C 200 d (150 PS)

STORY

The C-Class brought Mercedes-Benz to a much wider audience. It grew directly out of the 190 "Baby Benz". When its successor arrived in 1993 as the W202, it took the new "C" badge, the first car to carry it, and inherited the "Baby Benz" nickname from the press.

As the compact entry model in the range, the C-Class has always aimed to give S-Class dignity in a smaller, more attainable package. Buyers responded: across five generations it has sold well over 10 million units, making it one of Mercedes' most important models by sales.

It has also been the base for some of AMG's best-loved performance cars, from the loud naturally aspirated C63 to its turbocharged successors. Sensible, good-looking and quietly prestigious, the C-Class is today's way into the three-pointed star.