Used Mercedes C-Class 2021-present review

When it comes to an upmarket image, few cars have the added sparkle that the three-pointed star conveys. And if you're after an executive car to impress the neighbours, the Mercedes C-Class has always had a certain cachet.

The only problem for the C-Class has always been the stiff competition it faces in the executive car class from the peerless Audi A4 and the BMW 3 Series.

Engines & Performance: To combat that, there's a good range of petrol and diesel engines to choose from in this 2021-onwards car. Things kick off with an entry-level 201bhp C200 petrol, with a more powerful C300 following. The AMG C43 performance car version is for thrill-seekers and covers the 0 to 60mph sprint in just 4.6sec. For the diesels, the C220d starts the range and if more power and speed are required the 262bhp C300d provides it. There's also a very enticing plug-in hybrid (PHEV) C300e, as well as the C63 AMG, which uses PHEV power for the first time in its history.

On the road, all the engines in the C-Class range featuring electrical assistance for extra shove at low speeds. You have to work the entry-level 201bhp C200 petrol quite hard, mind you, although the C300 is better, feeling punchier.

The diesel C220d has more punch than the C200 petrol too. It's as quick as the 320d 3 Series. The only diesel C-Class faster is the 262bhp C300d, which can see off the 0-62mph sprint in 5.7sec.

Then there's the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) C300e. It can travel 30 miles further on electric power than the rival BMW 330e. When you need to use the C300e's full 308bhp potential, the acceleration is very impressive and the switching between the electric and conventional power sources is very smooth.

Controversially, Mercedes substituted the V8 engine for a four-cylinder PHEV set-up in the C63 AMG in this generation. While it provides mind-boggling pace, with 671bhp and a 0-62mph dash of 3.4sec, it's no where near as fun or grin-inducing as its predecessor. The electric-only range leaves little to be desired too, with an official range of just seven miles.

Ride & Handling: The C-Class’s dynamic behaviour and ride comfort are a step up from the older variants, even if it’s not quite as sharp to drive as its two major rivals. The PHEV C300e gets rear air suspension as standard. It’s there to help control the extra weight of the battery, and it does a very good job of keeping the car on an even keel over dips and crests. Indeed, there's very little difference in the way the C300e and non-plug-in variants ride.

Where it disappoints is in refinement, with too much road noise and, most noticeably in the diesel variants, too much engine noise making its way back into the interior.

Interior & Practicality: There are not many physical buttons on the dashboard (much like in the Volvo S60) but at least the touch-sensitive climate controls are constantly displayed on the lower section of the infotainment display, rather than hidden in a menu. They’re not as easy to use as the physical controls in the Audi A4 though.

Instead of analogue dials, the C-Class has a crystal-clear 12.3in digital display that can show trip and media information, as well as a small map. We prefer Audi’s Virtual Cockpit because it's easier to navigate your way around the various menus, plus the physical controls on the A4's steering wheel are easier to use than the touch-sensitive ones on the C-Class.

The C-Class interior is dominated by digital displays. Along with the driver’s display, there’s a large portrait-oriented 11.9in central infotainment screen that can be operated by touch, voice or via the touch-sensitive controls on the left-hand spoke of the steering wheel.

The central touchscreen responds quickly to inputs and has super-sharp graphics, although we’d prefer that Mercedes had kept the physical controller of previous versions because it was less distracting to use on the move.

Much like the larger and more expensive S-Class, the C-Class has a very attractive-looking interior. However, once you take a closer look at the materials used, you can tell where the cost-cutting has been made. The Audi A4 certainly has the edge of this Mercedes when it comes to the quality of materials used.

Still, there should be no complaints from anyone up front because there is plenty of space, lots of storage areas and tons of adjustment in the seats and steering wheel to find a comfortable position. Rear leg room is decent too and even the tallest of folks shouldn't find their heads brushing the ceiling – even with a panoramic glass roof – due to the high roofline of the C-Class.

You get more total boot space in the C-Class than the Jaguar XE and it's a match for the Audi A4 but there’s more room in the BMW 3 Series and the Tesla Model 3 (which has a front boot as well as rear one).

Trims & Equipment: Even entry-level AMG line trim comes with sporty exterior and interior styling, along with a standard 12.3in digital driver display and an 11.9in portrait-oriented touchscreen. Every C-Class gets leather trim and heated front seats.

Next-up AMG line Premium benefits from keyless entry and go, augmented reality navigation, and electrically adjustable front seats with three-position memory. The range-topping AMG line Premium Plus adds three-zone climate control, a panoramic glass sunroof and the excellent Burmester sound system.

