2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class pricing and specs detailed: BMW 3 Series, Audi A4 and Lexus IS rival costs more, diesels dropped as all-new model looms

Mercedes-Benz Australia has bumped up the prices and officially dropped the diesel versions of its popular C-Class mid-size car range in Australia.

Some models, like the entry-level C200 and best-selling C300 sedan from $66,300 and $74,700 respectively (before on-road costs) jump just $500, while the recently released C300e plug-in electric vehicle (PHEV) cops a sizeable $2313 hike (see full pricing table below).

According to Mercedes-Benz Australia media relations and product communications manager Ryan Lewis, there are various factors contributing to why prices move so inconsistently with each other, including currency fluctuations and minor specification alterations that help improve the offering.

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“Although I cannot comment on specific details regarding how we determine pricing for our vehicles, I can confirm that price increases have been made across various Mercedes-Benz models to adjust for a number of changes including, but not limited to, instability of exchange rates,” he told CarsGuide. “Each vehicle variant is adjusted individually and affected by different factors.”

Mr Lewis added that the specification differences are down to things like different trim materials on some variants and other, near-invisible alterations, such as a one-metre longer charge cord in the C300e.

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Note that the Mercedes-AMG C43 and C63S in sedan, Estate wagon and coupe formats remain the same as before.

Meanwhile, the disappearing diesel variants is in line with declining consumer demand for the fuel, with the PHEV taking up the slack (in sedan form anyway). It also opens the door for more electrification alternatives in the future, though Australia won’t see this until the completely redesigned 'W206' C-Class debuts later next year.

“Buyers are trending away from diesels in certain segments,” Mr Lewis said. “But it isn’t the end of diesel, and we’re assessing it on a model-for-model basis… and where we can offer plug-in hybrid, we do.”

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2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class pricing before on-road costs