GOING head to head with the impressive BMW 3-Series is not an easy task and it would not be unfair to say that the Mercedes-Benz C-Class has probably suffered a little by comparison to its Teutonic rival in years gone by.

Not so any more, however, as the latest version of Merc's compact executive plaything proves that the Stuttgart-based giant is up for the battle - and it could be a close contest.

Mercedes has gradually been upping its game to shake off its more mature, staid image - a direction fully reflected in the design tweaks for the 2011 C-Class.

Clean, angular lines and re-worked front and rear ends with a bolder grille and low air intakes in the front bumper all help to create a low slung, road hugging, muscular look which can challenge the street-cred of the ever popular Beamer.

But the real trick to capturing a more youthful market and giving the 3-Series a good run for it's money is to pack some impressive performance into a car that is easy, yet satisfying to drive and offers some sharp handling, punchy acceleration and good top end pace.

And it has to said that the C-Class duly obliges for the most part.

The 156bhp, 1.8-litre turbocharged petrol power pack in this entry level SE model proves lively enough to offer some real entertainment on the back roads and country lanes, while handling town traffic with aplomb and positively eating up the miles on the motorway.

Mated with the optional and improved 7G Tronic Plus seven-speed automatic gearbox (£1,500) in my test car it offered powerful yet smooth acceleration throughout the rev range and a 0-62mph time of a snap under eight seconds with a top speed of 139mph.

Light steering meant that driving was simplicity itself while grip was plentiful and the handling sharp.

As the BlueEFFICIENCY badging, now standard across the range, suggests the new C-Class also benefits from Mercedes' full suite of increased efficiency measures - including automatic start/stop technology.

All of which means that you can expect to get over 44 miles per gallon on average with CO2 emissions being pegged back to 148g/km - respectable figures anyway but which can still be dramatically improved upon if you're prepared to sacrifice a little of that zip and opt for one of the 2.2-litre diesel engines which are also available.

The interior has also been given an eye-catching makeover which is designed the give the C-Class cabin something of the look and feel of the company's top end models - and it is largely successful.

The most obvious upgrade is the inclusion of a 5.8 inch colour display screen which is pre-wired for the optional £495 navigation package, but the dash also benefits from the use of top quality soft-touch materials with the instrument panels finished in high-gloss trim.

There's a lot going on in the centre console but the controls are generally large and easy to find and use. A rotary knob allows you to scroll through most menus on screen or you can use the steering wheel mounted controls, making the whole operation slicker.

There's also plenty of space for four adults to travel in comfort and a full range of seat and steering wheel adjustment to help the driver get comfortable while seven airbags, ABS, stability control and even a system to warn if the driver is getting tired are all standard safety features.

And in keeping with prestige image it is trying to build for it's biggest-selling model, Mercedes includes some generous equipment levels in the new C-Class with the SE getting 16-inch alloy wheels, automatic climate control, an eight-speaker sound system with USB and aux-in sockets, Bluetooth, electric windows all round, front and rear armrests and tinted glass all as standard.