Driven Medium/Large Car of the Year

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class pushes all the right buttons in a class packed with great cars. Pictures / Ted Baghurst

Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan

Sporty 'Baby Benz' steps out of the S-Class shadows

When it was launched internationally, the motoring media quickly named the new C-Class "the baby S-Class".

While it is easy to see where this nickname came from - the C-Class is packed full of clever tech first seen in the S-Class and boasts styling that strongly reflects the larger car - it is not entirely accurate.

Because the C-Class is no baby. It is a staggeringly good, fully grown adult of a car that does stuff even the mighty S-Class can't manage.

While it reflects a fair degree of the S-Class' luxury, point the new C-Class to a winding back road and it reveals a far sportier side that is capable, secure and satisfyingly sharp.

The technology - both standard and optional - in the C-Class is on the cutting edge, while the luxury, practicality and pure "Mercedes-ness" of it pushes it over the top in a class that is packed full of great cars.