Mercedes-Benz India has launched the new-generation C-Class, with prices starting at Rs. 55 Lakh, Rs. 56 lakh for the C 220d and going up to Rs. 61 lakh for the top-spec C 300d variant. The C-Class has been on sale in India since 2001 and this is the 5th generation (W206) model that comes to India after it made its global debut in early 2021. Till date, Mercedes has sold over 37,000 units of the C-Class in India and no doubt hopes that the new C will be a volume spinner for the company as well. Mercedes has begun assembling the new C-Class at its plant in Chakan, Maharashtra and pre-bookings for the luxury sedan have begun as well.

Mercedes will offer three engines on the new C - a 1.5-litre turbo petrol and a 2.0-litre diesel engine in two states of tune. In addition, all three engine options get an integrated starter generator (ISG) with EQ Boost, which provides a significant 15 bhp of extra power and up to 200 Nm of extra torque. Mercedes says that the C 220d in particular is one of its most fuel-efficient cars, with a claimed mileage of 23 kmpl. For its size, the C 200 petrol too offers an impressive 16.9 kmpl, while the C 300d gets a claimed fuel efficiency of 20.37 kmpl. Full specifications are given in the table below.

Our time spent with the new-gen C left us impressed, especially with Mercedes employing its 'Sensual Purity' design language on the car. The exterior in particular, works very well, with the pulled-back cab-rearward design, power bulge on the bonnet, and the AMG trim on the C 300d along with the Avant Garde line on the C 200 and the C 220d making it the sportiest, most evocative model of the C-Class yet. In terms of dimension, the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class grows 10 mm wider, and the wheelbase increases by 25 mm, with a 21 mm increase between the front and the rear seats. The overall length of the sedan increases by 65 mm.

Along with the exterior design, the S-Class-inspired themes are more pronounced on the inside. The highlight is the new 11.9-inch vertical touchscreen which gets the latest generation of the MBUX based on NTG 7. It is a connected car, along with a bunch of ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) features like active brake assist and active parking assist. The new C also gets a feature called 'Car-to-X', which is similar to a social network of cars, where Mercedes cars with MBUX can communicate with each other and share information on a real-time basis. The top-spec C 300d also gets Mercedes' smart digital lights which use up to 1.3 million pixels for lighting and can be configured according to the direction of traffic.

Like most modern premium cars, the touchscreen has almost all in-car controls and therefore, giving the dashboard a clean, sophisticated look. Another highlight is the HD instrument panel, with different themes and settings. The touchpad controls on the steering are now more flush. You get the Burmester sound system, ambient lighting, a connected car telematics suite that works with the Mercedes me app, wireless charging, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and either Alexa or Google home integration. Do note, that some of these may be available only on the C 300d.