Mercedes-Benz C 220 d AMG Line: Business Class on Four Wheels

The W206 Mercedes-Benz C-Class represents a genuine step change over its predecessor. Taking design and technology directly from the S-Class — the brand''s flagship — and scaling it into the entry-level of the Mercedes range has produced a vehicle that genuinely feels above its price point. The C 220 d''s 2.0-litre turbodiesel with 147kW and 440Nm is refined to a degree that makes the petrol-diesel distinction academic — it''s quiet, smooth and delivers power with a linearity that makes highway progress genuinely effortless. The 9G-Tronic gearbox selects ratios with near-imperceptible smoothness. Mercedes'' MBUX system with the 11.9-inch portrait display is the most intuitive touchscreen in any car we''ve driven. The AR navigation — which overlays directional arrows onto a live camera feed of the road ahead — genuinely helps in unfamiliar environments. Voice control is accurate enough to be useful rather than frustrating. The AMG Line exterior package with its quad exhaust tips and 19-inch alloys creates a sporting silhouette that the standard car lacks. Interior materials are genuinely premium: open-pore wood, soft-touch surfaces and the Burmester audio system creates a genuinely luxury environment. Ride comfort is superb — the C-Class''s air of refinement is what its buyers pay for, and on this count it does not disappoint.