Should you buy one?

It depends on your values. If you rate aesthetics and technology above all else in the compact executive segment, then the C-Class is an excellent choice. It’ll look great in the office car park, the fancy screens will make you feel like a rocket commander every time you drive it and it shrugs off motorway miles with consummate ease.

However, it isn’t quite the accomplished all-rounder it should be. The low-speed ride is fussy and the boot is slightly smaller than its rivals. If you go for the plug-in hybrid model, there’s no way you could comfortably use it as a family car. The BMW 3 Series is still more engaging to drive, too.

What we like

The C-Class has a great interior. It’s attractive, packed with technology and remarkably easy to use, which isn’t often the case in touchscreen-led cabins. Volkswagen could certainly take a few pointers from Mercedes on how to make all-screen interiors work.

What we don’t like

The engines are sensible rather than scintillating and the cabin is a little cramped for those in the back. The low-speed ride needs work, too. If you buy one, you’ll develop a nervous twitch every time you approach a speed bump.