- P11D Value/BIK Band: £37,620/29%
- 5-door, 5-seater estate
- 170ps/400Nm, 2.1-litre 4cyl diesel/9-spd DSG auto box
- Economy (comb)/C02: 64.2mpg/120g/km
- Performance: 7.6sec/142mph
What is it?
THE Mercedes C-Class might not have the sporting allure of its other German premium rivals, but the style and panache on offer from this BMW 3 Series rival is a cut above the rest.
That bold, wide grille gives way to an unusually curvaceous body, with a window line that swoops down and masks much of the bulk of the estate car.
Size wise, it’s an almost exact match for its obvious rivals, the Audi A4 and BMW 3 Series. The load bay takes 490 litres of luggage with the seats up. Folded down, that extends to 1,510 litres, making the Mercedes the most accommodating of the trio.
A 2.1-litre diesel engine provides an impressive 400Nm of pulling power, which is enough to cover the 0-62mph sprint in a pleasing 7.5 seconds. The engine, a stalwart of the range, has been developed continuously and now promises returns of 64.2mpg.
Verdict on the Mercedes C220d AMG Line 9 speed G-Tronic Estate
Step inside the C-Class and you’ll be sold. Or, at least, convinced you should lease the car.
Once isolated from the outside world, the cabin cossets you in one of the finest interiors on the market. Leather, aluminium and piano black plastics combine to create a classically luxurious ambience.
Even going for this AMG Line trim, with its 18-inch wheels and lowered, stiffened suspension, doesn’t break the calm, the still-soft suspension absorbing most of what UK roads can throw at it.
It also adds a degree of sporting prowess, the AMG Line models able to despatch a ribbon of cross-country tarmac with surprising alacrity.
With touchscreen technology, endless safety equipment and practicality to be proud of, all combined with a frugal and flexible diesel engine, it’s like flying Business Class but on an Economy ticket. Time to enjoy the ride.