Mercedes Benz’s 2022 C-Class is slightly longer, wider and lower than it was, but the cab-rearwards silhouette is familiar. As for the styling, it’s the good old Russian doll effect – it looks like an E-Class that is parked further away. Vertical taillights make way for horizontal ones, there are slimmer headlights and the grille has been flipped upside down. Incremental stuff that’s unlikely to offend, and in the right colour and trim we reckon it looks rather good.

The wheelbase and tracks are longer while the suspension remains double wishbone at the front and multi-link at the rear. It is worth mentioning from the outset that our German-spec car was fitted with adaptive dampers and rear-wheel steering.

2022 C-Class It looks pretty similar to the outgoing car. The underlying platform is the same, but virtually no stone has been left unturned, and certainly everything that the driver interacts with is all-new.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class entry-luxury car segment is in for a shakeupwith a complete redesign. The C-class has long served as the entry point to the Mercedes-Benz lineup, but new additions to the brand in recent years such as the A-class sedan have allowed the C-Class to move upmarket and better battle rivals such as the Audi A4, BMW 3-series, and Genesis G70. The all-new 2022 model will continue to be built on a rear-drive platform, powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder engine and will offer all-wheel drive as an option. The cabin is where we see the most modernization as the C-class inherits styling elements and technology from the newly-redesigned 2021 S-Class sedan.

Everything is new. Even though the new C-Class’ styling isn’t a huge departure from the 2021 model, the 2022 model year marks the start of a new generation with more luxury and a greater number of high-tech features.

Mercedes Benz will offer three distinct trim levels on the 2022 C-Class: Premium, Exclusive, and Pinnacle. A breakdown of available features indicates that the mid-range Exclusive trim would satisfy the broadest swath of buyers, as it includes niceties such as a 360-degree exterior camera system, a self-parking feature, wireless smartphone charging, and a Burmester premium stereo system. All models come standard with a large infotainment display, a digital gauge display, heated front seats, automated high-beam headlamps, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a sunroof, and much more. Mercedes-Benz’s 4Matic all-wheel drive system is optional, but we will leave that up to you to decide if you need it.

The 2022 C-Class will continue to be powered by a 255-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, but this time around it’s enhanced by a 48-volt hybrid system that can temporarily provide up to 20 extra horsepower. All-wheel drive remains an option with rear-wheel drive being the standard setup; a nine-speed automatic is the only gearbox offered. Mercedes-Benz estimates that it will hit 60 mph in 5.9 seconds.

The most dramatic change for the C-Class comes in the form of a new high-tech cabin. All models come with a digital gauge display, touch-sensitive controls, and a host of amenities. The new model sports a steering wheel that looks similar to that of the redesigned S-Class sedans and Mercedes offers a generous list of standard luxury features such as heated front seats with memory settings, a sunroof, open-pore wood trim, and aluminum accents.

Overall, the 2022 C-Class is about 2.5-inches longer than the outgoing model and its wheelbase has been stretched by an inch. Mercedes-Benz says that results in more rear-seat legroom.

A large, 12.3-inch vertically oriented infotainment display similar to the one in the redesigned S-Class sedan sweeps up from the center console and toward a trio of round air vents on the upper dashboard. The touchscreen is tilted slightly toward the driver for easier use while driving and runs the most up-to-date version of Mercedes’s MBUX infotainment system— complete with the voice-activated digital assistant, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and online access via a Wi-Fi hotspot. All models also come with an 11.9-inch digital gauge display and a fingerprint sensor to authenticate the driver’s unique profile for memory settings. A head-up display, a wireless smartphone charging pad, an ambient lighting system, and a Burmester surround sound stereo system are all optional extras.

C-Class is equipped with a host of standard driver-assistance features but unfortunately the car’s coolest tech, which includes an adaptive cruise-control system that utilizes navigation data to adjust the vehicle’s speed for upcoming curves and roundabouts, is still optional.

Although rivals such as BMW, Genesisand Volvo offer three years of complimentary maintenance, Mercedes-Benz omits that benefit from its standard warranty offerings. Otherwise, all new Benz’s come with an industry-standard plan that covers most things for up to four years or 50,000 miles.