Mercedes-Benz C-Class
W206 sedan
Overview
ManufacturerDaimler-Benz (1992–1998)
DaimlerChrysler (1998–2007)
Daimler AG (2007–2022)
Mercedes-Benz Group AG (2022–present)
Production1992–present
Body and chassis
ClassCompact executive car (D)
LayoutFront-engine, rear-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive (4MATIC)
Chronology
PredecessorMercedes-Benz 190 E (W201)

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class is a series of compact executive cars produced by Mercedes-Benz Group AG. Introduced in 1993 as a replacement for the 190 (W201) range, the C-Class was the smallest model in the marque's line-up until the W168 A-Class arrived in 1997. The C-Class has been available with a "4MATIC" four-wheel drive option since 2002. The third generation (W204) was launched in 2007 while the current W206 generation was launched in 2021.

Initially available in sedan and a station wagon configurations, a fastback coupé (SportCoupé) variant followed and was later renamed to Mercedes-Benz CLC-Class. It remained in production until 2011 when a new W204 C-Class coupé replaced it for the 2012 model year.

Chassis Type Debut
W201 "190" 1982[1]
W202 C-Class 1993[1]
W203 C-Class 2000[1]
W204 C-Class 2007[1]
W205 C-Class 2014[1]
W206 C-Class 2021[1]

Predecessor models

W201 (1982)

W201
Mercedes-Benz 190 (W201)
Overview
Also called190E, 190D
ProductionSeptember 1982 – May 1993 (W201)
Body and chassis
LayoutFR layout
Powertrain
Engine
  • Petrol:
  • 1.8L, 2.3L, 2.5L I4
  • 2.6L, 3.2L I6
  • Diesel:
  • 2.0L, 2.2L I4
  • 2.5L I5

The Mercedes-Benz W201 is the internal designation for the Mercedes 190 series sedans, a range of front-engine, rear drive, five passenger, four-door sedans manufactured over a single generation, from 1982 to 1993 as the company's first compact class automobile.

Designed by Bruno Sacco, head of styling at Mercedes-Benz from 1975 to 1999, the W201 debuted at the 1982 Paris Motor Show. Manufactured in both Bremen and Sindelfingen, Germany, production reached 1,879,629 over its eleven-year model life.[2]

The W201 introduced a 5-link rear suspension subsequently used in E and C class models, front and rear anti-roll bars, anti-dive and anti-squat geometry—as well as airbags, ABS brakes and seatbelt pretensioners. Its extensive use of light-weight high-strength steel enabled it to withstand a concrete barrier offset crash at 35 mph (56 km/h) without serious passenger injury or cabin deformation.

Mercedes introduced a performance variant, marketed as the 190 E 2.3-16V, at the 1983 Frankfurt Motor Show.

First generation (W202; 1993)

First generation
Overview
Model codeW202
S202 (Wagon)
Production1992–2001
Body and chassis
Body style4-door sedan
5-door wagon

In May 1993, the first generation W202 C-Class was introduced as a replacement for the 190. The first C-Class (W202) sedan was manufactured in August 1992. The C-Class sedan was the company's entry-level model up until 1997 when Mercedes launched the A-Class. Styling themes were carried over from the previous W201 series, but the new series had a smoother and rounder design than the last generation of compact Mercedes, with styling cues from the W124 E-Class (short, high trunk and taller tail lights), W140 S-Class (front end), and R129 SL-Class (headlights).

Second generation (W203; 2000)

Second generation
Overview
Model codeW203
S203 (Wagon)
CL203 (SportCoupé)
Production1999–2010
Body and chassis
Body style3-door liftback
4-door sedan
5-door station wagon

The second generation C-Class was introduced in March 2000 and production began in March 1999. The sedan debuted with a range of inline-four and V6 petrol engines and inline-four and -five diesels, later W203's received the V6 diesel. Most of the engines were carried over from the W202, but the C320 was exclusive, offering 160 kW (215 hp; 218 PS). The diesels now featured common rail direct fuel injection and variable geometry turbochargers. A six-speed manual gearbox was optional on some of the range, With exception to the C320 and C32 AMG. Notably (post 2005), for the first time, the number designations were no longer equivalent to the engine displacement, more specifically in the Mercedes C200 (1.8-litre), C240 (2.6-litre) and C200 CDI (2.2-litre).

Third generation (W204; 2007)

Third generation
Overview
Model codeW204
S204 (Wagon)
C204 (Coupé)
Production2006–2015
Body and chassis
Body style3-door liftback
4-door sedan
5-door station wagon
2-door coupe

DaimlerChrysler introduced the W204 C-Class on 18 January 2007[3] and displayed it in the 2007 Geneva Auto Show. Sales started on 31 March 2007 in almost all European countries. The new family had an extended wheelbase and tracks, a stiffer body/shell and a design inspired by the W221 S-Class with some influences from the C219 CLS-Class. The C-Class received a facelift in 2011 for the 2012 model year including new LED taillights, a revised dashboard and instrument cluster layout, and a revised front fascia and headlights. The W204 platform continued into 2015 with the C-Class coupe. The final farewell of the W204, and also the naturally aspirated V8, was in the Edition 507 model. This had increased power, lightweight wheels and the vented hood from the Black Series.

Fourth generation (W205; 2014)

Fourth generation
Overview
Model codeW205
S205 (Wagon)
C205 (Coupé)
A205 (Cabriolet)
Production2014–2021
Body and chassis
Body style4-door sedan
5-door station wagon
2-door cabriolet
2-door coupe

The W205 C-Class was launched at the 2014 North American International Auto Show. The new structure was significantly lighter using aluminium and high-strength steel extensively throughout the body, resulting in a 100-kilogram (220 lb) weight decrease.[4] The Mercedes-Benz C-Class 205 chassis spawned four C-Class bodystyles; sedan (W205), wagon (S205), coupe (C205), and cabriolet (A205).

