SLOW AND STEADY

The W202 generation C-class replaced the 190E in 1993, and with it Mercedes ushered in not just a new name, but also a new approach to the small Mercedes-Benz saloon. It more closely imitated its contemporary S-class, becoming a bit of a miniature of the new range-topping W140. But at first this approach was a bit confused, as the legacy of the 190E continued to dominate the narrative and so the C-class was just seen (and presented) as a simple replacement. In a market of increasingly competitive, highly equipped cars, the relatively expensive Mercedes C-class was a touch out of step. Many more people in this sector of the market were now spending the extra money on a 3-series BMW instead, and it’s no wonder that the W203 generation C-class more directly positioned itself as a competitor to that car when it came to replace the W202 in