Services alternate between Minor and Major, at around £650 and £750 on average, while AMG editions cost more. The earliest C-Classes are taxed according to CO2 emissions, but even the C 63 S is pegged at no more than £200g/km (£410pa); cleanest is the 
C 220 d at 106-126g/km (£20-£170pa).

From April 2017 all C-Classes are subject to road tax of £200pa, but most Coupés and all Cabrios cost more than £40,000 new, so they’re liable for the £440 expensive car supplement until their sixth birthday. Coupé insurance groups range from 32-50; cabrios are in groups 33-50.

Recalls are split up not by bodystyle, but only model and build dates. With C-Class Coupé and Cabriolet production running between 2015 and 2024, an incredible 111 C-Class recalls were logged between these dates.

Some faults were subject to several recalls and only a few cars were affected by some campaigns. Many were software-related  –there were 14 campaigns for e-call glitches, for example – while there were many manufacturing issues.

These included sub-standard front seatbelt pre-tensioners, electric power steering motors, front-seat backrests and driver’s airbags. Other potential problems included faulty seatbelt buckles, damaged parts in the steering mechanism, and chafing wiring – among many other possible issues.

The C-Class Mk4 last appeared in our Driver Power survey in 2021, in 71st place out of 75; its only other appearance was in 2019, in 74th spot out of 75. What’s concerning is how consistently poor the rankings were, with 11th for acceleration the only good score.

This was followed by 34th for smartphone connectivity, but the litany of low marks includes 73rd for refinement, reliability and interior quality, 70th for front-seat comfort and rear-seat legroom, plus 59th for overall quality.

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