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This is the updated Mercedes-Benz C-Class, and that may come as a surprise because Mercedes revealed a new C-Class only a few months ago. You are not seeing double, unless you happen to be seeing four C-Classes. That earlier reveal was the all-new C-Class Electric; the version shown on Tuesday is a facelift for the separate internal combustion model, and its revised styling brings it visually much closer to that entirely new electric car.

Mercedes’ product strategy can, admittedly, be a little confusing. The company does not draw a clear distinction in naming between electric and internal combustion versions of cars such as the CLA-Class, while models like the S-Class and GLS-Class remain completely separate from differently named EVs such as the EQS and EQS SUV. The C-Class now sits somewhere in the middle, sharing its name and some styling themes with its EV counterpart while still continuing as a distinct petrol-powered model.

The most significant change to the C-Class is at the front, where an illuminated grille brings the compact saloon more into line with the glowing face first seen on the GLC EV last year. Star-shaped headlamps, another defining feature of recent Mercedes models, are now fitted even to the most basic C-Class as part of this update.

Buyers who are not keen on the C EV’s expansive “Superscreen” dashboard and the even more dramatic “Hyperscreen” arrangement will likely welcome the more conventional cabin design in the ICE-powered C-Class. It comes with an iPad-style central display and a digital instrument cluster that is typical for the current era. That said, the setup does incorporate the new MB.OS technology system, adding an AI-based MBUX Virtual Assistant and enabling over-the-air updates. Those who prefer physical controls will also be pleased to see the return of tactile buttons for both adaptive cruise control and volume.

The latest version of the brand’s 2.0-litre turbocharged inline-four engine, called the M254 Evo, delivers 255 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque in the entry-level C-Class for the United States. A 48-volt mild-hybrid system contributes up to 23 hp and 151 lb-ft of torque assistance at lower speeds, while also handling stop-start and coasting functions intended to improve efficiency. Mercedes also says revised suspension tuning makes the car “noticeably more agile”.

AMG variants of the updated C-Class have not yet been announced, but it is already known that the plug-in hybrid four-cylinder C63 is on its way out and that a six-cylinder C53 is on the way. More information on that model, which is shaping up to be an exciting addition, should arrive soon. As for this Mercedes-Benz-badged C-Class, it is expected to reach U.S. showrooms in the first half of 2027.