Broadening the model’s appeal, the racier Sport will gun for younger buyers, while the comfort-oriented SE and Elegance versions aim to keep traditional customers happy. Along with the popular 3-Series, Mercedes is targeting the Audi A4, Lexus IS and Volvo S60, too. But is the company right to be so confident? We drove what is expected to be the range’s top seller - the 170bhp 2.0-litre turbodiesel C220 CDI - on British roads for the first time to find out.
Our Sport-spec model has a more aggressive front end than the Elegance, and gets a three-bar chrome grille with the famous three-pointed star in the centre, as well as a rather subtle AMG-styled bodykit. On top of the sharp evolution the C-Class has made from the previous model, these touches ensure it looks the part.
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