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C-Class Saloon

Mercedes-Benz C-Class Saloon C220 CDI BlueEff. Elegance 4dr Review

For The engine gives a broad spread of power and competitive running costs, while Elegance trim gives you leather-effect upholstery, which you might well want in your Merc. The smooth ride and strong refinement make it a great cruiser, too.

Against The engine sounds a bit grumbly when you rev it hard, and the Elegance version’s bigger wheels mean higher emissions, so it’s not as affordable on company car tax as the SE. List prices and leasing rates are steep, too.

Mercedes-Benz C-Class Saloon

What Car? says

3 out of 5 stars

A good choice of C-Class if you can’t live without your creature comforts. It’s good to drive and running costs are competitive, but company car drivers will be much better off with the C220 CDI SE.

What Car? readers say

4.75


Key facts

0–60mph
8.4 secs
Top speed
144 mph
Average mpg
64.2
Tank range
816 miles
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Features

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Size

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The full Mercedes-Benz C-Class review


Buyer's notes

Target Price team says:

Mercedes offers the C-Class in two distinct flavours – traditional or sporty. SE and Elegance models focus on what you generally associate with Merc saloons – comfort, refinement and understated elegance. Sport models are aimed at more youthful buyers and have exterior styling tweaks, firmer suspension and more direct steering.

We prefer the smoother ride and lower prices of SE and Elegance models, but if you’ve got the money the Sport models are fine.

Running costs for most models are reasonable, and private buyers have the reassurance of excellent resale values.

Many C-Class models will be run as company cars, however. High list prices mean that contract hire rates are a little steep, but all models are highly competitive for CO2 emissions, which keeps tax bills down. The C220 CDI SE manual is particularly affordable as a company car, because it’s the only car in the range that qualifies for the 13% tax bracket, the lowest possible for diesels.

Reader test team says:

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