The Mercedes-Benz C-Class must surely be the model that took the maker to the masses.
Almost 11 million C-Class buyers worldwide – including more than 60,000 in Australia - can’t be wrong.
Here’s an all-new version of the compact sedan sporting the famous three-pointed star, which is the latest in a series dating back to 1982.
The clever folk at Mercedes-Benz, whose founder Karl Benz invented the internal combustion motor car a century ago, haven't got a minute to lose as they work hard to contest arch-rival, the equally revered BMW 3 Series.
The fifth-generation C-Class has rekindled an extraordinary rivalry between these two thoroughbred machines.
Theirs has been an unusual relationship.
For at least the first half of its existence, the compact Beemer tormented Mercedes with its crisp, uncluttered styling, its legendary handling and, consequently, its undisputed appeal to a younger group of buyers.
In that decades-long feud, Mercedes spent much time gazing ahead as the younger, more athletic looking Beemer powered its way out of sight.
This has been a battle of all-out technological advancement on both sides, but one pitting young versus old, sexy versus sensible.
But a funny thing happened over the last decade or two. In that time the two models have basically changed places on the totem pole – BMW ramping up luxury and quality and Mercedes trying hard to be sportier and sexier in the eyes of younger buyers.
That equation first started to change in 2007 with the release of the third-generation Mercedes, code-named the W204 – a car that rivalled the 3 Series both dynamically and in buyer appeal.
That has meant the past three generations of C-Class have been equal, and in many cases superior, when it comes to taking the brand to a younger, more active market.
But what happens when all those young, sporty BMW fans get a little older?
Whatever the reason Mercedes, after all these years, is once again spruiking the car’s comfort credentials.
The slogan for this all-new C-Class invites buyers to “enter the comfort zone”.
Benz even went to the extent of suggesting the new C-Class is more like a shrunken version of Benz’s long-established comfort flagship, the imperious S-Class.
So, where does this latest compact Benz fit?
Well, the model will initially be offered in two configurations - the entry-level C200 and the more alluring C300. No doubt there will be other versions, including electric and high-performance AMG variants.
This test care is the C300, an upgrade of the mid-range C250 in the previous model.
And it’s instantly clear that Mercedes are, once again, throwing everything at BMW, including a long list of technology and features borrowed straight from the flagship S-Class.
Among the basket of tricks the C-Class has inherited from its bigger, more luxurious sibling are a new, 48-Volt “mild hybrid” electrical system that provides a small boost to the engine when it decides to, which has effectively added another 30kW of power with no adverse effect on the car.
The list is long, but it needs to be with a $90,400 price tag that’s almost $13k more than the model it replaces.
The C300 does borrow a stunning, 11.9-inch media display, showcasing Benz’s brilliant MBUX infotainment and cockpit control system. It uses a dazzlingly sharp, portrait-mounted touch screen which has transformed the appearance of the already smart-looking family four-cylinder.
A fingerprint scanner, 360-degree parking camera and a full suite of safety electronics complete a comprehensive upgrade of this curvy, etherial looking five-seater.
There’s also a four-wheel steering system which, at speeds below 60km/h, cause the rear wheels to steer in the opposite direction to those at the front, delivering a reduced turning circle and the ability to squeeze into tight streets or into difficult car parks.
Beyond 60km/h, the rear wheels still help with the steering, but all four steer as one, which Benz says brings better high-speed stability and improved ride because of the slightly stretched wheelbase.
Mercedes describes the car’s new design as “seductively evolved” which must sound very familiar for Nigella Lawson fans. The interior they call “sensual purity”.
But the message they want to send is: “like an S-Class, but much cheaper”.
The C300 uses a two-litre turbo-charged petrol engine, while the 200 is powered by a 1.5-litre, turbo-charged 4-cylinder. Both utilise an outstandingly smooth and sweet nine-speed automatic transmission.
Coupled with the effect of the mild-hybrid system it allows the car to sip a frugal 6.9L/100km for the smaller engine and 7.3L/100km in the more athletic C300.
It is noticeably more willing than its predecessor and its superb balance, strong dynamics and well-evolved ride make it a delight to drive.
If the emphasis has been switched away from sporty driving, the new C-Class is impressively comfortable and high-tech.
And there’s also the fact that it’s flat out gorgeous, which always helps.
MERCEDES-BENZ C300
* HOW BIG? Slightly longer, and with a longer wheel-base, than the balanced, agile C-Class it replaces.
* HOW FAST? These are not the performance versions of the C-Class, but the new model is noticeably quicker and the power more linear than the previous model. It’s 0-100km/h sprint is a flat six seconds.
* HOW THIRSTY? Officially its thirst is 7.3L/100km, although its nine-speed auto makes it more frugal on the open road.
* HOW MUCH? The C200 costs $78,900 and the better-equipped C300 starts from $90,400 plus on-road charges.
