Mercedes C-Class review: has it BECOME the E-Class?

The Mercedes C-Class is bigger than ever, but can it fill the role of an E-Class?
Read more at Auto Express:
New 2022 Mercedes C-Class review: aex.ae/2DBrYiA
New 2022 Mercedes C300 e plug-in hybrid review: aex.ae/3UIluSF
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Over recent years, the popularity of traditional petrol and diesel saloon cars like the Mercedes C-Class has been on the wane. High-riding SUVs continue to capture the hearts of buyers, and it’s a trend that hasn’t been lost on Mercedes, because it has redoubled its efforts with the latest C-Class to deliver improvements across key areas to help it stay competitive. Exterior styling, on-board tech, ride and comfort have all been thoroughly revised, while the most appealing update for cost-conscious buyers will be the introduction of new mild and plug-in hybrid models.
It also offers a sharp new look that's heavily inspired by its E-Class sibling, and it's a bigger car than the model that preceded it. Given its prowess, we wondered if the C-Class now has enough style, space and tech to play the role of the E-Class that sits above it in the Mercedes line up. Nicola Hume finds out in this in-depth review.
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[@stefcep]

Anyone remember the days when drivers didn't take their eyes of the road in a moving car to change the air con?

[@gezenkasif]

Go and cry

[@Elhabad_ibn_youssef]

It's all about cutting costs now

[@gerrywhelan7426]

Touch screens are getting more dangerous & distracting. Safety should always come first before needless tech.

[@chrishazael3157]

The amount of time your eyes are off the road is EXTREMELY WORRYING! Concentration on the road these days ?😱

[@alanwayte432]

Screens are going to age very quickly...oh please let’s have safer dials and buttons

[@karlopeternel7685]

No no I have my new C300 4MATIC selenitgrau for a year now, I love it like this, it is amazing You have on steering wheels everything also so Also you can give verbal orders to AI and it does it like open the sun roof, call someone...

[@Mabeylater293]

Did you type this content using mores-code, pulling a few levers and then flipping a switch? Didn’t think so. The world has moved well beyond the model T.

[@flybeep1661]

That's a comment I heard being said 5 years ago....

[@Rixdog01]

Never gonna get used to iPads bolted to the dashboard. Gotta integrate them better

[@MaticTheProto]

Mercedes does integrate them well. For bad examples look at tesla or bmw

[@grolfe3210]

The screen and touch controls looks to be dangerous, see how long she has to look down to find the right area to press. The heating +/- on previous model is so easy and you do not need to take your eyes off the road. As for the C v E issue. I had an old E which I loved. Went to the 2014 C as it was the newer generation to the E at that time and have now gone to the 2016 E. All as estates. The E just drives better and has a waft to it. The standard of the interior is just so much better and is just plush in the E but like a Ford in the C. E estates will just swallow anything. Endlessly struggled getting stuff in a C estate. I know the new gen is a bit bigger but sorry but you will feel short changed with a C.

[@MPD90]

What is all this stuff you're putting in the boot? Have you considered just lugging around less stuff?

[@grolfe3210]

@@MPD90 Cars are to move people around and stuff around. I rent out some houses and often have to switch over a washing machine. I go on holiday with 4 of us in the car and 4x luggage in the back. Also camping trips. Our kerbside waste does not take much. I am re-fitting my kitchen and the carboard packaging from the new one filled the car going to the dump. All sorts of timber and sheeting is needed too. I like antique furniture, buy a table, put it in the car. The E is just that bit bigger than the C but it makes a huge difference in the ease of using it.

[@robsmith1a]

Am I the only person who sets the climate control once when I buy a car and never touch it again after that?

[@MPD90]

Doesn't the weather change where you live?

[@Multifireturtle]

@@MPD90most climate controls are automatic and if you want 20degrees in the cabin in the summer you also want it in the winter. It will cool and heat automatically

[@LuMo1980]

Real life charging time is 3h because it only ships with an AC 11kwh converter by default. If you can't charge overnight then you should get the faster DC charging option which unfortunately wasn't available to me when I ordered... About the screen it's indeed a nightmare to navigate outside of the climate control or radio because you need to take your attention out of the road which is quite dangerous, I've learned to use the voice commands more and more as a result and they work quite ok compared to my previous Audi A4. The seat heating controls are on the door :)

[@Multifireturtle]

The heated seat buttons are on the doors next to the lock usually

[@akindeemmanuel7548]

Does this come with the burmester 3D suround sound system?

