The 2015 C 400’s interior deserves special praise: the standard Avantgarde interior includes high-quality cabin materials such as genuine aluminum, realistic-looking glossy wood trim on the centre console and doors, and soft-touch plastic dashboard materials. The standard Artico simulated leather seats with contrasting stitching look and feel like the real thing (real leather is available as a $1,990 option), the large round air vents in the dash with aluminum trim add a sporty aeronautical theme, while the standalone iPad-like screen in the centre instrument panel and the new console-mounted COMAND controller with touchpad resemble contemporary computer and tablet designs.

The C 400 driver faces an attractive new three-spoke electric tilt/telescopic leather-wrapped steering wheel with 12 buttons and shift paddles. Tasks such as making phone calls, changing radio stations, adjusting the volume, accessing vehicle information, and shifting gears can all be done without taking hands off the steering wheel. Behind the wheel, two brightly illuminated gauges border a new 5.5-inch colour display that includes useful information such as average fuel economy and driving range, digital speedometer, radio station, ECO driving score, driver-selectable performance and safety modes, outside temperature and time. The driver can switch between these selections using buttons on the steering wheel spokes.

Seating arrangements are first class: the C 400 driver and front passenger have wonderfully supportive 16-way power front seats with generous side and thigh bolsters. The seats have power adjustments for recline, height, front cushion extension, head restraint height, and lumbar adjustment up-and-down and in-and-out. A tall padded armrest between the seats is handy for resting the right forearm and accessing the controller/touchpad.

By the way, an optional AMG interior package is available that includes sports seats with bigger side bolsters, a flat-bottomed steering wheel, stainless steel sport pedals, and stitched dashboard and door trim.

At the rear, the C 400’s outboard rear seats are very comfortable but tall passengers might find that the panoramic sunroof surround intrudes on headroom. Sitting behind myself, I had about 50 mm of kneeroom and 25 mm of headroom. However, I found that the slope of the rear window frame required me to duck under to get in and out of the car. The centre rear seat is not as comfortable as the outer seats because the centre driveline tunnel between the rear seats requires the middle rear passenger to straddle the hump. Absent that middle passenger, the outboard passengers can make use of a centre folding armrest with a storage box and two flip-out cupholders.

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