Mercedes-Benz car reviews

2005 on

Hatchback 2005 on

• Decent interior space, most affordable Mercedes, easy to drive in town, good diesel economy
• Artificially light steering, noisy at speed, harsh ride, some weak petrol engines

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1998 to 2004

Hatchback 1998 to 2004

• Interior space, compact body, badge.
• Firm ride, high price.

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2005 on

Hatchback 2005 on

• Extremely versatile, plenty of interior space, decent diesels, low-emissions versions available
• Ungainly styling, wooden to drive, only five seats, expensive options

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2007 on

Saloon 2007 on

• Great choice of engines, spacious interior, comfortable and refined, classy image
• Plain cabin doesn't feel particularly premium, dated foot-operated parking brake

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Estate 2008 on

• Refined comfort, good choice of engines, versatile, great equipment levels, decent boot
• Fiddly audio-navigation system, cabin doesn't feel particularly premium

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AMG 2008 on

• Storming performance, wonderful engine, understated looks, forgiving ride
• High running costs, incredibly thirsty, almost too fast to appreciate on public roads

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2000 to 2008

Saloon 2000 to 2007

• Prestige, brand image, slow depreciation
• Earliest petrol engines were thirsty

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Estate 2000 to 2007

• Stylish design, practical
• Lacks the space of bigger estates

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Sports Coupé 2001 to 2008

• Pretty looks and great engines
• Overpriced, servicing is expensive

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1993 to 2001

Saloon 1993 to 2000

• Prestige, quality, V6 engines, slow depreciation.
• Audi A4 makes C-Class look expensive.

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Estate 1996 to 2001

• Prestige; quality; V6 engines; slow depreciation
• Audi A4 makes C-Class look expensive

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2007 on

Coupe 2007 on

• Immense power, engineering masterpiece, unique styling, luxurious interior
• Huge running costs, lacks the aura of an Aston or Bentley

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AMG 2007 on

• Astoundingly fast, thunderous engines, luxury cabin, superb build quality
• Expensive to buy and run, hardly understated, lacks sophisticated image of alternatives

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2000 to 2005

Coupe 2000 to 2005

• Prestige, presence, pace
• Price, maybe a bit too discreet

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2008 on

Coupe 2008 on

• Good looks, comfortable interior, well-equipped
• Restricted rear visibility, not great value for money new, wooden steering, cramped rear seats

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2002 to 2009

Coupé 2002 to 2009

• Stylish image, excellent build quality, good choice of engines including excellent diesels
• Cramped rear seats, expensive options, not as desirable as convertible

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Cabriolet 2003 to 2009

• Looks great with the roof up or down, very refined, strong performance, good to drive
• Expensive to run, no diesels in the line-up, poor manual gearbox

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AMG 2002 to 2009

• Sublime performance, great sounding engines, handles well, available as a soft top
• Expensive to run, poor fuel economy, rather brash image

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1997 to 2003

Coupé 1997 to 2002

• Well built, safe and stylish
• Dull steering

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Cabriolet 1998 to 2003

• Quality; safety; style
• Dull steering

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2005 on

Coupé 2005 on

• Unique styling, extremely comfortable and refined
• Compromised space for a four-door saloon, not as good to drive as the styling suggests

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AMG 2005 on

• Elegant and understated style, superb performance, wonderful engine sound
• Not as driver focussed as some high performance four-door alternatives

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2009 on

Saloon 2009 on

• Exceptional refinement, solid feel, roomy interior, range of tax-efficient diesels, excellent on the motorway, sharp styling
• Slightly noisy four-cylinder diesel, smaller petrol engine rather lacklustre

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Coupé 2009 on

• Upmarket image, strong and frugal diesel engines, solid feel, extremely comfortable and refined
• Not as involving to drive as some alternatives, some expensive options

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Estate 2010 on

• Elegant styling, enormous luggage volume, quality feel, well laid out dash, superb refinement
• Four-cylinder diesel seems noisy, smaller petrols somewhat lacklustre