Those opting for the AMG models also get bespoke trims and beefed-up styling. The C43 comes with a bespoke AMG bodykit, brake calipers and details, Artico leather upholstery and red seat belts.

With the C63, you get a Nappa leather interior, ambient lighting, a head-up display, carbon-fibre trim and Mercedes’ excellent Digital Light headlights, which can project illuminated symbols, such as zebra crossings, on to the road. It also gets similar styling upgrades as the C43.

Interested in buying a used Mercedes C-Class? Visit our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at great prices.

Prices for a 2021/'22 Mercedes C-Class start at around £22,000 at present, which is a useful saving on the price of a new one. You'll need a budget of at least £26,000 in most cases to afford a 2023 model, rising to around £31,000 for a '24 example. No matter the year, a PHEV 300e will set you back upwards of £30,000, while newer '25 cars start from around £40,000.

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MPG

The two diesel C-Classes manage to beat the equivalent engines in the A4 and 3 Series for fuel economy, with the C220d edging over 60mpg and the C300d getting high 50s. The petrol offers a similar economy to the rivals, but none can match the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) C300e. Its 25.4kWh battery pack takes two hours to charge using a dedicated home charger. UK cars have a slower Type 2 plug and charge at a maximum of 11kW, whereas other markets get rapid charge capability using a CCS plug.

Road tax (VED)

Cars registered after 1 April 2017 will pay a flat rate in road tax, currently £195 per year for petrol, diesel and hybrid cars. Be warned, though, the C-Class will attract a supplementary luxury car tax of £425, because all versions cost more than £40,000 when new. This is payable from years two to six.

Insurance and servicing

The regular petrol, diesel and hybrid versions of the C-Class sit between insurance groups 33 and 45, which is more than equivalent versions of the 3 Series. The C43 AMG version sits in group 42, while the C63 jumps up to group 50 (out of 50), so it won't be cheap to insure.

Servicing costs for the C-Class can be expensive, as can replacement parts, but you are able to split them into monthly payments to soften the overall costs. Two services for a C-Class that's less than 12 months old would be £816, while anything older is £912. For comparison purposes, the same number of services for an Audi A4 would be £468 for one with an engine of less than 2.0-litres, or £594 if it happens to have something bigger.

Safety

The C-Class was awarded five stars out five when it was safety tested by Euro NCAP in 2022, and it scored well for occupant protection. All versions have automatic emergency braking (AEB), plus tyre-pressure monitoring, airbags (including one between the front seats) and blind-spot monitoring, which is either an option or reserved for top trims on many rivals.

Warranty

From new, the C-Class gets the Mercedes three-year unlimited-mileage warranty with three years of breakdown cover. This is similar to BMW's offering and slightly better than the three-year Audi offering, which is limited to 60,000 miles in the final year.

Reliability

The current C-Class was too new to feature in our latest Reliability Survey, but the previous model ranked 14th out of 20 executive cars with a score of 86.1%, behind the 3 Series, Jaguar XE, and Volvo S60. It also has a worrying number of recalls for its age.

Mercedes as a brand placed 22nd out of 31 manufacturers, scoring 89.7%. That places it below Audi, BMW, and Lexus, but above Land Rover.

Find out more about Mercedes C-Class reliability on our dedicated page.

Engine: We'd opt for the excellent PHEV version, the C300e, because it combines a smooth and refined drive with the potential to reduce your fuel bills.

Specification: We reckon the small jump up to AMG line Premium is worth it as you benefit from keyless entry and go, augmented reality navigation, and electrically adjustable front seats with three-position memory.

Our favourite Mercedes C-Class: C300e AMG line Premium

The Audi A4 is more practical than the C-Class, with more space inside and a larger boot. It’s more refined, too, with a number of highly efficient and very smooth engines. It’s also better to drive, thanks to its sharper steering and more eager handling. The interior has always impressed us for its relative simplicity yet high-quality feel and its infotainment system, operated by a rotary-style controller, is clear and intuitive to use.

The BMW 3 Series has been the class leader for so many years that it’s become the very definition of the compact executive car. It is, to most degrees, still the class leader in this segment, edging ahead of even the brilliant A4. Its success is centred on its entertaining rear-wheel-drive handling, an effortlessly upmarket feel and the excellent build quality. Here is a premium car that will more than satisfy the demands of the high-mileage executive plodding the UK’s byways, a family in need of decent space and reasonable running costs, as well as the enthusiastic motorist wanting something fun to drive.

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