The latest C-Class saloon arrived on the UK market in the summer of 2014 and was quickly followed by the roomier and more practical estate. The two ranges follow each other closely, starting with the C200 SE and going all the way up to the very powerful C 63 AMG.

In between those extremes there's a wide choice of petrol and diesel engines, gearboxes and trim levels. Luggage room is the same in all cases, and like the saloon the estate is visually related to previous C-Classes, though there is a lot of modern detailing.

Although it's quite popular, the C-Class is definitely a premium rather than a mainstream choice. Few versions cost less than £30,000.

Performance

This varies from "good enough" to extraordinary. The C200 BlueTEC (the Mercedes term these days for "diesel") has a 133mph top speed and a 0-62mph time of 10.1 seconds, or 10.6 if fitted with the excellent seven-speed automatic gearbox.

The petrol C200 is significantly quicker at 7.5 seconds for the 0-62mph run, while the C 63 S AMG can do the same thing in just 4.1 seconds.

Other levels of performance are available within the range, but the general principle is that the less powerful models are adequately quick for their purpose. You don't need anything faster, though of course this is not the same as saying that you don't want it.

Ride and Handling

The estate doesn't feel quite as secure on country roads as the saloon.

The estate doesn't feel quite as secure on country roads as the saloon, for the usual reason that the rear suspension has had to be compromised to take into account the possibility of heavy loads being carried. That apart, ride and handling are generally good. Several versions have sports suspension with Agility Select, which allows you to alter the car's characteristics to a certain extent. We reckon the Sport setting does a good job of dealing with more difficult sections of road on the UK network, but you may come to your own conclusions.

Interior and Equipment

Mercedes was named after the daughter of Emil Jellinek, who sat on the Daimler board in the first decade of the 20th century.

With the rear seats in place the estate has a luggage capacity of 490 litres, or ten more than the state, and with the seats folded (a one-touch function per side using electronic switches which we hope will remain reliable) the load space up to roof level is 1,510 litres. This is comparable with the BMW 3-Series Tourer and better than the Audi A4 Avant, though all three are about the same when the seats are up. You can have more space for less money if you buy a Ford Mondeo or Skoda Octavia, though we can't see many potential C-Class buyers giving those cars much thought. Unlike Mercedes models of the past, the C-Class has an attractively designed interior. The graphics on the satellite navigation display are a particular highlight. Operating the minor controls via the touchscreen and the mouse-like arrangement on the centre console is tricky and may take some time to master.

Cost

C-Class estates are slightly less economical than saloons, but their figures are still good.

C-Class estates are slightly less economical than saloons, but their figures are still good. The C200 BlueTEC - not, as we've already seen, a quick car - averages 64.2mpg on the EU test (mid 50s should be easy to achieve in real life) and has a CO2 rating of 114g/km. Like the more powerful C220, it will cost just £20 to tax annually from year two onwards, a sum which not long ago would have been considered low for a small hatchback. Faster and more luxurious versions obviously cost more to run. The extreme example is the C 63 AMG, whose combined economy and CO2 emissions are 33.6mpg and 196g/km, though this isn't bad going for a large estate car with a 503bhp engine.

Our Verdict

On the face of it, all three of the premium German contenders in this class are fairly similar, particularly with regard to how much stuff they can carry, and your choice will probably come down to brand loyalty and the type of personality you want to convey to other road users. That aside, the C-Class is good-looking, comfortable and in some cases admirably economical. Audis and BMWs may be "cooler", but the Mercedes shouldn't be dismissed.