Mercedes-Benz C-Class facelift unveiled | New grille, new tech

August 17, 2026

The combustion-engine Mercedes-Benz C-Class has been updated as part of its mid-life facelift. It receives styling, powertrain and interior tweaks to bring the executive Benz up to date.

Despite the release of the newly-launched - and different - C-Class EV, the Stuttgart brand is continuing production of the ICE model alongside to cater for wider consumer demand. Both the saloon and estate bodies are still available, depending on your practicality needs.

Styling remains conservative and has been brought in-line with the recently-facelifted S-Class, GLE, and GLS models. A new grille design as well as the three-pointed star effect on the rear lights bring the C-Class up to date with a fresh look.

It has the same powertrain line-up as before, albeit with each one receiving updates to meet stricter Euro 7 emissions requirements. This includes an electric compressor for the turbocharger, which receives its power from the 48V mild hybrid system.

The C-Class range starts with three variants of the 2.0-litre petrol engine; the C200 offers 177hp, the C250 ups that to 218hp, and the C300 has 258hp.

The plug-in hybrid C300e model has 347hp. That's equipped with the same 2.0-litre petrol engine, but teamed with a 19.5kWh battery pack that claims 71-miles of electric-only range (WLTP).

The diesel plug-in hybrid (C300de) has been removed from the line-up, though pure-diesel powertrains are still part of the range with a C250d with 197hp and a C300d with 262hp.

Inside is a series of intricate tech upgrades. The 11.9-inch infotainment screen and 12.3-inch cockpit panel remain the same, but are now operated by the fourth generation of Mercedes' MBUX system. This adds voice-activated AI, which includes ChatGPT and Gemini, to answer more complex questions requested by occupants.

Ambient lighting? There's 64 different colours for that - with further designs available through Mercedes' own in-car app. What's more, these lights work in tandem with the car's safety assists; for instance, the ambient strips will flash red if you open the door and the blind-spot assist detects a hazard.

The C-Class will be available in the UK in the coming weeks. Prices are expected to start from around £46,000 for the entry-level model and stretch to just over £60,000 for the top-spec.

For fleets, the Mercedes C-Class has been a long-term favourite among executive cars. The BMW 3-Series always offered a sportier drive, but the C-Class catered for those that favoured a more relaxed road nature. The EV version is more attractive from a benefit in kind (BiK) point of view, but the ICE car appeals to company car drivers that can't quite fit a full EV in their life.