Until now buying a Mercedes-Benz C-Class has been a bit like stepping out in something from your mother's wardrobe: a toss-up between cutting-edge trendy and a being a bit old-fogeyish.

Guaranteed to stir up the competition

For a long time now, Mercedes-Benz has enjoyed being in the top 10 best-selling cars with their C-Class. It has by far been the most popular luxury sedan from the German marque, and if our initial impression is anything to go by, the new one is going to put the wind up more than a few other exhaust pipes.

The sportiest, sexiest C-Class yet!

For a start, the new exterior design is infinitely more sporty than its predecessor. The secret is in the sexy, muscular rear-end and this line that runs along the side of the car – let's call it the character line. Who would have thought! In fact, it's looking decidedly more expensive than it is, with similarities to big brother, S-Class.

The latest C-Class is longer and wider and has more space, especially noticeable for back-seat passengers and drivers and the front-seat driver with broad shoulders. The build quality of all the buttons and bobs is a great improvement, too. 

Price: From R292 000 To R415 000 Article Options Email to Friend Print Article Remove from Favorites Add to Favorites Remove from 'Articles to Read' Add to 'Articles to Read'

A choice of three designs

This time round, Mercedes has given us quite a choice for what we want our car to look like, with three faces to choose from. Starting with the Classic – for the traditionalist – with the customary emblem star on the bonnet, as with the Elegance.

And then there's the bootylicious Avant Garde with its slanting SL-like radiator grille with the star larger than life taking pole position, and various chrome bits (which are also on the Elegance). And just to make sure you know who's boss, the V6 models have twin exhaust pipes and a neat sort of built-in air wing. It's so discreetly designed, you're at no risk of being mistaken for a pimp queen.

The driving position is well-appointed, all the dials in the right place and no need for rocket science to operate anything, but we were a little disappointed with the fascia. It's an updated version of the out-going model, but is definitely skirting on being out of fashion! 

Check out the 'audio telematics'!

But what's not out of fashion are the 'audio telematics' to quote Mercedes-Benz. The new C-Class has bluetooth connectivity, 'linguatronic’ (don't you just love that word?) voice command and there's 4 gigs of memory to upload your music on to the car's fantastic Karmon & Hardon sound system. Oh, and we love the neat pop-up navigation screen.

Even more safety features for emergencies 

And safety? Afterall, most women with children have eyed out the C-Class as a car they'd feel good driving their children in... Merc has their multi-point safety philosophy including: Pre-Safe, Pro-Safe, Passive-Safe and Safe-Safe. (No, wait, I made that last one up!)

But in any event, Mercedes-Benz has thought of every eventuality in an emergency situation and there's a myriad of split-second safety features that spring into action at the first sign of any trouble. An example that impressed me was in the event of an accident, the internal lights come on, as do the hazards. The doors unlock and the windows open slightly – a bit of fresh air will do you the world of good!

A 'crisper' drive than before

Ah, but what of the drive? The all-round improvement in the C-Class carries on through to a crisper drive than before. A six-speed manual transmission with Agility Control (shortened gear shift) is standard across the 4-cylinder range, with an option of a 5-speed automatic transmission. Then moving up a notch to the 6-cylinder versions, you'll get the 7G-Tronic – Merc's 7-speed creamy-smooth automatic transmission.

Power and torque have been increased on the 4-cylinder petrol and diesel engines, but for now the 6-cylinder stays the same. We only drove two of the models, the 200 and the 220CDI. Of the former, there was a bit of lag low down, but it had easy power underfoot at higher revs. Although one has to remember that this is, after all, only a 1.9-litre engine. Overall, the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class is more dextrous than the out-going model.

For now, there are five models to choose from: C200K (135kW, 240Nm), C220CDI (125kW, 400Nm), C280 (170kW, 300Nm), C320CDI (165kW, 510Nm) and the C350 (200kW, 350Nm). The latter three being the V6's, and the first two, the 4-cylinders. You will have to wait until some time in the first half of next year for the C180 Kompressor (entry-level model) and the C63 AMG, which delivers a supersonic 336kW and 600Nm. That'll propel you and your passengers to 100km/h in 4.5 seconds. Now that's impressive!

And if you're like me and have a thing for stationwagons, you'll have to wait until some time early next year. And it will be worth it: it's the sexiest looking family car I've seen in a long time! Hell, even if you're not into stationwagons you'll want one.

A world first for the environment...

Last but not least, Mercedes-Benz are terribly proud of the fact that the new C-Class is the only car in the whole world that has an official environmental certificate. Not only will you be supporting a South African manufacturing plant by buying one of these cars, but you'll earn a green kudo or two, too!

Prices:
C 200K     R292 000
C 220CDI R305 000
C 280        R365 000
C 320CDI R409 000
C 350        R415 000