C-CHANGE (some text hidden) SECTIONED_new_mercedesc-class_2022

By Jonathan Crouch

Mercedes' fifth generation C-Class has taken a big step forward, thinks Jonathan Crouch

Ten Second Reviewword count: 49

Despite the rise and rise of the SUV, the C-Class continues to be Mercedes' best selling international model. No pressure then for this redesigned fifth generation 'W206'-series version. Which fully embraces various forms of engine electrification. And brings more than a dash of S-Class luxury to this important segment.

Backgroundword count: 173

Thinking of a German mid-sized premium badged saloon or estate? If so, then your options have always been pretty straightforward; the dynamic drive of a BMW 3 Series, the uber-cool technology of an Audi A4 or the aspirational image of a Mercedes C-Class. With this fifth generation 'C' though, Mercedes wants to offer more; a sharper drive to temp BMW folk; and a big enough step forward in technology and efficiency to make a potential Audi customer think again. We've heard this before down the decades of course, since the first generation 'W202'-series C-Class was first introduced back in 1993. Particularly with this MK5 model's 'W205'-series predecessor, launched in 2014 which went on to sell 2.5 million units. But there are strong grounds for Mercedes' claims for conquest business this time round. Under the skin, many aspects of its updated 'MRA' ('Mercedes Rear Architecture') platform are shared with the latest S-Class - as is much else. The aim is to redefine what 'luxury' means in this segment. Sounds promising. Let's take a look.

Driving Experienceword count: 373

There's quite a change here. This latest C-Class is powered only by electrified four cylinder powerplants - yes, right up to the top C 63 AMG variant. The mainstream engines have mild hybrid tech, with pricier plug-in options if you want them. The entry petrol model is the C200, which has a 1.5-litre unit offering 204hp. Next up is the 2.0-litre C300 with 258hp. Mercedes hasn't abandoned diesel either. There are two options, both of which use a revised 2.0-litre unit, which now gets an extra 42cc of capacity. The C220d has 197hp and the top C300d has 265hp. All C-Class models have to be had with 9-speed automatic transmission. We mentioned plug-in options, said by Mercedes to be 'significantly more electric' - and so it proves. Courtesy of a much larger 25kWh battery pack beneath the boot floor, the C300e petrol PHEV manages between 34 and 62 miles of all-electric driving range. It's also pretty quick, courtesy of a combined 304hp output and can drive in all-electric mode at up to 87mph. Mercedes has decided that overall, this fifth generation C-Class should be a little more engaging and, in its own words, 'significantly more electric'. And that's pretty much what you get. Push on a little around secondary road twists and turns and you'll discover that the car feels a little lighter and more agile than before; the steering's that bit more accurate, the grip that bit more tenacious. Is it BMW 3 Series-like? Not quite, but in terms of handling feedback, this 'C' has been lifted well clear of what used to be its most dynamically comparable rival, Audi's A4. The firm lowered sports suspension that most models have to have delivers excellent body control, but the downside of that is an unsettled ride over bumpy surfaces - which you can't do anything about because adaptive damping isn't an option for our market. At the top of the range, Mercedes has engineered the usual flagship high performance AMG 4MATIC models to complete the range. These both now have four cylinders, starting with the 402hp C 43, which is a mild hybrid. The top Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Performance variant is a four cylinder PHEV with a huge 680hp combined output.

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