Mercedes C-Class saloon - Interior & comfort

Mercedes has become synonymous with first-rate interiors, and this is one area where the marque has a clear lead over BMW. The new design inside the C-Class is inspired by the flagship Mercedes S-Class, adopting a portrait central infotainment display that's reminiscent of a docked iPad. 

Ride comfort and refinement are also excellent, and could well prove class-leading when we get to compare the C-Class with its rivals on British roads. Our test car was fitted with adaptive suspension that's not likely to be available in UK cars, which is a shame as it dealt with bumps superbly in its Comfort setting.

Mercedes C-Class dashboard

The C-Class was already known for its interior quality but the latest version elevates the design to a new level. The fit and finish of materials is on a par with many cars from the class above but this being a compact executive car, all this lavish trim is more focused on front-seat passengers than those in the back. Attractive seats and fibre-optic ambient lighting all help it feel more special than ever. A column-mounted gear selector stalk helps free up space in the centre console for an uncluttered look, and there's a large armrest and storage cubby. Those driving sporty AMG models also get nifty digital dials on the steering wheel which can adjust settings for the drive mode, suspension and even the volume of the exhaust.

Behind the steering wheel, the driver is treated to a 12.3-inch digital instrument display, along with an optional 11.9-inch touchscreen that dominates the centre console, eradicating almost all physical buttons and displaying Apple CarPlay and Android Auto better than rivals. The larger item is standard in the S-Class but here the standard screen is a 10.25-inch unit. The 'Hey Mercedes' voice assistant has also been improved, with faster responses and accuracy than before, so it's possible to interact with the car without taking your eyes off the road more of the time.

Voice recognition also proves handy because at times the displays can show rather too much information, even if their graphics are sharp and clear. We're particularly unsure of the 'augmented reality' setup that can show a forward-facing camera view on the screen but temporarily obscures the map view while driving.  

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Equipment

The C-Class is a tour de force when it comes to the technology on offer. It's fitted with the second-generation of Mercedes' MBUX infotainment system, with improved voice recognition and improved connectivity. It's also more secure, using a fingerprint scanner that allows the owner to 'unlock' their settings. Software updates will be available via over-the-air data transfer so that you don’t need to visit a dealership for them.

Trim levels include Sport and AMG Line, with LED headlights, heated seats, a rear-view camera and wireless smartphone charging coming as standard. AMG Line Premium gains augmented-reality sat-nav, 360-degree camera views and electric front seats. A range-topping AMG Line Premium Plus is also offered, adding a head-up display, panoramic sunroof and Burmester sound system.