Introduction
What Car? says...
The Mercedes C-Class executive car – as you might well have noticed – has more than a passing resemblance to the German brand’s bigger saloons.
As problems go, though, the fact that it could easily be mistaken for a Mercedes S-Class (which costs around twice as much) is right up there with your wallet being too small for your £50 notes and your diamond shoes being too tight.
Instead, the electric power improves low-speed performance while also reducing the strain on the engine to give you better fuel consumption and emissions. Mercedes even plans to use MHEV tech in the upcoming high-performance AMG versions, so you'll be able to feel a little less guilty every time you bury the accelerator.
While all that sounds great, what you really need to know is how the Mercedes C-Class stacks up against its competition for performance, interior comfort, running costs and so on. That's what we'll tell you over the next few pages of this review, along with which engine and trim combination makes the most sense.
Finally, remember that when you've decided which model to buy, we can help you save thousands off the list price if you search our free What Car? New Car Deals service. Our mystery shoppers have found lots of tempting new executive car deals.
FAQs
The current C-Class is too new to feature in our 2021 What Car? Reliability Survey but Mercedes didn’t do very well, finishing in joint 22nd place out of 30 manufacturers (Audi, BMW and Tesla all did better). The C-Class comes with a three-year/unlimited-mileage warranty with three years of breakdown cover. Read more here
There is no fully electric C-Class but there is the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) C300e, which has an impressive 68 miles of official electric-only range. All the other engines have mild-hybrid (MHEV) technology, so they get some electrical assistance. Read more here
Private buyers will appreciate the extra fuel economy and punchy performance of the C220d, while company car drivers should make a beeline for the plug-in hybrid C300e and its seriously low BIK taxation rate. As for trim, we’d go for AMG Line to get the more desirable, sportier looks that should help keep resale values fairly strong. Read more here
The C-Class’s AMG Line is a sportier trim level that you could loosely describe as the Mercedes equivalent of BMW’s M Sport. It gets unique alloy wheels, unique front and rear bumpers, larger front brakes and a leather trim cover for the dashboard. Read more here
In its 2022 Euro NCAP test, the C-Class was awarded five stars out of five, and scored high marks for adult and child occupant protection. The five-star rating matches premium rivals, but they were tested under less stringent regimes, so the C-Class could potentially keep you safer. Read more here
Yes, most versions of the Mercedes C-Class have rear-wheel drive. At the moment, only the most powerful C43 AMG is available as a four-wheel-drive version called 4Matic, although it will eventually be available with less powerful engines. Read more here
| RRP price range | £39,860 - £68,110 |
|---|---|
| Number of trims (see all) | 3 |
| Number of engines (see all) | 6 |
| Available fuel types (which is best for you?) | petrol, hybrid, diesel |
| MPG range across all versions | 31.4 - 62.8 |
| Available doors options | 4 |
| Warranty | 3 years / No mileage cap |
| Company car tax at 20% (min/max) | £370 / £4,932 |
| Company car tax at 40% (min/max) | £740 / £9,863 |
| Available colours |
