BURSTING with cutting edge technology and jaw-dropping design cues, the new Mercedes C250 is a car guaranteed to stop onlookers in their tracks.
It boasts sleek, streamlining with all the bells and whistles associated with the Mercedes name, such as a sporty yet muscular stance, sweeping headlight clusters with full LED lighting, green tinted windows, 18-inch AMG alloys, a giant panoramic glass roof, twin exhaust pipes and a host of AMG bodystyling cues.
And once you step inside the sporty four-door saloon, it's impossible not to be wowed by the abundance and quality of top level technology that greets you.
Mercedes has incorporated the finest leathers and materials to create a sophisticated and premium cabin environment and there are creature comforts at every turn to be explored.
These include a head-up display, electrically adjustable heated seats with memory settings, dual zone air conditioning and a Premium Plus Package costing an extra £2,795 which introduces ambient lighting, an automatic powered boot open and shut function, a 13-speaker pitch perfect sound system with sat nav and Bluetooth connectivity, a 8.4-inch high resolution colour display screen and lots more besides.
Most of the car's features can be navigated via a dial or easy-to-use touch pad and all other switches and controls are perfectly positioned for driver usability.
And when it comes to performance, the C250 is a winner too with its 2.2-litre diesel engine delivering ample power, bite and acceleration. It can sprint to 62mph from a standing start in just 6.6 seconds and onto a top speed of 153mph.
It features a seven-speed automatic transmission with the option of changing gears manually via the steering wheel-mounted paddles.
The driver can also select from five Agility settings - Eco, Comfort, Sport, Sport+ and Individual - which alter the car's handling and dynamics considerably. But if driven with a watchful eye on speed it can achieve a very impressive 65.7mpg according to official figures.
The car copes well with busy city centre traffic where the occasional rapid burst of speed is needed and is equally impressive on faster motorways.
But it's out on the more testing country lanes that the Mercedes really comes alive. Tight bends can be attacked with confidence and the road-holding is exceptionally good.
You are seated quite low to the ground so can expect to feel the odd bump or two along the way, but the highly efficient suspension system helps to keep comfort levels generally high.
The cabin is practically designed with ample storage space and the illuminated glovebox is a nice touch. Back seat passengers also benefit from good leg, head and elbow space and the boot is deceptively spacious too with a 480-litre capacity with the seats in an upright position.
The C250 comes with a whole host of safety features, such as cruise control, an active bonnet (the car detects an impact and raises the bonnet to protect pedestrians), anti-lock brakes, dual-stage airbags and much more including an optional Driving Assistance Package costing £1,495 which adds the likes of blind spot monitoring, Distronic Plus to maintain a safe distance between you and the car in front, lane-keeping assist and an anticipatory safety system that activates if a critical driving situation occurs and tightens the seatbelts, adjusts the passenger's seat position and closes all windows.
All in all, the new C-Class seems to have it all. It looks fabulous, is packed with technology and boasts outstanding driving dynamics. However all this wizardry does come with a price-tag just shy of £45,000 with all the extras added and that may prove too much for some potential buyers.