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AMG 2009 on

• Straight-line speed, handling, covers miles with ease, slick gearchanges, comfort
• Expensive options, some rivals cheaper, high running costs

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Cabriolet 2010 on

• Classy styling, impressive refinement, clever AirCap means open air driving without the buffeting, excellent diesels available
• Lifeless steering feel, AirCap looks ungainly when raised

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2002 to 2008

Saloon 2002 to 2008

• Elegant styling, superbly comfortable ride, luxurious cabin, refined
• Poor manual gearboxes, slightly soft in corners

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Estate 2003 to 2008

• Great load carrying ability, elegant styling, superb long distance cruiser, luxury cabin feel
• Early electrical reliability problems, poor manual gearboxes, other estates handle better

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AMG 2002 to 2008

• Storming performance, understated looks, available as an estate, refined cabin
• Expensive to buy, very high running costs

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1995 to 2003

Saloon 1995 to 2002

• Prestige, longevity, integrity, low depreciation
• Most expensive choice in the class

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Estate 1996 to 2003

• Prestige; longevity; integrity; low depreciation
• Most expensive choice in the class

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2006 on

Estate 2006 on

• Cavernous interior, extremely comfortable and practicality, superb build quality
• Huge dimensions make it tricky to manoeuvre, thirsty engines

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2005 on

Hatchback 2005 on

• Stylish looks, outstanding diesel engines, superb interior quality, commanding driving position
• No seven seat option

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AMG 2006 on

• Strong performance, comfortable, high standard of fit-and-finish, great engine sound
• Punishing running costs, woeful CO2 figure, ML500 does a similar job for less

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1998 to 2004

Station Wagon 1998 to 2004

• Refinement, space, image.
• Minor niggles.

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2006 on

Estate 2006 on

• Seats six in superb comfort, luxury cruising ability, excellent diesels
• Bulky around town, poor seat position for rearmost passengers, ungainly looks

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2006 on

Saloon 2006 on

• Exceptional refinement, the pinnacle of luxury travel, superb performance, sophisticated cabin
• High running costs, expensive to service

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1999 to 2005

Saloon 1999 to 2005

• Solid, sleek, bags of road presence, extremely comfortable
• Expensive to run, only one diesel choice

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1991 to 1999

Saloon 1991 to 1999

• Pedigree, quality, engineering.
• Size, sky-high running costs, fat-cat image.

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2002 on

Convertible 2002 on

• Sleek and purposeful styling, effortless performance, coupe feel with roof up
• Expensive to buy and run, 2008 facelifted models not as elegant

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AMG 2002 on

• Stylishly understated, storming performance, wonderful engines, metal folding roof
• Incredibly expensive to buy and run, extortionate servicing costs

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1989 to 2002

Convertible 1989 to 2002

• Status; quality
• SLK is prettier, less costly and less pretentious

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2004 on

Roadster 2004 on

• Neat styling, good quality interior, refined with roof down
• More powerful models are expensive to run, poor manual gearbox, no diesel option

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AMG 2004 on

• Thundering performance, AMG styling, superb engine, sharp handling
• Not as nimble as a Porsche Boxster, slow-witted manual mode

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1996 to 2004

Roadster 1996 to 2004

• Clever roof, strong image
• Firm ride

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2003 on

Convertible 2003 on

• Incredibly exclusive, engineering integrity, blistering pace
• Extortionately expensive, lack of real driver engagement, neither a luxury GT nor a hard-edged supercar

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2002 to 2005

Estate 2002 to 2005

• Interior space, usefully practical, easy to drive in town
• Rattly trim, ungainly styling, firm ride

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2004 on

Estate 2004 on

• Capable of carrying eight in comfort, massive and versatile interior, superb diesels
• Sheer size makes it difficult to manoeuvre, can't hide commercial vehicle origins

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