MOTORS REVIEW: Mercedes-Benz C-Class

There are those out there that will already argue that petrol and diesel power is old hat, following the smooth power delivery and accelerative urge offered up by zero-emissions cars.

But when the trip computer in the C 220d AMG Line Premium told me that I could potentially travel 1,000 miles until I next visited a filling station it felt to me like the freedom of motoring had returned.

Crikey, at that rate I could be on the outskirts of Milan before the fuel light came on…

Like all new C-Class models the C 220d does have a little electrification up its sleeve. In the form tested here it is just a 48-volt mild hybrid set-up that helps it to a 58.9mpg average fuel consumption figure.

At a motorway cruise, I managed well over 60mpg, however.

For a diesel car that is good for a 7.3 second dash to 62mph and a 152mph top speed, that is some going.

Mercedes’ 9G Tronic automatic gearbox serves up smooth shifts despite the complicated-sounding nine-speed set-up to help preserve this balancing act between efficiency and performance.

Our test car came in at £45,600 as the mid-way stage in a trim line-up which consists of Sport, AMG Line, AMG Line Premium and AMG Line Premium Plus grades.

In a world where electrification is pushing up prices, the bona-fide premium feel of the C-Class manages to feel like genuinely good value at that.

The latest generation of C-Class swells front seat elbow room by 22mm, 15mm in the rear, while headroom has increased by 13mm.

Rear passengers also benefit from up to 35 mm more knee room.

Add to this that Mercedes has, for a few years, delivered some of the most striking interiors in the premium sector and you have a winning combination.

The now trademark sculptural air vents that top the dash are joined here by a 12.3-inch digital driver display and a striking Tesla-esque, portrait oriented 11.9-inch central infotainment display.

Wireless smartphone integration, LED headlights, heated front seats, leather upholstery, Blind Spot Assist and a rear-view camera are also standard across the range.

One AMG Line Premium feature that proved a challenge on my test was sports suspension lowered by 15mm over the standard Sport specification car.

Although this only made the car ride slightly on the firm side — and added to its slow-slung appearance — it also made the C-Class one of just three cars I can ever recall bottoming out as I drove them onto my driveway.

The other two were a Porsche 911 and the Mercedes EQC, with its battery riding low below the floor.

For me, Mercedes’ interiors have elevated it ahead of its premium brand rivals in recent years.

Dynamically, the C-Class is still outperformed by the BMW 3 Series in my estimation, but its cabin and show-stopping technology impresses hugely.

Combine that with impressive build quality and a driving range that could transport its occupants halfway across Europe non-stop and there is plenty to appeal.