After a global reveal in February 2021, Mercedes-Benz has finally announced that it’ll be bringing the sixth-generation C-Class to India. While bookings are already underway, the company will announce the sedan’s prices on May 10th. The Mercedes-Benz C-Class will be offered in three variants: the C200, C220d, and C300d.

The C200 and the C200d will be offered in the Avantgarde variant, while the C300d will carry the AMG badging. This is similar to what Mercedes did with the previous generation of the C-Class as well.

Design-wise, the changes on the new C-class are kept to a minimum. The front gets the same traditional Mercedes grille, flanked by sleek LED headlamps. You may have noticed the sharp creases of the old model have made way for smooth and subtle lines, and there are the 5-spoke alloy wheels which give the car a sporty character. 

Step inside and there’s been a long list of upgrades. The Mercedes-Benz C-Class now gets a few of the bells and whistles from the S-Class sedan. This includes an 11.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which comes with Mercedes’ second-generation MBUX infotainment software.

The feature list here includes voice assist, connected car tech and biometric authentication via fingerprint or voice. Additionally, you also get dual-zone climate control, powered front seats, wireless charging and a dual-pane panoramic sunroof. 

The high-definition LCD digital instrument display and a new multi-spoke steering wheel are also as seen on the new S-Class. The gearshifter and the rotary dial have been removed, giving the centre console a cleaner look. The infotainment controls have now been moved to the touch-sensitive pads on the steering wheel.

In terms of dimensions, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class is now longer (up by 65mm) and wider (up by 10mm), with a 25mm increase in the wheelbase (2,865mm), which means more comfort to the rear passengers. 

Mercedes will offer the all-new Mercedes-Benz C-Class in three different engine options. The C200 gets a 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder, petrol unit that makes 204hp and 300Nm of torque. Then there’s the familiar diesel motor, which powers C220d (200PS/440Nm) and the C300d (265PS/550Nm). All the three engine options will get a 48B mild-hybrid motor, which delivers an additional boost of 20hp. Mated to a 9-speed automatic gearbox as standard, fuel efficiency is rated at 16.9kpl on the C200 and 23kpl on the C220d.

Performance-wise, the carmaker claims a 0-100kph time of 7.3 seconds in the C200, while the C220d and C300d take only 5.7 seconds. 

Considering the extensive changes we’ve seen on the sedan, we’re expecting Mercedes to price the C-Class around the Rs 55 lakh mark (ex-showroom). Once launched the Mercedes-Benz C-Class will take on the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series, Volvo S60 and the Jaguar XE.

(Image credits: Mercedes-Benz, NetCarShow)