2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Sedan Exterior and Dimensions

Traditionally speaking, the C-Class has always been a car that gets more handsome the older it gets. It's true for every generation since the W201.

The same is true of the current W205 generation, which started its life as a smaller replica of the elegant S-Class. It was lovely to look at, but it wasn't particularly sporty or aggressive. The 2019 mid-cycle facelift did a spectacular job. The overall aesthetic was sportier than before, with Mercedes drawing inspiration from the AMG models. The LED headlights and taillights look fantastic, while the standard 18-inch rims do a good job of filling up the arches. The available AMG line package adds even more aggression to the package if that's your kind of thing.

The C-Class's dimensions are on par in the compact luxury segment. More importantly, it's similar in size to its most fierce rival, the BMW 3 Series. The overall body length of 184.5 inches is 1.2 inches shorter than the 3 Series. It's the length of the wheelbase that really counts, however. The BMW's 112.2-inch wheelbase is just 0.4 longer than the Merc's 111.8-inch wheelbase. At 56.8 inches high, it's just as tall as a 3 Series, but its width of 71.3 inches is 0.6 inches narrower than the Bavarian.

In terms of size, there is virtually no discernible difference between the two. The rear-wheel-drive C-Class weighs in at 3,472 pounds, while the all-wheel-drive weighs 3,605 lbs. The RWD BMW 330i is 3,560 lbs, while the 330i xDrive is 3,686 lbs. The Mercedes is slightly lighter, but you'll hardly be able to notice these differences.