The driving position of the W204 C-Class has plenty of adjustment – for both the seat and steering wheel and visibility is good – although the wide windscreen pillars can get in the way, particularly when pulling out of junctions. The colour screen that shows details of what’s on the stereo, satellite navigation, and phone is easy to read but will feel old-fashioned by modern standards. It is perfectly sited in their driver’s field of vision,however – it folds out of the dashboard on top models, though it’s a smaller built-in LCD system on entry-level models.

The interior is stylish with an uncluttered look but it doesn’t quite have the inviting feel of the equivalent BMW 3-Series and some of the materials used are a little disappointing for this type of car.

Mercedes-Benz C-Class comfort is excellent. Big rear seats and lots of legroom mean the rear of the W204 is comfortable for two adults for hours on end. However, the slanting roof means that taller passengers may find headroom an issue plus while there is a centre seat with a three-point seatbelt, it’s only suitable for occasional use as it’s narrow and there’s little footroom.

Passengers in the back can control the temperature thanks to rear heater controls while on the move the Mercedes is quiet, although there can be some tyre noise on the motorway.