Some found those cars to be a little on the boring side, but no one ever disputed the quality and craftsmanship of the silver star’s products. Always ahead of their time. Awesome products that were admired by many, but they were a bit, how should I say it… Well, my dear grandpa Freddy, who was a judge, bought many of them one after the other and my grandma sometimes wished for a tad more flair from them, if you know what I mean.

Time to go after a trendier audience, and the new C-Class is part of that renaissance.

Designers and engineers have taken this precision German machine from “a little on the conservative side” to trendy and fun to drive. Most of all, they also engineered in the traditional solidity of yore. Available with a choice of two engines, two exterior design packages, two propulsion modes and the availability of a manual transmission, this new C-Class is sure to catch any car enthusiast’s attention. Both the trendy and the conservative one.

The new “C” can be had in C300 and C350 versions.

The C300's 3.0-litre V-6, producing 228 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque, assures rapid response and can be had either with a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed automatic transmission. This latest can also be combined with the company’s all-wheel-drive system, known as 4MATIC. With this system, 55 per cent of the torque is sent to the rear wheels, thus keeping the natural rear-drive bias that contributes to sporty handling.

Another choice is the general appearance of the car. Either Classic, a more conservative choice with the traditional star on the hood, a simple chrome grille and an understated appearance; or the more expressive Sport, adorned with the AMG sport package that, amongst other things, shaves the star from the hood and places a bigger one in center of the grille.

The list of standard equipment is a lengthy one, as you might imagine from a high-end German car. This list includes 8-way power-adjustable front seats, sliding glass sunroof with pop-up function, power-folding exterior mirrors, bi-xenon headlights, MP3 compatible radio and 17-inch alloy wheels. Do I need to mention that all windows are electrically operated? The no-charge sport package replaces the four-spoke steering wheel for a three-spoke design, shave the aforementioned star, add the AMG appearance package and bring in a sport suspension with upgraded brake calipers.

Your friendly Mercedes-Benz dealership will be happy to provide you with a rear-wheel drive C300 in exchange for $41,000, or $44,700 if you fancy the C300 4MATIC.

The second model choice is the C350, powered by a 268 hp, 258 lb-ft of torque 3.5-litre V-6. Being the performance variant of the C-Class, the C350 comes automatically with the AMG sport package and with the 7G-TRONIC automatic transmission. 4MATIC is also available with this powerplant. Plunking down $47,900 will land you the keys to the rear-wheel drive C350 while $50,100 will bring the C350 4MATIC to your driveway.

For the techno-savvy amongst future owners, every C-Class is Bluetooth compatible.

Either variant will offer you driving pleasure and a very nice ride.

I wouldn’t be working at World of Wheels if I wasn’t who I am; i.e. a sport-minded driver addicted to torque and horsepower, so I quickly grabbed the keys to a C350. Yes, the one with the most power and that awesome-looking AMG sport package.

My verdict?

Designers and engineers have hit their goal spot on. The car is a pleasure to drive enthusiastically, will bring a grin to your face on those windy roads, and will allow you to do so in unparalleled comfort. Sport suspension, yes, but it sure isn’t a harsh one. My grandma, from whom I take my taste for speed… Did I ever tell you how she was still cruising the highway at 130 at the young age of 90? Or passing sports cars with her special-order 300 SE? Oops, I digress… I essentially meant to say that both older and younger drivers and passengers would appreciate the sport suspension setup.

Braking not only feels powerful, it is! And while the car begs to be driven with passion, passengers are transported in the lap of luxury. Seats are perfect for almost all sizes and shapes, every control is ergonomically well placed, both the regular radio and the Harman/Kardon one will create a nice aural atmosphere and the cabin is well isolated from road noise.

The main improvement from the previous generation is the handling. It has simply been brought up a few notches on the enjoyable scale. A weak point of Benzes of yore has been the steering feel. This C, while not yet perfect, has a hugely improved steering feel.

This rejuvenated C-Class is now more than a just little sister to the S-Class. It has grown into its equal, only smaller. And yes, with the C, smaller is better.