Mercedes-Benz C-Class estate

Drive

The new C-Class Estate is a fine, if slightly unexciting, car to drive. It has a relaxed and quiet character when equipped with the larger V6 engines, and the suspension is biased towards comfort rather than cornering. The handling is similarly neutral – there's plenty of grip, but it's less engaging than BMW's 3 Series Touring. All the engines in the range have been updated, though, and now offer stronger performance and better economy. We would recommend the C220 CDI, which boasts 168bhp, can accelerate from 0-62mph in 8.4 seconds, but has tax-friendly emissions of 128g/km. The optional seven-speed automatic gearbox is a must. Its seamless changes suit the Estate's relaxed character, although it can be hesitant to change when driving quickly.

Comfort

Capturing some of the effortless luxury of the bigger S-Class, the C-Class Estate is both comfortable and refined. There's a slightly harder edge to the ride if you opt for the Sport model, as this comes with stiffer suspension and bigger alloy wheels as standard. The C-Class is also remarkably quiet, with barely any wind or road noise disturbing the roomy cabin. Only the smaller diesel engines sound a little coarse when pushed. There's plenty of space inside for passengers but, although the driver's seat comes with plenty of adjustment, the rear seats are surprisingly firm – which is a real downside on longer trips.

Reliability

The previous Mercedes-Benz C-Class was a big step forward in terms of reliability and, with more than 1.2 million cars sold worldwide, there have been few major problems reported. It came 15th in the 2011 Auto Express Driver Power survey, and this new model has moved on even further in terms of build quality. It's safer than ever, too, as there are ten new passive and active safety systems on board, with a pedestrian-friendly pop-up bonnet and attention assistance as standard, Pre-Safe emergency braking, active lane keeping, blind spot assistance and speed limit assist all available as optional extras.

Practicality

The C-Class isn't the biggest estate around. It has 485 litres of space with the seats up - which is less than an Audi A4 Avant - but that grows to an impressive 1,500 litres with the back seats folded. The tailgate opens electrically on all models, and there are storage rails and hooks to stop loose bags from moving around. The fixed parcel shelf can make folding the seats tricky, however. Rear legroom is decent, although passengers may find the firm back seats uncomfortable on longer journeys.

Value for money

There are three trims to choose from - but all come with generous levels of standard kit. The entry-level SE has alloy wheels, cruise control, climate control, parking sensors and a leather multifunction steering wheel. For just over £1,000 extra, the luxurious Elegance adds chrome trim, LED running lights and a storage pack, while the top-spec Sport comes with xenon headlights, sports suspension and seats, steel pedals and steering wheel-mounted paddles for the automatic gearbox. The C-Class is more expensive than its premium rivals but, as with the previous version, residual values are expected to be strong.

Running costs

All the engines in the range are more fuel efficient than before, particularly the clean-burning petrols, which all feature direct injection. The 3.5-litre V6 boasts an extra 34bhp, but fuel economy has been improved by 31 per cent, too. All models come with stop-start as standard to reduce emissions. This helps keep day-to-day running costs quite low, but, as with most cars in this class, parts, servicing and insurance will all be above average.