Introduction
What Car? says...
The Mercedes C-Class executive car – as you can tell from these photographs – bears more than a passing resemblance to the German brand’s bigger models.
As problems go, though, the fact that the C-Class saloon 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.
Those versions still get an electric motor, but the battery is smaller and the car can’t run on electricity alone. 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. We'll bring you more details about those when they arrive.
While all that sounds great, what you really need to know is how the latest 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 pages. Our mystery shoppers have found lots of tempting new executive car deals.
FAQs
The C-Class does not feature in our 2022 What Car? Reliability Survey but Mercedes didn’t do very well, finishing in joint 23rd place out of 32 manufacturers.
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.
Private buyers will appreciate the extra fuel economy of the C220d, while company car drivers should make a beeline for the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) C300e. As for trim, we’d go for AMG Line to get the more desirable, sportier looks.
Performance for the C-Class is broadly similar to that of its equivalent rivals. There will be faster AMG models coming later with hybrid technology.
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.
The BMW 3 Series and Tesla Model 3 both beat the C-Class for boot capacity. The plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version sacrifices a little capacity due to the batteries under the floor, but that’s true of all PHEVs.
| RRP price range | £44,240 - £71,110 |
|---|---|
| Number of trims (see all) | 2 |
| 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) | £681 / £5,154 |
| Company car tax at 40% (min/max) | £1,362 / £10,307 |
| Available colours |
