Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate Review 2025: Price, specs & boot space

If you want a comfortable, refined and posh estate car that's not the size of a bus, the Mercedes C-Class Estate is for you. True, other estates are more practical, but the latest C-Class Estate is more than a match for its direct rival here - the BMW 3 Series Touring.

If you're after dynamic handling, we'd suggest the BMW, the Mercedes instead majors on comfort with well-judged suspension and an easy-to-drive nature that's been a Mercedes hallmark for many years. If you're a technophile, you'll love the interior with its huge screens and the MBUX advanced infotainment system.

The standout model in the latest Mercedes C-Class Estate range is undoubtedly the C 300 e. This plug-in hybrid has an electric range of 68 miles, far more than any of the competition. It's one of the best PHEVS on the market. While around town you're unlikely to use the petrol engine, when it does come into play on longer journeys, you can expect to see around 60mpg, similar to a C 220 d.

The entry-level AMG Line is very well equipped and looks the part too, so we'd stick with this rather than spending more on the AMG Line Premium.

Rivals to the Mercedes C-Class Estate include the ever-popular Audi A4 Avant and BMW 3 Series Touring. The A4 has since been dropped in favour of the new A5 Avant. There's also the excellent Volvo V60 and Skoda Superb, both come in plug-in and mild hybrid forms.

Others to consider? The Volkswagen Passat Estate, we also rate the Peugeot 508 SW.

Mercedes-Benz has talked a lot about improving interior quality in this generation Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate, and overall, it's certainly an improvement on the old model. 

That's most noticeable on high-spec models with their leather-covered door tops and posher trims. However, on standard versions, things feel less plush, with some of the door plastics and speaker covers not up to the standards you'd expect of a car that costs this much. 

That's not to detract from the rest, though. This is still a beautifully built car with a quality feel to all the main controls, along with impeccable fit and finish.

The interior of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate is dominated by a huge iPad-style touchscreen that flows neatly into the centre console. It's a bright, clear high resolution display and works pretty much like any smartphone.

This is how the MBUX infotainment system (and pretty much everything else) is controlled, and also means that there are very few other buttons in the cabin. That's good news for your OCD, but not so good if you want to quickly turn up the air conditioning on the move. We'd prefer physical buttons for that.

To be fair, the climate functions are always displayed at the bottom, so maybe we're being a bit picky here, but it does highlight the dependency on one screen. What happens if it stops working, for instance?

The MBUX system is easy to navigate and intuitive, plus responds quickly to inputs. We think it's one of the best infotainment systems around. Like any touchscreen system, there are seemingly endless menus and settings, but likely only a few you'll use regularly. 

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration is standard fit, which will be the default choice for many, plus a wireless phone-charging pad and two USB sockets in the centre console. There are controls on the steering wheel, but rather than physical, these are touch-sensitive, with varying success. It's almost impossible to turn the volume up a fraction, for instance. Instead, you end up deafening everyone.

MBUX also features voice activation, and it's one of the better ones. Say the words "Hey Mercedes..." followed by your request, and it will do most things from setting a nav destination to turning up the air con. It's very clever, but whether anyone actually uses it without feeling like a fool is another matter...

Mercedes has improved space throughout this generation C-Class Estate, so as well as more headroom for those in the back (and more knee room), there's also a bigger boot. Carrying space has increased by 30 litres to 490 litres and 1510 litres with the back seats dropped.

That puts the Mercedes C-Class Estate pretty much on par with boot space in the BMW 3 Series Touring (at 500 litres) and the Audi A4 Avant (505 litres).

Usefully, all models come with a standard electric tailgate and luggage cover. Loading large and awkward items is made easier by the wide opening and low load lip. We also like the underfloor storage, which is handy for hiding items away, although this disappears on the C 300 e PHEV model. There are two useful hooks on the sides which stop shopping bags from moving about every time you turn a corner.

Elsewhere, there are plenty of storage places with good-sized door pockets front and back, plus a split armrest in the high centre console. At the front of that, there are two cupholders.

Unlike an SUV, you can't recline the rear seats or slide them, but they do at least split 40/20/40, which is handy if you want to fold down one half with a car seat fitted to the other. Cleverly, if you have electric seats fitted, they automatically move forward when the back row drops down - and then return to their previous position when you put the seats back up.

In terms of the exterior, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate's dimensions are 4751mm long, 2033mm wide (1820mm without mirrors) and 1455mm tall. 

