Mercedes-Benz C-Class Review 2024

If you want a small posh saloon the Mercedes-Benz C-Class is perfect. From its smart but understated exterior to its techno-fest and snazzily appointed interior, the Mercedes C-Class gives you a full-bore serving of what Mercedes has to offer. It supplies comfortable motoring by the bucket full and engines that are both quick and cheap to run, though costs rise noticeably with the high performance AMG versions.

The Mercedes-Benz C-class is a rival to cars such as the sporty-driving BMW 3 Series and Jaguar XE, tectonically built (but somewhat dated) Audi A4 and the electric Tesla Model 3. The Mercedes has the nicest interior of the lot, combining the technology of the Tesla Model 3 with the sculpted shapes and premium feel of Mercedes' larger models. Its ability to cocoon you away from the world makes it the ideal choice if comfort's what you're looking for from a car. 

Tesla may have had a monopoly on smart saloons with infotainment-centric, minimalist interiors but the Mercedes C-Class brings that to an end and feels a cut above in terms of build quality. The Merc's sculpted shapes, smart trims and chrome finishes probably won't keep Elon Musk awake at night, but they should.

As ever though, there is a sense that money has been saved in some areas to help cover the cost of the sizeable screen. Bits like the control stalks that have a brittle finish give the game away, as do the plastic speaker covers that are a poor relation of the metal Burmester versions in the old model. One test car we tried also had a faint but annoying squeak from behind its infotainment screen.

The Mercedes C-Class is an infotainment screen with a car thrown in for free – its interior displays are that big. The centre screen is 11.9 inches in size and the screen behind the steering wheel is 12.3 inches. 

The centre screen looks like an iPad and it works exactly like one. The screen in front of you, meanwhile, is controlled by tiny touch pads on the steering wheel which work reasonably well.

The whole shebang is controlled by Mercedes' MBUX operating system which has a voice activation system that's better than any of its rivals and just as accomplished as the likes of what you get from Google and Amazon. Saying the words "Hey Mercedes..." followed by your request can be used to control almost anything – from programming the nav to turning up the heater. 

It's clever, too, say "Hey Mercedes, I'm freezing" and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class will send all hands to the pumps getting the cabin hot. But say "Hey Mercedes, I'm a bit cold" and it will only turn the heater up a few degrees.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are fitted but – and we've never said this before – we'd rate the in-built system just as highly.

This is helped by the augmented reality nav fitted as standard. It's the same tech that's been available on the Mercedes A-Class for years now, but it looks even better on the Mercedes C-Class' huge screen and has yet to be bettered by any other manufacturer. Plus models are the only ones to also have a head-up display. 

Even if you and your front seat passenger are over six-feet tall, passengers of the same height will be able to fit in the back without brushing their knees off the seats in front. There's also plenty of headroom and there's no shortage of elbow and hip room. The back seats are also more supportive than in rivals like the Audi A4. 

The downside of the supportive back seats is that the chair in the middle is hard and sits higher so you get less headroom. It'll still be fine on the rare occasions you have three people in the back and you also get two ISOFIX points for the safe mounting of child seats. 

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class interior is sprinkled with plenty of storage. That includes obligatory cup holders (in a cubby that’s lid sinks down and back into the centre console), a large box hidden under the front centre armrest, large pockets in all four doors and a big glove box that's split by a shelf. 

Loading big stuff in the boot is helped by a large opening that's makes it easy to use every last litre of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class' 455 litre boot capacity. The boot has handy features like tie-down and shopping hooks, plus a netted compartment on the left hand side. 

The back seats fold electrically 20-40-20 by pulling a couple of buttons at the front of the boot and they leave a smooth floor that means you can push long items into place.  

In terms of the exterior, the 2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class' dimensions are 4793mm long, 1820mm wide and 1446mm tall. 

The Mercedes C-Class launched with four engines – the 204PS C200 and 258PS C300 petrols, as well as the 197PS C220 d and 265PS C300 d diesels. They all come fitted as standard with a nine-speed automatic gearbox that is slick and responsive in equal measure. Mercedes then added the C300e plug-in hybrid with its 313PS and up to 70 miles of EV driving range.

