Review
The Mercedes-Benz C-Class was the ninth most popular new car of 2017, with 45,912 registrations. Rivals BMW and Audi didn’t make the top 10.
However, the C-Class still has a hill to climb in the used car market. On Auto Trader in 2017, there were 24.5 million searches for the C-Class and 11.4m for the Audi A4, but 40.2m for the BMW 3 Series.
It’s a sign of the 3 Series’s long-standing brand appeal because, of the three German rivals, BMW’s approved used scheme offers marginally less value to the customer.
It lacks the key insurance, which Audi and Mercedes both provide, and Mercedes even promises a no-cost service if a car’s service indicator light comes on within three months or 3,000 miles.
It’s probably not enough alone to win over an undecided buyer.
Ultimately, buyers’ decisions may come down to preference for brand and styling, and the offer available at the time.
What Mercedes must do is continue the marketing campaign, because with almost 12,000 miles under its belt, our C-Class is proving its worth as a classy, upmarket family car.
An award-winning journalist and editor, with two decades of experience covering the motor retail industry, and accredited by the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) plus the National Council for the Training of Journalist (NCTJ)
As editor of AM since 2016, Tim is responsible for its media content, planning and production across AM's multiple channels, including the website, digital reports, webinars, social media and the editorial content of AM's events, Automotive Management Live and the AM Awards. His focus is on interviewing senior leaders of franchised dealer groups and motor manufacturer national sales companies to examine latest developments in UK motor retail.
Factsheet
Price: £39,405 when new (est £26,000 now)
Engine: 2.1-litre diesel
Performance: 0-62mpH 7.6secs, top speed 142mph
Gearbox: 7sp auto
Fuel efficiency: 64.2mpg
CO2 emissions: 114g/km CO2