[@marvelcomiks8078]

I drive the C300-W205 (prefer mine over this newer model with the sleek headlights), and I wouldn't trade it for the E-class. They are 2 different niches and its not an up or down, they are just 2 distinct categories. E is really more executive in look and feel and C is vibrancy. If I had both cars, I would drive the E-class for occasional corporate meetings but zoom out with the C and hit the clubs once I reach home.

[@drose311]

I have a W205 AMG Line and looks and feel more executive and upmarket the the new C Class.

[@flybeep1661]

Ugly tail lights on yours, new model much better. New model also has a more aggressive nose instead of a "butter nose". Like the new model very much.

[@flybeep1661]

@@drose311 HAH, cockpit alone feels more classy and expensive compared.

[@marvelcomiks8078]

@@flybeep1661 good for you. Most people think its ugly. But its alright, if you think its nice, as long as you like it and makes you happy. Have a nice day.

[@maquindesign9158]

I love the background music.

[@JackKing12.]

No buttons! 😳😢...crazy...

[@oliverwabwire2836]

Hard to replace physical dials.....with phone surfaces!

[@MPD90]

You remember phones used to have physical buttons too right? Guess what, they got replaced with "phone surfaces"!

[@oliverwabwire2836]

Only difference.....we do not drive phones! So the aesthetics advantage is hoplessly redundant over ergonomics! @@MPD90

[@quinty26]

She took her eyes off the road for quite some time, didn't she. Too much screen distraction.😑

[@scottcameron8936]

They filmed on a private track so no real danger.

[@6ixtynine]

Could have just spoken aloud “Hey Mercedes turn on driver heated seat to max” to also test out the MBUX voice command system.

[@CAS482]

You are correct. I see so many reviews where they are complaining about no knobs, trying to open the roof screen, find the radio station and volume control, find directions, adjust heat/cool while driving, without using the MBUX voice control system to do all of that. The voice control system can do all of that and more.

[@MrJoOSoares]

There are many options missing in this car. There's no 360 camera. There's no electric seats. That's a base car with amg pack.

[@wolfgangpohlmann5952]

You‘ve identified the problem: „aloud“. I don‘t want to shout at my car. I just want to push a single button as I do now to turn on the seat heating.

[@HeelPower200]

@@wolfgangpohlmann5952 And once the voice commands fail(and they will) you're in for a massive bill. buttons and dials are just as simple and immediate. More reliable.

[@CAS482]

@@HeelPower200 The touch screens are not going away or the voice control. The touch screens have been installed in cars since 1986. But they do have controls so you can control items manually. Every car now days have a touch screen.

[@Shotter]

3:26 The amount of time your eye are off the road is alarming

[@mickyeverton]

It could be down to me getting older but I find the interior of cars are becoming more and more overwhelming!! In my personal opinion I find the BMW idrive the most user friendly!! 🙋🙋🙋

[@bighands69]

The interactive computer systems for modern cars are distracting and awkward to operate when driving. At night time all the screens dominate vision and distract from the road when that is where all the focus should be.

[@kpv123]

This is Michael. Good review. Mark my words, the plug-in hybrids are the way to go and the future for the next 10 to 15 years. You're right that the charging infrastructure is not there for EVS, but a smaller battery can be charged easily at home, in little time, and makes Reliance upon the regular engine a lot less. What you didn't realize is that the car itself is also capable of charging the battery- that was a big mistake you made. the electric motor also gives great instant torque and a range of about 284 miles per gallon according to the EPA on the GLC e version. As for the screen, Mercedes does an excellent job of still including many touch controls while also giving touch screen access. We have a Tesla Model 3 and I hate it because everything is through the touch screen and some things take two moves through the menus. Mercedes it does it right.

[@bighands69]

Plug in hybrids are not the way to go. Trying to make every car a hybrid is going to do far more damage than good. Most of the materials that are used in hybrids are from the russian economic space which is going to fail.

[@MPD90]

"What you didn't realize is that the car itself is also capable of charging the battery- that was a big mistake you made." - in reality, hardly at all, you need to plug it in to get any serious range out of the battery.

[@carlodipaolo5826]

Hopefully new owners will not crash their new C class while trying to acclimate to a touch screen tablet to operate things. For me the extra weight and expense of the electric part of it is just not worth having, But it does look like a very nice car.

[@bighands69]

That is the case for all modern cars. Too many flashy bright things going on. At nighttime they really distract from driver focus.

