.FT	516
Engine Torque - NM	700
Engine Torque - RPM	1750
Top Speed	155