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19 July 2021

New Mercedes-Benz Clase C 2021

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Mercedes has finally presented the fifth generation of its C-Class, with significant changes and more technology to make it more comfortable, an excellent Premium saloon for the D-segment that now includes technology from the company’s flagship S-Class.

It has been presented together with its saloon and estate body, and, of course, now it bears no resemblance to the first 190E from back in 1982 (the “Baby Benz,” which was the precursor of the current C-Class).

Both the C-Class as the A-Class are the mainstay of sales in Europe for Mercedes, which between them account for 60% of deliveries, so the brand has made a great effort in design and technology for its new C-Class.

New Mercedes-Benz C-Class 2021.- More of the Same in Design, but Bigger

Compared to its predecessor (the restyled 2018 C-Class), it is 6.5 cm longer, 1 cm wider, 1 cm shorter, and its wheelbase is 2.5 cm longer, which has meant slightly longer overhangs.

This makes it dangerously close to the size of the E-Class while also bringing together many of the latest advances of the S-Class in both technology and design.

Mercedes Class C 2021

Length, m

Width, m

Height, m

Wheelbase, m

Luggage compartment litres

Saloon

Estate

4.75

   =

1.82

   =

1.44

1.457

2,87

   =

455

490 – 1,510

This shows that the dimensions of the C-Class saloon and Estate variants are the same, except in height, due to the Estate’s roof rails.

The luggage compartment volume has barely changed since its predecessor versions, except in the C-Class PHEV (plug-in hybrids), which is 360 litres.

The front is almost a reissue of the E-Class with its large grille topped with the eye-catching three-pointed star while retaining exceptional aerodynamics (Cx of 0.24 for the saloon and 0.27 for the Estate).

Also eye-catching are its new standard diode headlamps, which can be optionally matrixed with variable illumination to avoid dazzling other cars.

However, the rear is very reminiscent of the S-Class, with the light clusters split between the luggage compartment and wings, although somewhat thinner and more horizontal.

There are three new body colours available  (Spectral Blue, High-Tech Metallic Grey and Opal White) as well as the rest of the previous range.

New Mercedes-Benz C-Class 2021.- A Bigger Premium Interior

They have been meticulous about the comfort and convenience inside the new Mercedes C-Class 2021 in general, with 2 cm more legroom in the rear, 1 cm more headroom and elbow room.

It’s inside the passenger compartment where you really appreciate the major changes, with a more stylised dashboard with a look and layout similar to the S-class, which also has a large, vertical multimedia screen in the middle.

This large screen is fully configurable (three display modes: driving, assistance and service) with a touch-screen option, depending on the finish, and two formats, the basic (24 cm/9.5”) and a larger version (30.2 cm - 12”).

The instrument panel is also very similar to that of the E-Class with its 12.3-inch display (31.2 cm), displaying the indicator lights for the operable driving modes (Classic, Sport and Discreet).

They have practically eliminated the physical controls by operating most of the car’s functions from the screen while maintaining a small row at the bottom of the screen for tasks like selecting driving modes, radio, overriding some warnings.

Other exciting new features include the new high-resolution colour heads-up display, over-the-air remote updates, and augmented reality navigation.

They have also improved the optional front seat massage system, and there’s a new rear-seat heating function.

Also available as an option is the PSIS (PRE SAFE Impulse Side), which inflates the side airbags just before impact for better cushioning, and a central airbag between the front seats to prevent impacts between passengers.

The most spectacular technology incorporated in this new C-Class is the second generation of the MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) system, with voice commands (“Hello Mercedes!”) now with more features and a fingerprint recognition system for protecting access to personal profiles. As with the S-Class, the journey time forecasts are adjusted based on the driving mode.

A new addition to the MBUX system is the Smart Home feature which allows you to turn on some domestic appliances such as TV, video, blinds, air conditioning remotely before you arrive (assuming you have the appropriate equipment is installed there).

New Mercedes-Benz C-Class 2021.- Major Innovation: 4-wheel Steering

A major new feature available as an option for the new Mercedes C-Class is its new 4-wheel steering, incorporating a new steering axle on the rear wheels to improve its manoeuvrability (10.64 m turning radius, 43 cm less than cars without it).

This feature turns the rear wheels in one direction or the other depending on speed (at under 60 km/h, up to 2.5° the opposite of the front wheels, above 60 km/h in the same direction).

It has a different front gear ratio for the front axle, leaving 2.1 turns of the steering wheel (2.4 on the other C-Class).