[@MPD90]

For folk leasing through company car schemes, the normal C will have 4x the BIK tax as the plug-in hybrid. That's why the plug-in hybrids exist really, I imagine many many users never plug it in and just accept lower MPG (due to weight) in return for a much better tax break.

[@tashingadekune9141]

Hey Mercedes voice system can do a lot of commands like HEATED SEATS

[@stephenlane9168]

Love your presenting Nicola 👌👏

[@jasonbrody6219]

Hey Mercedes. Put the heated seats on

[@daniel-ino]

She is constantly removing her eyes from the road. Maybe to reduce the glare of the shiny plastic in the interior?

[@machinelearninginproductio3839]

Almost half time and we are still reviewing the screen. Please consider reviewing the car.

[@JamaicanMeCrazy]

You driving and looking at the screen made me very nervous.

[@bloomvikung]

Center air vents should have be 3 rectangle shape just like S class

[@louis5945]

Whole interior reeks of cost-cutting. Instead of leather there's a tacky looking plastic dash with screens stuck on, individual buttons replaced with nonsense half button. Take away the screens and it looks like something you'd expect in a Peugeot

[@karlopeternel7685]

I've been enjoying my C300 4MATIC since December last year I just love it, the screen is great also, trust me. Mine is all AMG almost fully equipped It's really great car but really great car

[@athollmcnicoll1028]

No thanks Nicola , maybe up market but not a lover of them screens and if I needed a C-Class I'd opt for the older model which by right should be cheaper. Not a canny Scotsman for nothing .

[@ehtishampir]

Engine capacity displacement???

[@Perl88]

2.0l according to Mercedes.

[@kevinranders]

My 2022 c-class, purchased in in August of 2022, has been in the shop 11 times.

[@MPD90]

Stop crashing it then 🙂

[@bon2198]

Heated seat button is on the door by the seat controls. Also, heated seat button turns on the heated steering wheel.

[@nicolahume]

Not in this car it doesn’t. But in all others it will. This car had no heated seats (no idea why)

[@bon2198]

@@nicolahume well in the US it’s standard on all C classes. But when I was in Europe the options are a lot more vast.

[@nicolahume]

@@bon2198 oh it is standard. But for some reason our press car didn’t have it. I did mention that in the video🤗

[@MPD90]

@@bon2198 Better to actually watch the video before trying to correct it.

[@DONDOMINICMATHEW]

Very nice video, But please park the car somewhere and introduce the entertainment console, looking at the camera, going through the console and driving looks scary.

[@thomaspaaruppedersen6781]

I would pretty much *never* charge a PHEV on a public network. It's for home charging, and go fully electric for 80-90% of errands. On a long road trip, I wouldn't bother to charge the battery but just refill the gas tank. If you don't have home charging, don't even consider it

[@cemozmermer9120]

Some people says that they dont like the dashboard and screens, guys i guess your too old get used to this technology improves be open to it.Btw some people said that car manufacturers make it because it’s cheap.Guys the buttons are just a piece of plastic but these tablets have to be resistant to cold,hot or sudden weather changes plus they have to make their own software and have to keep it up to date. These are more expensive then just plastic pieces

[@tashingadekune9141]

Exactly well said. Too many old people stuck in the past

[@omarion07]

People just like to complain over everything.. even if the interior was to their liking, they’ll find something else to criticise… misery guts is what they’re.

[@cemozmermer9120]

@@omarion07 yeah exactly

[@antonygoater4423]

Wireless charging is only standard on the amg variants. C class models only come with 1 usbc port in the front, none elsewhere, which i am sure many will find disappointing.

[@flybeep1661]

Funny, just saw a vid of a c300e non amg and it had 3 ports, 2 of them in the front glove box with removable cup holders. You lie or don't know.

[@antonygoater4423]

@@flybeep1661 I have the car... I certainly know and am not lying. They're cheapskates, and certainly were with early production models of the new c.

[@dpfghela]

Hee having to focus on the screen while driving is exactly what makes the shift from buttons to screens so dangerous

[@garydaniels4426]

She spends more time looking at the screen than a driver should. Im sure accidents will happen and then they will accept that screens are just stupid.

[@Bittruth]

The heated seats button is literally on the door to your right

[@nicolahume]

It literally wasn’t

[@scott135]

An excellent review - but, why no mention of the pricing?