We've only sampled the entry-level C220 d, but we're struggling to see why you'd need anything else. It gets from 0-62mph in 7.3 seconds, 440Nm of torque means it has plenty of mid-range grunt and it tops out at 152mph. 

The C220 d is a smooth operator that only reveals some classic diesel clatter high in the rev range where you'll rarely need to venture. The fact that it does all this while returning up to 60mpg confirms it as the choice for shrewd owners.

For performance fans, the the C43 and C63 Mercedes-AMG models use the same 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine in different states of tune. They miss the aural drama of the old V8 motors, but these engines are more efficient and the 408PS C43 manages 0-62mph in just 4.6 seconds. If that seems a little tardy, the C63 drops this to 3.4 seconds thanks to its 476PS output.

The C-Class comes into its own on the motorway where you'll hear barely any road, wind or engine – it's the quietest of all it's rivals and not far off the cathedral-like calm you get in the range-topping Mercedes S-Class. Even the AMG models can make discreet progress when you're not making the most of their prodigious power outputs.

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class has been tested by Euro NCAP and received an expected five stars.

Standard safety kit includes automatic emergency brakes, active lane assist that keeps you in lane, a blind spot warning system and a bonnet that pops up in an impact to protect pedestrians from the hard engine below. You also get numerous air bags. 

You can boost safety even further by opting for the Driving Assistance Package Plus (£1695) which adds active cruise control that can steer the car around corners and operate the car's accelerator and brakes.

Mercedes-Benz was rated 20th in the 2023 HonestJohn.co.uk Satisfaction Index with a score of 87.52%. This is out of 29 makes in the survey, but the C-Class should be better than that score.

As you might expect insurance for the Mercedes-Benz C-Class is not going to be cheap. The lowliest C200 models come in at group 33, with higher specification cars up into group 37 and 38. C300d and C300e models are anywhere between group 38 and 43 depending on the trim level. The C43 and C63 sit in groups 44 and 50, respectively.

You can't buy a Mercedes-Benz C-Class for less than £40,000 new, so you'll be paying the £390 VED premium whatever version you choose. Go for the C200 petrol and you'll pay £210 in the first year followed by £600 in the subsequent years, while at the other end of the scale the C300 is £670 in the first year and £1260 in the following five years.

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class was initially available in four trim levels.

Mercedes-Benz C-Class Sport was the entry-level trim. It has restrained styling courtesy of 17-inch alloy wheels and basic auto-dipping LED headlights, but with a sporty slant thanks to suspension that is lowered by 15mm compared to standard. Inside, you get carbon-fibre-like interior trim and two huge infotainment screens. Kit includes heated front seats with lumbar adjustment, two-zone climate control, keyless start, wireless charging and a reversing camera.

Mercedes-Benz subsequently dropped the Sport, so the C-Class AMG Line took over as the base trim with its revised body kit which includes a more imposing grille, 18-inch wheels, larger front brakes and tinted windows. The inside continues in a similar vein with AMG branded floor mats, a nicer looking multi-function steering wheel, metal pedals and a dashboard that is wrapped in man-made leather.

Mercedes-Benz C-Class AMG Line Premium models jump another step. They get 19-inch multi-spoke wheels and Digital Lights that can shape their beam to the road and around other road users, as well as being able to project messages onto the road – to advise when your route requires you to change lane, for example. 

Getting in is easier thanks to keyless entry and as you open the door you're welcomed by the cool glow of illuminated kick plates. Once in, you'll find the cabin is boosted by augmented reality sat-nav and a handy 360-degree camera display. The front seats and steering wheel are also electrically adjustable and have a memory function. 

Climb to the top of the tree and you'll find the Mercedes-Benz C-Class AMG Line Premium Plus with sportier looking 19-inch wheels and a panoramic glass sunroof. Interior kit includes a head-up display and four-zone climate control which gives all four passengers separate controls.

The C43 and C63 come in their own unique trim specifications with leather seats, exterior detailing, 20-inch alloy wheels, and even their own style of steering wheel.