Used Mercedes C-Class Estate 2014-2021 review

Suppose you want the load-lugging capabilities of a mid-size estate car with the premium feel of the very best executive cars. In that case, this previous generation version of the Mercedes C-Class Estate should definitely be on your shortlist.

In addition, the three-pointed star still carries a lot of cachet. The only problem for the C-Class Estate has always been the stiff competition it faces in this class, namely in the form of the contemporary Audi A4 Avant and BMW 3 Series Touring. However, its comfort and relaxed driving experience, not to mention its air of dependability, have been enough to win plenty of admirers in both the new and used car markets.

For this 2014 to 2021 fourth-generation version, Mercedes upped the ante further, with a new platform underneath that enhanced passenger space and boot space, which was up to 1510 litres with the rear seats folded and had a wide, flat load bay area. Driving characteristics also improved and there was a new design for both its interior and exterior, with a noticeable quality improvement.

Engines: Not surprisingly, it’s the diesel-engined cars that are in most demand. The C200 d has enough poke for most. The C220 d feels a little livelier and comes close to matching the smaller engine in economy and CO2 emissions, too, so is the most popular unit in the range. The thirstier C250 d, while admirably brisk, is harder to recommend. Petrol cars kick off with the C200, which is a refined and adequate performer, and top off with the C43 and C63 AMG models, two twin-turbo V6 variants that put sheer pace and track-car agility above any considerations of comfort and economy.

Economy is best served by the petrol-electric hybrid version, the C350 e, a strong performer with impressive claimed economy. However, as with all similar hybrid cars, such figures should perhaps be taken with a pinch of salt, unless your journeys are short and you can plug it in frequently.

Trims and equipment: Opt for the entry-level SE trim and you'll find 16in alloy wheels, auto wipers, cruise control, a reversing camera and Mercedes' Collision Prevention Assist Plus system fitted as standard, while inside occupants are treated to a 7.0in infotainment system with DAB tuner, multimedia interface and touchpad, and electric seat height and backrest adjustment for the front seats.

Upgrade to Sport and you get heated front seats, Garmin-powered sat-nav, front and rear parking sensors, and 17in alloys. Sport models also get LED headlights, a lowered suspension, folding and dimming mirrors, and leather sports seats. The range-topping AMG Line specs include 18in AMG alloy wheels, an aggressive bodykit and sports suspension.

Ride and handling: On the road, the C-Class Estate’s dynamic behaviour and ride comfort are a step up from the older variants, even if it’s not quite as sharp to drive as its two major rivals. Where it disappoints is in refinement, with too much road noise – and, most noticeably in the diesel variants, too much engine noise – making its way back into the interior.

However, the C-Class Estate is a solid and dependable buy, with plenty of trim levels, a well-equipped interior and lots of class-leading safety and security kit. Add to that its strong residual values and it’s clear this model is definitely a Merc worth considering.

If you're interested in finding a used C-Class Estate, or any of the other cars mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

There are plenty of examples of this generation of the C-Class Estate on sale.

You’ll need upwards of £8500 at the time of writing to secure a car from this generation, though, as around or below that figure will only get you examples with very high mileages or Cat D or N issues.

Spend between £10,000 and £12,000 and you could find yourself cars from 23017 or 2018, depending on trim. Spend between £12,000 and £18,000 to secure a good example from 2019 or 2020 and £20,000 to £25,000 on the final 2021 models. The later hybrid model will still cost you a little more, however, and you'll need more than that even for the super-sporting C43 and C63 AMG cars.

Fuel Economy

Once bought, running costs should be reasonable. The diesels are the most economical to run, with the hybrid version recording an official claimed figure of 134.5mpg, according to the older nEDC testing regime, equating to a decently low company car tax liability and zero road tax if the car was registered before April 2017. The most popular model, the C220 d, can claim 65.7mpg in some versions – a match for the C200 d’s top score. The C200 petrol-engined car can produce a claimed figure of 51.4mpg, depending on wheel and tyre size, for a CO2 output of 128g/km, which is respectable for a car of this type and performance.

