Review
Mercedes has given its latest C-Class a choice of two faces to take on its key rivals from BMW and Audi, which has steadily been pinching sales. The two are easily identified - the Sport has a more aggressive front with the three-pointed star set into the grille - and there are differences that are more than skin deep. The Sport models feature lower, firmer suspension as standard, along with 17in alloy wheels and a subtle AMG-crafted body kit. There's also the option of so-called Agility Control, which lets the driver select suspension settings depending on the style of driving.
The SE, which is the entry-level trim for the new C-class, and the Elegance have a more traditional Merc nose, with the three-pointed star badge sprouting from the bonnet as you'd expect. Despite not having the firmer suspension of the Sport, there's nothing wrong with the handling of these models and Mercedes has done away with the previous version's unsporting steering feel to replace it with reactions that make the most of the car's superb front end grip. It's not quite in the same league as a BMW 3-Series for that nth degree of precision, but it's more than good enough for most of us normal drivers on British roads.
With most of the five petrol and three diesel engines on offer in the C-Class, buyers can specify any of the three trims, except with the 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel and 3.5-litre V6 petrol, which only comes in the more lavish Elegance and Sport specs. Entry point to the range remains the C180, which uses a supercharged 1.8-litre engine with 154bhp. The C200 uses the same engine in a keener state of tune to produce 181bhp, though acceleration is not markedly stronger in the more powerful version. The rest of the petrol engines are V6s, of 2.5-, 3.0- and 3.5-litre capacities in the C230, C280 and C350 respectively. Things are a little easier to follow on the diesel front with the C200 and C220 CDi models sharing the same 2.1-litre turbodiesel in 134bhp form for the 200 and 168bhp in the 220. The C320 CDi has Merc's excellent 3.0 V6 turbodiesel and feels every bit as muscular as its top-of-the-line petrol counterpart. Of all the engines, it's the C220 CDi that provides the best mix of economy, performance and refinement. That said, all versions suffer from excessive wind noise at motorway speeds, quite a failing in a mile-eater like this.
There's plenty of space in the new C-Class, while the quality of materials, and how they are fixed together, is a welcome improvement over its predecessor. However, it's still not as solid-feeling as an Audi A4 or Lexus IS. Even so, the latest C-Class is a much more accomplished car than the previous generation and puts Mercedes is back on terms with its rivals.