Used Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate 1993 - 2001 review

What's the used Mercedes-Benz C Class like?

The estate version of the C-Class came out in 1996, a full three years after the saloon, and it seems that the time was spent making sure that the boot was designed properly. Unlike most compact executive-based estates, the C-Class is a genuinely spacious and practical load-lugger.

It's just as roomy in the cabin, too. The head, leg and shoulder room is better than any similar car of the day, and only an uncomfortable centre rear seat stops it being a roomy five-seater.

Overview

C-Class makes a better estate car than most compact executives

Pros

• Comfortable, refined and classy
• but a decent workhorse
• too

Cons

• It's not as much fun to drive as a 3 Series, and it's only comfortable for four

Solid all-round build quality is accompanied by very good reliability, and Mercedes of this age can go way past the 100,000-mile mark. What's more, provided it's in good nick, even a C-Class of this age will give the prestige impression Mercedes is famous for.

Granted, it isn't as good to drive as a BMW 3-Series, but excellent refinement and a ride that stays smooth on any surface make this a very capable cruiser.

Our recommendations

Which used Mercedes-Benz C Class should I buy?

The C180 (1.8 petrol) and C200 (2.0 petrol) are the most common, and very affordable to buy and run. Overall, we prefer the C200, as its fuel economy doesn't suffer too much from the extra performance.

The C230 (2.3 petrol), C240 (2.4 or 2.6 V6), C280 (2.8 V6) and the supercharged C230K (also 2.3 petrol) are all good, but none of the mainstream C-Class estates are especially quick. The hot AMG (4.3 V8) version is a different matter, but it's extortionately expensive to buy and run.

The C250 TD (2.5-litre five-cylinder diesel) gives decent fuel economy and performance, bearing in mind it's old technology. A direct-injection 125bhp 2.2-litre C220 was introduced in February 1999, and a common-rail version in March 2000 - these are more refined and economical, but harder to find and more expensive.

No trim is particularly well-stocked, but Elegance provides the best balance of kit and cost. And, if you can, find a car with an automatic gearbox - the standard manual is notchy.