Written by Richard Kilpatrick Updated: 12 June 2023

Overview

A premium compact estate car really does seem to tick every box. They’re desirable, practical and tend to be very good to drive, especially compared with similarly priced SUVs that are increasing in popularity.

All of these are very much the case with the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate, now in its sixth generation. The variety of small estate cars is reducing every year, it seems, and in a market filled with rather angular, aggressive styles the C-Class has a quiet elegance that stands out for being subtle. Its main rivals include fellow Germans such as the BMW 3 Series Touring and Audi A4 Avant, as well as the Swedish Volvo V60.

What’s it like inside?

Although the C-Class is one of the smaller Mercedes models, it has become less of a budget option, and more of a compact Mercedes S-Class.

Step inside and the first thing you notice is the vast 11.9-inch infotainment screen and accompanying 12.9-inch digital instrument display. Both look great and, once you’ve learned your way around their menus, they’re pretty easy to use.

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Interior quality is pretty impressive. Most things you touch feel soft and like they’re built to last but there are some cheaper, fiddly bits. The touch-sensitive steering wheel controls are not only a little tricky, but they feel a bit plasticky too.

The seats are very comfortable with plenty of adjustment, while road and wind noise is kept at bay thanks to generous levels of sound deadening.

Practicality and boot space

Loads of room up front, no problems here. But space in the back seats is a little more confined than you might imagine a posh estate car to be. Two six footers can sit next to each other in the rear, but they’d ultimately be more comfortable in the back of a 3 Series Tourer or A4 Avant.

Open up the standard fit electric tailgate and you’ll discover an impressive boot. It measures in at 490 litres, which means it’s roughly the same size as a A4 Avant and BMW 3 Series Tourer.

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If you opt for a plug-in hybrid model you’ll lose out on underfloor storage. But the same can be said about the BMW and the Audi doesn’t come with a plug-in model.

You can split the rear seats in useful combinations to free up a bit more space, but you can’t recline the rear seats. At least you can fold them though.

What’s it like to drive?

This largely depends on which engine you choose. The C-Class comes with two petrol engines, two diesels and a plug-in hybrid.

The cheapest 1.5-litre C200 should be enough for most buyers, serving up 204hp, 300Nm of torque and a 0–62mph time of around eight seconds. Despite it being the cheapest one on offer, you don’t need to work it very hard and it’s quiet too. The 2.0-litre C300 ups things to 258hp, giving it loads more mid-range punch. It’s usefully quicker but we doubt it’s worth the additional money for most buyers.

The C220d uses a 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel unit. Diesel might be going out of fashion, but it really suits this car. It’s an ideal motorway companion and gobbles up the miles. All of its power is essentially available from as low as 1,800rpm, making overtaking a doddle.

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Next up is the C300d. This more powerful diesel model is even better at overtaking. The 0–62mph sprint is dispatched in less than six seconds, which is enough to trouble a lot of hot hatchbacks. Despite this, we can’t help but feel most owners would be better served by the C220d for its cheaper price and better fuel economy.

The plug-in hybrid C300e is a good choice if you want a bit of zero (local) emissions driving as its battery pack can store enough energy for a maximum range of 64 miles. It’s surprisingly fast when the 2.0-petrol engine and electric motor work in tandem, as shown by the respectable 6.0 second 0-62mph time.

Previous C-Class models weren’t known for their dynamism but this latest model is pretty different. It performs well on twisty roads, with well-weighted steering and great balance.

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It’s comfortable too, especially at motorway speeds. The car smooths out broken roads and dips well and it’s super stable. It’s just a shame it’s not quite as good at low speeds. Around town it really thumps into potholes and little imperfections in the road are easily felt.

The nine-speed automatic gearbox is deliciously smooth most of the time. But if you opt for a hybrid model it can get a bit confused when shuffling around petrol and electric, which can lead it to feeling jerky.

What models and trims are available?

Three trim levels to choose from. AMG Line gets those two enormous screens, heated leather upholstery, blind-spot monitoring 360-degree cameras, electrically adjustable seats, augmented-reality navigation.

AMG Line Premium adds keyless go, high-tech adaptive LED headlights, 360 degree cameras, while top-spec cars, called AMG Line Premium Plus, gain a panoramic sunroof, powerful Burmester stereo, head-up display and music streaming services built into the infotainment.

What else should I know?

There’s an AMG version in the works. Mercedes’ in-house tuning company has ruffled many feathers by offering the hotted up C-Class with a 2.0-litre four cylinder engine, rather than a larger unit with more cylinders. It will offer 402hp from that relatively small engine, which is bonkers.