The car was officially unveiled on 16 December 2013.[5] W205 production commenced on 4 February 2014 at the Bremen plant.[6] Production was also undertaken at Mercedes-Benz plants in East London (South Africa), Iracemápolis (Brazil) and Tuscaloosa, Alabama (United States). European sales began in March 2014, while the vehicle went on sale in North America in September 2014.

A mid-life update made its debut at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show, including exterior changes and new engines.[7]

Fifth generation (W206; 2021)

Fifth generation
Overview
Model codeW206
S206 (Wagon)
Production2021–present
Body and chassis
Body style4-door sedan
5-door station wagon

The W206 C-Class was unveiled on 23 February 2021.[8] In China, the C-Class was launched in a long-wheelbase version (V206). For the first time, all W206 C-Class models are equipped with four-cylinder engines coupled with an integrated starter generator (15 kW electric motor) and a 48-volt electrical system.

The C-Class All-Terrain (X206) was released as an off-road focused, crossover-inspired estate model.[9] The model received external body cladding, a 40 mm increase in ride height, 4Matic AWD and additional drive modes.

Production and sales

Calendar year Production (sedan/estate/coupe) US sales China sales
ICE PHEV Total
2001 51,210[10]
2002 64,025
2003 65,982[11]
2004 69,251
2005 60,658[12]
2006 50,187
2007 63,701[13]
2008 72,471
2009 52,427[14] 16,000[15]
2010 313,500 (250,600 / 62,900)[16] 58,785 27,220[17]
2011 69,314
2012 413,193 (-/-/48,145) 81,697[18]
2013 88,251
2014 316,792 75,065[19]
2015 443,909 86,080[20]
2016 490,200[21] 77,167
2017 77,447
2018 60,409
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023 150,153[22] 5,115[23] 155,268[22]
2024 162,776[24] 5,297[25] 168,073[24]
2025 123,130[26] 3,340[27] 126,470[26]


References

Notes

  1. "Mercedes-Benz C-Class". Mercedes-Benz.
  2. Deutsche Autos, Band 6, 2001, p. 100. sfn error: no target: CITEREFDeutsche_Autos,_Band_6,2001 (help)
  3. "Daimler - Brands & Products - World Premiere of the New Mercedes-Benz C-Class". Archived from the original on 27 December 2008.
  4. Wayne Cunningham (24 November 2014). "2015 Mercedes-Benz C-class review". CNET.
  5. "The new Mercedes-Benz C-Class: C-Class at its best" (Press release). Daimler AG. 13 January 2014.
  6. "Four continents. One passion.' – Production of the New C-Class Starts at the Mercedes-Benz Bremen Plant". Daimler. 7 February 2014.
  7. Gerard Lye (7 March 2018). "W205 Mercedes-Benz C-Class facelift – more details revealed; 1.5L turbo with mild hybrid for new C200!". paultan.org.
  8. BALDWIN, ROBERTO (23 February 2021). "2022 Mercedes C-Class Overhauled with New Tech and a Fresh Design". Car And Driver.
  9. "2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class All-Terrain revealed – new X206 wagon gets SUV looks, rides 40 mm higher - paultan.org". Paul Tan's Automotive News. 18 August 2021.
  10. "Mercedes-Benz USA Records Highest Sales in Its History". Thefreelibrary.com. 3 January 2003.
  11. "2004 Highest Year on Record for Mercedes-Benz USA". Theautochannel.com.
  12. "Mercedes-Benz Rings in the New Year with Record 2006 Sales". Theautochannel.com.
  13. "Mercedes-Benz USA's Sales Drop 32.1 Percent in December 2008". eMercedesBenz.com. 5 January 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  14. "Highest Sales Month for the Year at 21,469 Brings Mercedes-Benz to an 18 Percent Increase for 2010" (Press release). PR Newswire. 4 January 2011.
  15. "Mercedes-Benz China Homepage 2010 News A Record-Breaking Year: Mercedes-Benz Concludes 2009 with Unprecedented Sales". Mercedes-benz.com.cn. 11 January 2010. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014.
  16. "Successful Year for Mercedes-Benz: Sales Up 15 Percent Worldwide in 2010". Daimler. Archived from the original on 2 October 2011.
  17. "115% Growth Mercedes-Benz Remains China's Fastest Growing Premium brand in 2010". Mercedes-Benz China. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014.
  18. Mercedes-Benz USA (3 January 2013). "Mercedes-Benz USA Hits Its Highest-Ever U.S. Volume With Sales of 305,072" (Press release). PR Newswire.
  19. "Mercedes-Benz delivers record-breaking 2014 sales volume of 330,391, up 5.7%". Mercedes-Benz USA.
  20. "Mercedes-Benz USA Reports Highest Year Ever with 2015 Sales of 380,461" (Press release).
  21. "Daimler Annual Report 2016" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 November 2022.
  22. "【易车销量榜】全国2023年奔驰终端量销量榜-易车榜-易车". car.yiche.com.
  23. "【易车销量榜】全国2023年奔驰插电混动终端量销量榜-易车榜-易车". car.yiche.com.
  24. "【易车销量榜】全国2024年奔驰终端量销量榜-易车榜-易车". car.yiche.com.
  25. "【易车销量榜】全国2024年奔驰插电混动终端量销量榜-易车榜-易车". car.yiche.com.
  26. "【易车销量榜】全国2025年奔驰终端量销量榜-易车榜-易车". car.yiche.com.
  27. "【易车销量榜】全国2025年奔驰插电混动终端量销量榜-易车榜-易车". car.yiche.com.

Bibliography

General

Workshop manuals

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

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