[@alexsam2630]

Might put people off:)))

[@rg6982]

Because it's over priced and not worth it, like most Mercedes 👍

[@BassicVIC]

Mercedes-Benz should really rethink their touch-buttons. Maybe for the lower bar buttons (hazard lights, air conditioning, etc.) they should be click buttons. Not having a reassuring click feedback feel it’s not intuitive, is it?

[@nigelmitchell5726]

Great Nicola 💗

[@ajayimb]

She gave me so much anxiety looking at screens for an extended duration every single time but not the road! 😅😅😅😊

[@andreiarama8745]

Not even a 2 second image with the boot

[@attilazk]

They "take your eyes off the road" complaining comments... :D Never mind that if you have such MBUX system, you can control it perfectly without even looking at it... simple, just say eg.: "HEY Mercedes... turn on seat heating"... and you don't even have to look for the button (or trying to find it in the menu). ;o)

[@Bjay723]

Since 2 years of this newer model came, I m still not wanting to upgrade, love the interior of this one but exterior of previous model was top notch.

[@ApurtureSci]

Horrendous looking interior, what's luxurious about massive screens? I'll be ordering a company car soon and I'm quite worried there won't be anything available that isn't filled with giant iPads inside. Current A4 might be my best bet for a quality cabin with some real buttons.

[@Jo3B14ck]

Anyone remember A-Z map books? 😂

[@francesco7654]

Just seeing how much she needs to stare at that screen instead of the road scares me. I’ll stick to my ‘17 beemer…

[@trevorsymonds4741]

The heated seats button is on the door....or you could just say..."Hey Mercedes, turn on the heated seat".

[@MPD90]

Or not, as it was a press car without heated seats, as explained clearly in the video...

[@joshbacon8241]

Why isn't the rear-wheel steering that is offered overseas offered on UK cars?

[@v-gun9735]

They probably couldn’t be bothered to re-engineer it for RHD.

[@johnevans6399]

When is somebody going to say : not only is it difficult for the vast majority of right handed people to use centre screens in this country but it is also dangerous because we do not, intuitively, work to our left.

[@v-gun9735]

Is that 455 litre boot applicable to the PHEV.

[@seancotter4610]

PHEV is only 315 litre 😕

[@v-gun9735]

@@seancotter4610 Thanks

[@JackKing12.]

Outside is nice but the inside...where are all the buttons and knobs???

[@Jay-B1750]

So that's where you've gone! I've missed you on carbuyer Nicola!!!

[@CT37BN]

More like a bigger version of A-class but with a dash and vertical screen. Mercedes cars looks alright, it's just that I think they went overboard ( like Range Rover ) and made their car line-up all the same 95% at least.

[@oscarshen6855]

The overuse of touch screen is outright dangerous to be honest, car doesn't have a to a smart phone, we already have smart phones.

[@PratabAli]

Come join Nicola for a wonderful motoring adventure, and be instilled with fresh new Hume parlance, Chuckability; Panny Roof and Wafting. Just small sample of the fun, cool terms you may learn. 😄 love it.

[@philipc239]

G80 Electric

[@rg6982]

Any day of the week! G80 is the perfect all rounder and very well built

[@sameerathennakoon4584]

Good

[@petercavellini3232]

Look how often her eyes are not looking!, yeah, to much time fiddling could lead to accidents or loss of life.🙀

[@florianf1257]

the heated seats button should be right next to the door handle … no one bothered looking in the right place

[@MPD90]

Did you consider watching the video before commenting this nonsense? They literally explained it wasn't present on the press vehicle... sigh...

[@HiruS22]

I hope to god you weren’t on a public road, you barely looked through the windscreen at any point.

[@isimonsez]

When cellphones first became the norm many jurisdictions created laws because of their distractions while driving. Fast fwd to 2020s where cars have tablets for simple adjustments 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@user-uj8nj4rg5z]

Красавица модель

[@misterhoeflak]

Awesome review guys!

[@prisol]

boot on the saloon is a lot smaller as a consequence, hence why the estate is the only real option here..

[@MPD90]

What do you need to put in the boot that doesn't fit?

[@USA79999]

If you don’t know the difference or cannot spot between a C and E, you should not be presenting the car.

[@britishstudio1825]

Great review. Nicola is very cool 😀

[@EdgarRenje]

To me, the current Mercedes design just looks too flat. If the screen shows controls permanently, they don't need to be on a screen in the first place. You take away the advantage of a display (variability), but keep the disadvantage of pure ergonomics.

