Mercedes C-Class saloon - Practicality & boot space

Based on the same building blocks as the outgoing C-Class, the latest version has grown slightly. It's 65mm longer and 13mm wider but most importantly, the distance between the front and rear axles (the wheelbase) has been lengthened by 25mm. This is good news for passengers, making the saloon slightly more spacious than before.

Mercedes C-Class interior space & storage

The C-Class has long been a recommended model for tall drivers and there's plenty of adjustment for both the seats and steering wheel. Visibility is adequate, and there are numerous sensors and camera views to make parking simpler.

Most of the extra wheelbase has been used to improve comfort for passengers in the back, with 21mm extra legroom and a 22mm increase in shoulder room that should be welcome on long journeys.

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Boot space

Boot space of 455 litres is less impressive, failing to improve on the outgoing car. It's less than the 480 litres found in the Audi A4 and BMW 3 Series and the plug-in hybrid model has even less space. Those in need of more space can consider the C-Class Estate, which arrives at the same time as the saloon version. This offers 490 litres of boot space, expanding to 1,510 litres with the seats folded.

The C 300 e and C 63 S E-Performance have a much smaller boot as a result of the large battery required for its plug-in hybrid powertrain. Given the size of the car and the expectation that it’ll carry four people and their luggage, the plug-in hybrid’s 315-litre boot is rather disappointing (a Skoda Fabia supermini has a bigger boot). However, there's no longer a step in the boot and it's now possible to load through the rear seats, making the car a slightly more practical proposition than its predecessor.

Towing

Official towing figures show petrol and diesel versions of the C-Class can tow 1,800kg, the same amount as before. While not quite on a par with a large SUV, this should be plenty for hauling even a large caravan. Impressively, the plug-in hybrid boasts the same towing capacity; often a hybrid will have a much lower capacity.