Same But Different

The upgraded C-Class looks quite similar to the car it replaces, but it’s new and improved in some very important ways. It packs an all-new mild hybrid power unit too.

- Rahul Kapoor

Over 4,15,000 units of the C-Class were sold globally in 2017 alone, making it the most popular product to come from the house of Mercedes-Benz. The fact that the current generation of the C-Class – now in its fifth year of production – still manages to bring in such numbers is simply astounding. But with the next generation of the C-Class still a few years away, Mercedes has decided to give this model a much-needed update.

While Mercedes likes to claim that the car is all-new, the fact is that most changes are too subtle to be noticed, unless you’re a ‘Where’s Wally’ world champion. According to Mercedes, a total of 6,500 components on the updated C-Class are brand new, including a new set of engines – leading to a list of features and upgrades that are meant to make it feel and drive better.

What’s different?

First things first, the C-Class has been visually tweaked quite a bit, with newly crafted bumpers and a brand-new set of ‘Performance LED headlamps,’ which endows the car with an air of beauty and elegance – especially in its ‘Exclusive’ trim package. Though the Multibeam LED headlamps are offered as an option and are more functional, I couldn’t help but feel that the Performance LED setup looks more tasteful. The rear, meanwhile, has undergone only minor changes, including a new bumper and newly designed tail lamps.