The standout model in the Mercedes C-Class Estate range is undoubtedly the C 300 e. This plug-in hybrid version has a 19.53 kWh (usable) lithium-ion battery. This means the C 300 e can cover up to 68 miles on EV power alone, at which point the 2.0-litre petrol engine kicks in.

Alongside that are familiar Mercedes engines starting with the C 200, a 1.5-litre petrol with 205PS, while the C 300 petrol is a 2.0-litre engine with 258PS.

The C 220 d and C 300 d are both powered by the same 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel. The 220 d has 200PS while the 300 d is boosted to 265PS with 550Nm of torque. 

Diesel may no longer be a popular choice for many, but there's a strong case for the C 220 d. It's very quiet, smooth and produces more than enough power for everyday driving. It's easy to see why this is the default for many C-Class Estate buyers, especially when it's cheaper than the C 300 e PHEV model.

The nine-speed automatic gearbox works supremely well with the C 220 d, delivering incredibly smooth shifts for effortless progress. It's also very quiet.

The performance AMG 43 model is sadly no longer a six-cylinder as in the previous model. Instead, Mercedes has downsized this to a 2.0-litre four-cylinder 422PS petrol. There's also a C63 guise, which features the same engine but produces 680PS.

All engines get the 9G-Tronic automatic as standard and come with mild-hybrid drive. This has 48-volt technology and an integrated starter-generator, which adds 24PS. It can start the engine and provide a power boost when needed.

The Mercedes C-Class Estate is incredibly quiet. That's a given for the C 300 e PHEV, but what's most impressive is how hushed the C 220 d model is. Four-cylinder diesels aren't exactly renowned for their refinement, but thanks to improved sound deadening and that smooth nine-speed automatic, the C-Class Estate is incredibly quiet, both on start-up and while driving.

Even when the stop/start kicks in, it's barely noticeable, a far cry from older Mercedes-Benz systems. Get up to motorway speeds and the Mercedes C-Class Estate remains impressive with little road or wind noise upsetting the quiet cabin.

As we've already mentioned, the suspension set-up errs on the side of comfort, which is good news for refinement as the C-Class Estate doesn't crash over potholes and smooths out rough road surfaces well, insulating passengers from any vibration or harshness.

The C63 model doesn't emit a V8 symphony like the old car, but is somewhat throaty. 

Like its predecessor, the latest Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate was awarded the maximum five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP. This was specifically for the saloon, but we can say with confidence that the estate version is equally as safe.

It scored strongly across the board with a 93% rating for adult occupant safety and 89% for child occupant safety. Tests on the front seats and head restraints demonstrated good protection against whiplash injuries in the event of a rear-end collision.

The Mercedes C-Class is fitted with an advanced eCall system, which alerts the emergency services in the event of a crash. It also has a system which applies the brakes after an impact to avoid secondary collisions.

All models come with a reversing camera with a large, clear display. Mercedes-Benz C-Class AMG Line Premium models have a  360-degree camera with a 'bird's-eye view' of the area surrounding, augmenting the car on top.

Mercedes-Benz tied 23rd place with Nissan out of 33 manufacturers in the latest Honest John Satisfaction Index, a rise from 2022.

Unfortunately, the Mercedes C-Class came in 7th place of 20 cars in the worst cars for reliability survey. All Mercedes cars are offered with a three-year warranty. 

The Sport trim was the cheapest, but Mercedes has dropped this in favour of the AMG Line. Still, this means the C200 AMG Line is just Group 34 insurance. The C220 d is 35, while the C300 is 37, and the C300d is 39.

AMG Line Premium cars start at 36 and run to 46, the latter being the C300e, but opting for an Urban Edition reduces this to 43. 

All C-Class Estates exceed £40,000, meaning a £620 annual tax bill. Some AMG Line Premium Plus cars also cost £1,360 in showroom tax. Therefore, it's worth checking before being stung. 

There are four trim levels: AMG Line, Urban Edition, AMG Line Premium and AMG Line Premium Plus. Note that the Urban Edition is C300e only. Entry-level cars feature a clever driver display, extra ambient lighting, adaptive highbeam assist, 18-inch alloys, heated front seats, and four-way lumbar support.

AMG Premium cars get 19-inch alloys, traffic sign assist, AMG bodystyling and larger front brake discs. AMG Premium Plus cars have multibeam LED headlights, touchpads and internet connectivity. Think of Premium Plus as a semi-skimmed performance AMG.