What Car? Car of the Year 2005 - Compact executive

Mercedes C180K Classic SE
List Price £21,900
Target Price £20,472


The winner of this class needs to have a huge breadth of abilities. Buyers may be moving up from a family car or down from an executive car but a compact executive has to satisfy them all. The Mercedes C-class does exactly that.

The secret of its success is a subtle but highly effective face-lift that took place last summer. It’s even more appealing to keen drivers following these revisions, but just as comfortable and refined.

Don’t worry that this car has the base engine. It’s a strong, smooth unit that’s well up to the job of hauling the C-class around and is helped by a new six-speed manual gearbox.

Whether you’re a private punter or a business buyer, excellent residual values help towards very acceptable running costs. You get a lot of car for your money. The C-class has the measure of its rivals for space, too. Head- and legroom are so good that the last thing you could call this car is compact.

Production of last year’s champion, the BMW 3-series, ends soon and the car’s replacement is not yet with us, but this is no hollow victory for Mercedes.

Broadband users click here to see our video review of the Mercedes C-class

Dial-up users click here to see our video review of the Mercedes C-class

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Audi A4 2.0 TDi SE
List Price £21,950
Target Price £20,565

Jaguar X-type 2.0D S
List Price £21,495
Target Price £19,829