We’d like to think that every new car that comes out, is always better than the older versions. In many ways, it's true and quite frankly, inevitable. The old replaces the news both in necessity and purely in performance. But some people disagree and say the older things were better. And the Mercedes C-Class might be a good reason why they hold this belief in the car community.

2011 C-Class

Pros: 

• The best version was the diesel because it had long legs. It had great range and despite not having a turbo, produced 300 ft-lbs of torque and 231 bhp. 

• The 3-litre engine had an automatic gearbox, which was one of the first executive cars to feature a 7-speed transmission. 

• Right now, it's fantastic prices, as if you trawl through any trusted used cars website, you can get it for less than eight grand. One of this particular website only has 68,000 miles and still gets 42 miles per gallon. A great purchase for a young professional who wants to look the part but now blow out their first year’s salary in one go.

• Great styling. Even today, a decade onward, the 2011 C-Class still looks sleek. It's built to live on the motorway, travelling at 70mph non-stop. Aerodynamic and aggressive, the body is rather fetching.

Cons

• The headlights are a little on the unimaginative side. They don’t do the rest of the car much justice.

• Like many Mercedes, the joy of driving is sometimes a second thought and comfortable is more important. The automatic gearbox isn’t lively and the steering isn’t responsive. But hey, it's a saloon, not a hot-hatch.

• Repairs are more expensive than your average car, even for the little things like headlight bulbs or basic spark plug wiring.

• Great leather seats, but they don’t support you very well. Modern seat design leaves this in the dust.

2020 C-Class

Pros

• Incredibly economical, with the top cruising model, the C 180 S, able to pull off 47 miles per gallon, with its 156 bhp petrol engine. 

• Absolutely incredible interior. LED lights presenting different lighting accents on the doors, pedals and dashboard. You really feel like you’re in a spaceship with the presentation it has. The leather is fantastic, soft and well made.

• Engine stop-start is standard. This saves you a lot of fuel, especially for those who live in major cities like London and Manchester where traffic moves slowly.

• Plenty of driver aids. The car’s computer studies the driver and can know when you need to pull off and get some rest and figure out the best route to the destination on the fly.

Cons

• As with many modern cars, it's very soulless. It's great at what it does, but there’s a lack of personality.

• Honestly, the styling could have evolved further from a decade ago. The body remains the same and the front is still a bit too executive. It's a dog without its sharp teeth.

• The throttle is squishy and you need to use it with a bit of force to get it to respond.

How do you think the C-Class from almost 2011, performs compared to the 2020 version? Some will say the older version was ahead of its time and others will say the new variant is anything but.