C-Class

I KEPT an overdue date with new Mercedes-Benz C-Class last week....just.

My first attempt to get behind the wheel of the heavily-revised compact exec was thwarted when it failed to arrive as early as I'd hoped.

This time the cars were there, the problem was finding a gap in Jacksons' Mercedes-Benz specialist Gary de Jersey's schedule that coincided with one in mine.

We all know some dealers talk up trade, however badly they are doing. But Gary really was being kept uber-busy, so much so that I swear it made a spin with me at the wheel of a C250 Sport almost a welcome break.

Or it would have been but for the invention of the mobile phone.

Mercedes is, of course, having a busy year with new models.

And the way the new C-Class saloon and estate offer near E-Class ambience and presence within pretty Guernsey-friendly dimensions is going to keep the sales team busy.

Visually, the changes won't frighten the horses but Mercedes say the 2,000 new or revised components make this the most extensive mid-life facelift in all its 125 years.

The cognoscenti will note the modified headlamps, rear lights and new bumpers. The grille surround is now more prominent and the central air intake opens out upwards in a V-shape, while a new, more contoured, aluminium bonnet helps keep pedestrians safer and the weight down.

Horizontal LED daytime running lamps in the bumper have been introduced to make the C-Class distinctive from a distance and there are LED indicators in the rear light clusters.

The Sport model tested comes with the AMG body kit and 15mm lower sports suspension complemented by more-direct steering.

An optional Dynamic Handling Package, not fitted to the test car, allows the C-Class Sport owner to flick a switch and achieve firmer damping, faster throttle response and more aggressive automatic gear shifts.

Inside, the dashboard has been restyled and the new C-Class premieres Mercedes' new-generation communication and information unit. Features include larger displays, telephone directory transfer, display of SMS messages, wireless music reproduction via Bluetooth and a USB interface in the centre armrest.

Another first is the facility for Becker Map Pilot to offer a lower-cost fully integrated navigation system that can be retrofitted or transferred to your next C-Class.

And the option Comand Online multimedia system now provides internet access for the first time. When the car is stationary, customers can browse freely via their data-enabled mobile phone or surf to a Mercedes-Benz Online service with pages that load particularly rapidly. The integrated services include weather information and a special destination search via Google, as well as the option of downloading a route that has been previously configured on a PC using Google Maps and sent to the car.

Mercedes has always been at the forefront of safety technology, too, and all new C-Class come with six airbags plus one for the driver's knees.

Traction and stability controls are a given in this class but there are also a host of other safety features, although some are on the options list.

Attention Assist is standard and detects drowsiness on the part of the driver though an array of sensors that pick up unexpected changes in behaviour indicative of drowsiness or inattention.

Lane Keeping Assist and Blind Spot Assist are available with the optional lane-tracking package that subtly vibrates the steering wheel if the car strays from its lane.

Blind Spot Assist uses two radar sensors to monitor either side to the rear and in lane changes at 20mph or above warns of the presence of a vehicle in the blind spot by a symbol in the appropriate wing mirror.

Also optional is Distronic Plus radar-assisted cruise control, which applies the brakes to keep a safe separation distance from the car ahead then accelerates automatically once things get flowing again. And if a collision is imminent it applies emergency braking, making the impact less severe.

Having noted the technology, it was finally time to take to the road.

It's the roomiest cabin in the compact-exec class and there is plenty of space for adults in all the seats and for their luggage in the boot.

And the driving position offers a good range of adjustment, too.

Dog owners and those who occasionally need more room opt for the Estate, which mirrors the Saloon range all the way from the ultra-frugal 2.2-litre diesels to the glorious overkill of the 6.3-litre C63 AMG, one of which Gary has already sold.

C-Class sales in Guernsey tend to split 50:50 Saloon:Estate and half and half petrol:diesel.

Whatever the fuel, the engines are impressive.

The numbers are confusing, though, with the C250 BlueEfficiency Sport actually powered by an engine of a surprisingly modest 1.8 litres.

The 250 denotes simply that it is the more powerful version of the 1.8 turbocharged, direct-injected unit that comes only with the 7GTronic seven-speed auto box.

If that sounds like a recipe for going nowhere fast, you haven't been paying attention to what Mercedes engineers have been doing of late.

Specific power outputs are high across the range – approaching 100bhp/litre in some diesels and even more in the case of this petrol unit.

Indeed, the C250 is considerably quicker than some cars with sporting pretensions and bigger engines and thirsts, too.

The Sport particularly has a reputation for being as much fun on an English B-road as any rival and while the SE and Elegance might ride slightly more cossetingly, considering its big alloys and low profile alloys, the Sport rides amazingly well on its 18-inch AMG seven-spoke alloys with 224/40 fronts and 255/35 rears

It's a pretty easy companion around our local tight spots, too.

I had to check the data twice myself, but it is only the same width across the metal as the new Fiesta is with its mirrors folded.

A fair bit longer, maybe, but that is only a problem when manouevring at close quarters.

At least it would be a problem but for the proximity sensors fitted fore and aft and the Parktronic with Advanced Parking Guidance, which is standard across the range.

Cruise along a line of parallel-parked cars at 20mph or less and the system scans the gaps looking for one that's big enough.

When it finds one a P symbol shows in the centre of the speedo, then it's just a simple case of applying the appropriate left-hand-down steering lock until the graphic fills and reversing gently in, stopping and filling the arrow with right lock at the appropriate moment.

Impressive. An ace parker could do it more quickly, but probably no better.

And a prolonged press on the footbrake engages a hillholder that prevents the car rolling forwards or backwards.

But soon, having just scratched the surface of the C250 Sport's talents, it was time to head back to Jacksons long before we needed to trouble the Intelligent Light System that is standard on Sport models and optional on others.

It offers a choice of modes for the bi-xenon headlights that come with it that include fog, motorway and cornering light settings and high beam assist that lowers the headlights when an oncoming vehicle is detected.

They can even be configured to dip to the right for driving sur le Continent.

As I said, it was not a long drive. Just enough for me to realise that this powerful, thrifty C-Class, especially in estate form, is one of the most complete one-vehicle transport solutions this side of a Discovery 4.