For the chassis, they have kept the independent suspension layout with overlapping triangles but now with four front arms. There’s optional rear air suspension and the option for sports suspension with variable damping.

Depending on the version and your choice, it can be fitted with 16” to 19” wheels, with a track width that is increased by 1.9 cm at the front and 4.8 cm at the rear.

New Mercedes-Benz C-Class 2021.- All Hybrid Drives

All petrol and diesel engines offered are combined with a 48 V light hybrid, with all 4-cylinder engines and 9G-Tronic 9-speed automatic transmission.

They will also be offering diesel and petrol plug-in hybrid variants with an electric range of up to 100 km and a 25.4 kW/h battery rechargeable to 55 kW.

The data below shows the motor range so far confirmed in Mercedes-Benz’s basic data. Variants and versions available in Spain later are indicated with an asterisk:

Petrol Mild Hybrids

       

Version

hp

Gears

Drive

Motor

Max. torque (mkg)

0 to 100 km/h

(secs)

Consumption (l/100 km)

C 180

170

Automatic 9G-Tronic

Rear

1,496 cc Turbo

25.5

8.6

7.2/7.4 l

C 200 / C 200 4MATIC

204

Automatic 9G-Tronic

Rear / Total

1,496 cc Turbo

30.6

7.3/7.6

7.2/7.4 l

C 300 /  C 300 4MATIC

258

Automatic 9G-Tronic

Rear / Total

1,999 cc bi-turbo

40.8

6.0

7.4/7.9 l

Diesel Mild Hybrids

       

Version

hp

Gears

Drive

       

C 200 d*

— 

Automatic 9G-Tronic

Rear

1,992 cc Turbo

45

7.3/7.6

5.6/5.8 l

C 220 d / C 220 d 4MATIC

200

Automatic 9G-Tronic

Rear / Total

1,992 cc Turbo

45

5.7

5.6/5.8 l

C 300 d

265

Automatic 9G-Tronic

Rear

1,992 cc bi-turbo

56.5

5.7

n/a

Plug-in hybrid

       

Version

hp

Gears

Drive

       

C 300 e*

313

Automatic 9G-Tronic

Rear / Total

1,496 cc Turbo  204 hp

+ elect. 129 hp (95 kW)

56.5

n/a

n/a

C 300 de*

 — 

Automatic 9G-Tronic

Rear / Total

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

C 400 e*

— 

Automatic 9G-Tronic

Rear / Total

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

 

The mild hybrid petrol and diesel engines have a 48 V alternator/starter motor that provides 15 kW extra power (20.4 hp), intended not so much to improve performance as to reduce emissions.

The 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder petrol engines are entirely new and friction-reduced, with a new variable geometry turbocharger and cross-flow linkage.

The petrol plug-in hybrid (C 300e), available in Spain in late 2021, has been created by combining the 204 hp 1.5-litre engine with an electric motor to provide 129 hp (95 kW) and produce 313 hp combined power and 56 mkg long maximum torque.

Of course, it has been awarded the Cero (Zero) label by Spain’s DGT (Directorate-General for Traffic) with all the benefits that it brings and can reach 140 km/h in electric mode.

New Mercedes-Benz C-Class 2021.- Top-level Driving Aids

Source: Motor Mundial magazine

As well as significantly improving the driver-assistance systems that the C-Class already had, it now incorporates new technologies, most of which come from the higher classes of the Mercedes range. The following are the most striking:

  • Active cruise control (Distronic) recognises stationary vehicles when driving at up to 100 km/h.
  • Lane-keeping assistant (Active Steering Assist), which now works up to 210 km/h, with significant precision improvements using the new peripheral vision cameras.
  • Traffic sign recognition can now recognise more traffic signs and display a special warning, such as passing a stop sign or red light.

New Mercedes-Benz C-Class 2021.- Pricing

This new Mercedes C-Class is designed to lead the trio of German best-sellers in its D-segment, with its first deliveries in summer 2021 and offering the existing equipment finishes: Base, Avantgarde, and AMG Line.

The manufacturer’s RRP, without discounts, promotions or government grants (in Spain, Plan MOVES III), are the following:

Version

HP

Fuel

RRP

C180

170

petrol

€45,500

C200

204

petrol

€46,975

C220D

200

diesel

€48,350

C300

258

petrol

€55,425

C300E PHEV

313

petrol PHEV

€53,625

C300D PHEV

265

diesel PHEV

€60,875