Mercedes C-Class Saloon review

The Mercedes C-Class is pricer to buy than the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series and Volvo S60. However, you do get far more standard safety kit and technology, much of which you’ll only get on rival cars by adding them as options or stepping up to more expensive trim levels. So pricing for the C-Class is competitive. If you compare like-for-like alternatives to the C220d, the C-Class stacks up well against the A4 for CO2 emissions, although not the squeaky clean 320d BMW 3 Series. That means company car drivers are likely to pay more to run a C-Class than for a 3 Series, but should be better off than those going for the A4.

The C330e's good electric-only range means it’ll have a lower benefit-in-kind (BIK) rate than the equivalent 330e 3 Series and T8 S60, so you’ll have to sacrifice less of your salary to drive the C-Class. If you fancy taking the plunge and going all-electric instead, you could save even more money by going for the Tesla Model 3. Fuel economy, particularly for the C220d at 57.6mpg, isn’t quite as good as a 3 Series, but is ahead of the A4. The petrol C200 manages 44.8mpg, and that can’t be matched by any of its petrol rivals, including the S60.  

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Even entry-level Sport has the 12.3in digital driver display and 11.9in portrait-oriented central touchscreen, including smartphone integration and a reversing camera. The C-Class also gets standard LED headlights, leather trim and heated front seats. The AMG line trim gives you all that while altering the exterior and interior styling to be a little more sporty.

Stepping up to AMG line Premium gives you a 360-degree camera system, keyless entry and go, augmented reality navigation, and the electrically adjustable front seats with three-position memory.