Mercedes C-Class Estate

FIRSTDRIVE Facelift keeps compact exec wagon on the pace

- James Brodie

IN Issue 1,531 we named the face lifted Mercedes C-Class saloon as the Best Executive Car at the 2018 Auto Express New Car Awards.

Now we’ve driven the revised Estate version for the very first time. Although it plays second fiddle to the four-door from a popularity perspective, the wagon is still a hugely important member of the C-Class team, and a reason why the model found its way into the top 10 best-selling cars in the UK in 2017.

Mercedes’ focus with this revamp isn’t all cosmetic, either. Design changes are few and far between, in fact, with the recognisable updates limited to a set of new lights and bumpers. Instead, the tech and infotainment grab the headlines, alongside improved engines.

We’ve already sampled the all-new 1.5-litre 48-volt mild-hybrid petrol unit in the C 200, but that’s not the only fresh engine in the C-Class range. A new diesel arrives, too, with the marque’s latest 2.0-litre straight from the E-Class.