The fully-redesigned 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class looks to the recently-updated 2021 S-Class for inspiration. That means the C-Class wears a gorgeous design, a downright opulent cabin, and tons of new technology. Consumers may be trading their sedans in for SUVs, but Mercedes has thrown everything it’s been working on recently into the 2022 C-Class to persuade some consumers to consider purchasing a sedan. Based on initial impressions, it just might work.
The C-Class adopts an exterior design that’s heavily influenced by the new S-Class with its slim headlights, massive grille, and lengthy body. The rear end wears similar taillights and the same round design from the tiny A-Class. Overall, Mercedes’ designers have penned a more aggressive, yet opulent design for the 2022 C-Class. The body has grown by 2.5 inches, helping the C-Class with its road presence.
Underneath the body sits a new platform that houses a standard 48-volt mild-hybrid powertrain. At the front sits a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 255 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. The standard 48-volt EQ Boost system can bring an extra 20 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque when needed. In addition to boosting performance, Mercedes claims the mild-hybrid setup makes the engine between 10 and 15% more efficient than last year’s four-cylinder engine without the hybrid portion. A nine-speed automatic and rear-wheel drive are standard, while all-wheel drive is available.
Just like the exterior, the interior of the 2022 C-Class has gone under a massive transformation to be dominated by technology. The dashboard features a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, while an enormous 11.9-inch touchscreen consumes the majority of the entire center console. Mercedes has deleted the center-console touchpad and controller knob from the previous model, leaving owners to rely solely on the touchscreen and the company’s MBUX infotainment system to handle the majority of the vehicle's controls. The latest MBUX infotainment system now comes with over-the-air updates, while it has more processing power than before.
Interestingly, the central touch screen is slightly slanted toward the driver for ease of use. Other tech upgrades include fingerprint recognition that can be used to log into an individual driver profile, augmented-reality navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a head-up display, and wireless smartphone charging.
Getting a mild-hybrid powertrain as a standard feature is a significant change for the 2022 C-Class. The compact vehicle has been the automaker’s best-selling model over the last decade, so moving to a mild-hybrid setup shows just how serious it is about its plans to electrify its future models. We expect Mercedes to introduce a plug-in hybrid version of the new C-Class, too. At the moment, Mercedes has hybrid variants of the GLC, GLE, GLS, E-Class, and S-Class on sale, though the majority of the vehicles come with mild-hybrid systems.
The decision to offer the C-Class with a standard hybrid powertrain will help the luxury vehicle stand out in the class. The only other compact vehicle in the segment that’s available with a hybrid powertrain as standard is the Audi A4. BMW offers the 3-Series with a plug-in hybrid powertrain, but it’s not standard.
The 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class should arrive in the U.S. at the beginning of next year with pricing expected to begin at $45,000. We’re looking to get more information on the sedan, like a full list of standard features, official fuel economy figures, and starting prices closer to the vehicle’s on-sale date.
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