2018 Mercedes-Benz C-Class pricing revealed

Australia’s favourite mid-size luxury car, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan, wagon, coupe and cabriolet range, arrives Down Under in its latest form next month.

And the (very) short version of the story for the entry-level sedan variant is that pricing and equipment is up, while engine capacity has been trimmed.

Five years into its life-cycle, the C-Class now kicks off from $63,400 -- an increase of $1500 – for the base C 200 sedan, which is powered by a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine coupled with 48-volt mild-hybrid system as standard.

Dubbed EQ Boost, the new system augments the turbo-petrol four’s 135kW with an extra 10kW of electric assist under hard acceleration. In effect, the EV system plugs the power gap often experienced in small-capacity turbo engines.

Mercedes-Benz claims remarkable efficiency for the new mild-hybrid drivetrain. The C 200 sedan’s fuel economy is 6.4L/100km.

The new C-Class range also gets a makeover inside and out, its cockpit goes all electronic and the family’s electrical architecture is all-new.

In addition to the C 200, a 190kW C 300 four-cylinder petrol powertrain will be available later this year. The latest C 220d turbo-diesel engine now punches out 143kW/400Nm while the latest Mercedes-AMG C 43 4MATIC models receive “a healthy power boost” to produce 287kW/520Nm (up 17kW).

Mercedes-AMG C 63 S variants will join the line-up in January 2019.

The upgraded and subtly restyled C-Class line-up was launched internationally in June.

Pride of place in the new C’s cabin is a significant upgrade in displays – the combination of a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and 10.25-inch media display.

Although Apple CarPlay and Google’s Android Auto are included, the family does not feature the ‘Hey Mercedes’ smarts of the new A-Class.

Touch-sensitive controls are used on the steering wheel for the first time. These “allow the driver to navigate both digital displays using similar swiping gestures to a smartphone, encouraging the driver to keep both hands on the wheel at all times”.

Mercedes’ latest generation of the Driving Assistance Package will also be offered on upper-spec C-Class models.

The local launch of the new C-Class range will take place later next month. More details then.

How much does the 2018 Mercedes-Benz C-Class cost?

Mercedes-Benz C 200 range
135kW/280Nm (EQ Boost 10kW/160Nm)
C 200 Sedan — $63,400
C 200 Estate — $65,900
C 200 Coupe — $67,900
C 200 Cabriolet — $88,400

Mercedes-Benz C 220d range
143kW/400Nm
C 220d Sedan — $64,900
C 220d Estate — $67,400

Mercedes-Benz C 300 range (arrives October 2018)
190kW/370Nm
C 300 Sedan — $TBC
C 300 Estate — $TBC
C 300 Coupé — $TBC
C 300 Cabriolet — $TBC

Mercedes-AMG C 43 range
287kW/520Nm
C 43 4MATIC Sedan — $107,900
C 43 4MATIC Estate — $110,400
C 43 4MATIC Coupe — $111,900
C 43 4MATIC Cabriolet — $124,900

Mercedes-AMG C 63 S range (arrives January 2019)
375kW/700Nm
C 63 S Sedan — $159,900
C 63 S Estate — $162,400
C 63 S Coupe — $164,900
C 63 S Cabriolet — $182,900