Mercedes is rapidly gaining ground on Audi and class leader BMW in terms of cutting CO2, and the C-class is the latest to get some attention.
Though it can’t match a BMW 320d’s 128g/km, the Blue Efficiency C220 CDI’s 135g/km does at least put it in the same BIK group. Ditto Audi’s comparably powered A4 at 134g/km.
The downside is that while the 320d is in particular a very polished and appealing car, the C-class is let down by its drivetrain. Comparatively unrefined and with a throttle/clutch response that makes smooth gear changes a challenge to execute, it’s a real let down, and spoils what is a very attractive car, especially in Sport trim level.
The Sport trim features the AMG bodykit, which beefs up the C-class, making it a very good-looking saloon, while a residual value of 43.8% gives the car a decent 52.2p per mile running cost figure.
On paper, the C-class makes perfect sense, but the driving experience doesn’t back that up against top-notch opposition.
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