[@sunkistlbc]

You spent 90% of the time looking at the screen than driving.

[@bighands69]

To me it just looks cheap and cheerful with lots of flashy bits but not the quality that Mercedes is renowned for. It looks flashier than a Audi interior but does not seem to be as quality focused. Cars that are dominated by smart screens are very distracting and complicated to operate.

[@yavuzadam5766]

You need to have 9 lives to use this

[@Jazzmaster71]

Driving the C class and meeting up with the E class. The feeling of "you almost made it" kills it for me. S class is for guys who do not enjoy driving and have private driver.

[@shitsugane]

Great commentary - really interesting

[@user-uj8nj4rg5z]

Это мода стиль красота

[@MrAndreCoutinho]

Great analysis, the e class has become irrelevant in mercs current lineup; the c class is too good and closer than ever to the s class

[@bighands69]

No. The E Class has a nicer and more up market feel to it. The C class is very close to being in VW territory but at a more expensive price point.

[@user-uj8nj4rg5z]

Это мода и стиль

[@CAS482]

Just say (hey Mercedes) cut on heat on the driver's side and adjust the temp the same way on the MBUX voice control unit. The MBUX controls everything in the car. The voice control activates the windows, panoramic roof open/close, radio station/volume. Nice review but should have done more research on the car.

[@manonabeachjourneys]

God help us if you're driving on the public highway. You are not looking at the road...

[@pradhyudh]

Great storytelling,not telling facts lady from autotrader

[@edhirxtrastrange]

I want to see car makers get sued left and right when people get into trouble looking down at their center console instead of the road looking for a/c. I think it's the only way we can go back to physical button

[@MPD90]

Car manufacturers aren't going to be accountable for poor decision making. Adjust the AC when you're stopped, not when you're driving down the road. Problem solved.

[@thomash2806]

Compare that to a 190…

[@amsil3486]

She never explained the mpg once battery runs out ? The most important needed for PHEV…..330e is still much better sorry

[@bartekkoch]

Did you say E class ?

[@Fastwunz]

Sticking an iPad in the middle of the dash just looks a bit…..well……gash.

[@TrickyWoo109]

I only watch for Nicola! ☺️

[@biffabif7351]

simp

[@chrisr1254]

Interior is a massive step backwards. Previous / outgoing C-class is so much nicer inside - this doesn't look anywhere near as luxurious / premium.

[@Carfan678]

The last c class had some of the worst build quality from Mercedes in decades though

[@rg6982]

@@Carfan678 i owned one and can confirm your statement is spot on lol

[@Carfan678]

@@rg6982 sad cause I like the design

[@rg6982]

@@Carfan678 yup previous gen merc C Class looks stunning compared to this bland dull car Have no idea how people like that massibe Ipad tablet interior...

[@Carfan678]

@@rg6982 ehh I like this new design too just hope the build quality is better then the last

[@denisgonc4230]

No. it's just around 3000€ cheaper than the E class, but not on the same level.

[@adrians3155]

The kitchen is miles away honey

[@ramsaudio]

i dont like both the c and e design, as well the s!! the old ones were the best

[@aliimran5503]

She deserve to review “S class”minimum

[@adimasguntur]

Nah. E Class is still a class on its own. Can't wait for the new E

[@stevenrostron6671]

Purely for snobs these days, guess it’s not as bad as the S Class. They don’t drive particularly well (that gearbox is terrible), reliability and build quality are worse than before - literally better off buying a Camry or some sort of Kia.

[@jamiep61]

I enjoyed watching the Video Review. I particularly like the Interior Design and the Sporty Styling 😊

[@luismiguelgarciacanan5245]

Me gusta merceds benz

[@sooperman12]

Nicola. Your eyes. They're... Not on the road! While you were twiddling around with the steering wheel buttons, your attention was completely on the touch buttons. Which IMO is why these kinds of controls are terrible and should be done away with!

[@rg6982]

They use a closed road/ race track for these testing lol Clearly there are no other cars around, im sure shes not that stupid

[@BomberFletch31]

@@rg6982 true, but I think sooperman12's point - with which I agree - is that if you have to take your eyes off the road to activate these controls, it is a terrible design.

[@MaticTheProto]

Not really

[@user-uj8nj4rg5z]

Спакойствия

[@likhan.ghosh.]

Mercedes must have got a really good deal on all those iPad 3’s

[@MaticTheProto]

When you don’t find anything to complain about