However, all figures are based on the older NEDC tests. Under the more stringent WLTP tests, the C200d averages 61.4mpg, the C220d 55.4mpg, the C300d 47.9mpg. The petrol C180 gets 43.5mpg, the C200 44.1mpg, the C300 40.4mpg.

Road tax (VED)

Cars registered before the tax changes of 1 April 2017 came into force will pay the annual car tax (VED) according to CO2 emissions, while those registered after that date will pay a flat rate, currently £190 a year. Be warned, though, if your C-Class cost over £40,000 new, it will then attract a supplementary luxury car tax, payable from years two to six and currently £410 a year. To find out more about the current road tax costs, click here.

Servicing

Servicing costs for the C-Class Estate can be expensive, as can replacement parts, but there is a pay-monthly service plan available to safeguard against prohibitive costs. At the time of writing, such plans are available from around £27 per month and guarantee the cost of parts and labour for up to three services.

Reliability

Owners participating in our annual What Car? Reliability Survey have found the Mercedes C-Class Estate to be mostly reliable, maintaining its dependability over several years.

However, some owners reported faults, notably with exhaust gas sensors failing, particularly in cars with less than 50,000 miles, which could lead to costly repairs.

Experiences with Mercedes' dealer network varied, with mentions of high servicing costs at brand dealerships. Costs associated with updating sat-nav maps and consumable parts were also highlighted as concerns for some owners.

Our dedicated reliability page can tell you more about the Used Mercedes C-Class Estate’s common problems.

Engines

If you’re in the market for a petrol-engined car, your options are really limited to the C200, a 181bhp inline four-cylinder engine whose low-speed poke next to its diesel stablemates feels a little weak and whose refinement is not strong enough to make it recommendable over the diesels.

The twin-turbo V6 C43 and C63 AMG cars are high-performance and hard-riding examples calculated to appeal to those after supercar-baiting speed and handling. They cost a large sum to buy and will cost even more to run and maintain.

The 1.6-litre engine in the C200 d gives the car considerable virtues: it’s frugal, relatively refined and reasonably smooth, but it’s short of the power needed to push the C-Class around adequately. The 2.1-litre C220 d is a much better bet, being almost as efficient and cheap to run but with some added shove. It’s the version we’d choose. The C250 d has plenty of go but sacrifices economy. The C350 e is a petrol-electric hybrid affair that has a spectacular claimed economy. Some versions cost more than £40,000, however, and those registered after April 2017 will attract a higher rate of road tax.

Specifications

Trims range from the well-equipped SE, with climate and cruise controls, a DAB radio and a reversing camera, through Sport, which adds parking sensors and an uprated interior trim and is our pick, up to AMG Line, whose add-ons are largely cosmetic and we feel not worth paying the extra for.

Our favourite Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate C220 d Sport

It’s the strength of the C-Class Estate’s competition that, in some eyes, is its undoing. The mid-size estate class has one of the strongest fields of any class of car and to be in one that features both the super-competent Audi A4 Avant and the class-establishing BMW 3 Series Touring is distinctly bad luck.

The Audi A4 Avant is more practical than the C-Class Estate, with more space inside and a slightly larger boot. It’s more refined, too, with a number of highly efficient and very smooth engines. It’s also better to drive, thanks to its sharper steering and more eager handling. The interior has always impressed us for its relative simplicity yet high-quality feel and its infotainment system, controlled using a rotary-style controller, is clear and intuitive to use.

The BMW 3 Series Touring is, to most degrees, still the class leader in this segment, edging ahead of even the brilliant A4 Avant. Its success is centred on its entertaining rear-wheel-drive handling, the effortlessly upmarket feel and its excellent build quality, as well as its boot space (matching the C-Class and the Avant) and flexible interior. Here is a premium car that will more than satisfy the demands of the high-mileage executive plodding the UK’s byways, the family man in need of decent space and reasonable running costs and the enthusiastic motorist wanting something fun to drive.

Consider also the cheaper Mk7 version of the Volkswagen Golf Estate, which carries with it all the virtues of the hatchback version and adds a huge boot, and, if you're looking for a bargain, the older Honda Civic Tourer, which is good to drive and has an even more enormous capacity than the VW.

For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter here

If you're interested in finding a used C-Class, or any of the other executive cars mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.