Mercedes C-Class gets major facelift

Is this going to get confusing?

Almost certainly, because from later this year you will have to specific which C-Class you're talking about. The W206 version of the C-Class has been on sale since 2021, and although the new fully electric C-Class, the W250 (if you're using Merc's internal product codes, and you can read our first full drive of the electric C-Class here), has now arrived, it's not replacing the older model just yet. Instead, the W206 is getting a major update to bring it visually a little more in line with the W250. Everyone clear so far?

As mud. How has the old C-Class been made new?

Mostly with a massive nose job. The W206 C-Class has been given a big spangly grille, just like the electric W250, complete with lots and lots of Mercedes three-pointed stars built into it. It also gets new lights that are a little more angular than before and feature a three-pointed star motif.

Do we have enough stars now?

Wait, there's more. The brake lights have also been given the three-point star treatment, and if you really, really want it, the central big star in the radiator grille can also light up at night, along with the grille surround.

Does it look exactly like the electric one now?

No, actually. The two are clearly now linked by that massive grille, but the way the grilles and lights meet is different, and the electric C-Class' rear design is distinctively different to that of the combustion model. In that, Merc is taking a slightly different tack to BMW, which will also be updating its existing combustion 3 Series to remain on sale alongside the new i3, but which will be visually much closer to identical.

There are some new exterior touches for the combustion C-Class, including projector lights under the door sills that project a welcome or goodbye light image onto the ground, and two new paint options - Lavender Silver Metallic and Moody Sky Grey Metallic.

Does the combustion C-Class get the same interior as the electric version?

No, and that might be a bit of a relief given the massive-screen digital overload of the electric version. In fact, the combustion C-Class' cabin looks pretty much the same as it did before, with the same 12.3-inch digital driver's instrument panel separate from the 11.9-inch infotainment screen, which lies slightly recumbent at the centre of the dash. However, the software on those screens has been updated to the fourth generation of Merc's MBUX system, and that brings with it a digital voice assistant which can use not one AI large language model, not two AI large language models, but three AI large language models (ChatGPT, Google Gemini, or Microsoft Bing AI) to answer your questions. Google Maps is fully integrated into the navigation system. Annoyingly, Mercedes is also persisting with post-purchase items in the touchscreen, including optional navigation features and parking assistance, which can be bought and activated through the on-screen Mercedes store.

There's also a revised steering wheel, which loses some of the annoying haptic touchpad controls of previous versions, and gains more in the way of proper physical buttons and scrollers plus you can pick optional ‘multi-contour' seats with inflatable air bladders that provide a massage function and those seats can be had with a new optional ‘moccasin' stitching for the imitating Artico fake leather, or the real Nappa hide. There are also new wood, metal, and fabric cabin trims, and if you've got a sensitive nose, there's an activated charcoal air filter that screens out the likes of nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide, and other harmful pollutants.

What engines are going to be available?

Pretty much all the existing lineup, which means you'll be able to choose between petrol or diesel mild hybrids, and plug-in hybrids with very long electric driving ranges; more than 120km if you charge up the 19kWh battery to its fullest in the C300e.

Petrol models range from the 177hp C200 to the 258hp C300, while the 163hp C200d and 193hp C220d diesels are now compatible with biofuels including HVO.

Any other mechanical changes?

The C-Class' suspension and steering have been tweaked, although the basic mechanical layout remains the same. There is optional rear-wheel steering, which can trim the turning circle to as little as 10.6 metres, and Mercedes says that changes to the car's aerodynamic package have reduced wind noise in the cabin.

Will it be more expensive than before?

Probably, but probably not by a lot. In most European markets, C-Class prices seem to be going up by around €1,000 model for model, so expect Irish prices to start from around the €60,500 mark.

What does CompleteCar think?

There's not been much wrong with the current C-Class since it was launched, aside from it being one of the pricier options on the market, and these updates seem only to enhance all that (as long as you can live with the spangly grille). What will be interesting will be to see the balance between the sales of the two models - combustion and electric - once the full electric C-Class lineup becomes available.