Mid-life boost for premium player: The three-pointed star's power is amazing. It can create jealousy, spite, or unbridled joy depending on where you're sitting.
It can even influence the very democratic process. The arrival of an 04-registered black Mercedes is worth about 3,000 votes in a marginal constituency. Even at their most basic, Mercs have something august about them, ministerial even.
The official entry-level Mercedes is the A-Class, but it has never been taken seriously by the rest of the Mercedes clan. No true climber of the greasy pole would deign to drive one.
The stars begin to shine only from C-Class up. This car is a statement: you're on your way up.
Yet in purely motoring terms, the C-Class lacked the sporty drive it should have had, falling behind the BMW 3-Series and Audi A4 in youthful image. Nor did it ever really have the grandeur of the upper class models.
The biggest change with this revised model is the C-Class's closing of the gap on the others while bringing a certain opulence which owners no doubt desire.
It's four years since the C-Class arrived, so a mid-lfe revision is timely. It's about that long since we spent more than 15 minutes in one, so it's more than minor tweaks that brings us to it again. With Audi giving its A4 a significant facelift, Lexus set to launch a new IS range and a completely new generation BMW 3-Series due next year, it was time to drive this major premium player.
We were really taken by our week in the C-Class. The overall package, including price, puts it to the top of the current premium ranks, awaiting newcomers to topple it from this throne. And that's just with the entry-level C180 Kompressor.
Our test car came in ministerial black. No doubt those who opt for this in the C-Class promptly remove the model names so they can play one of Bertie's buddies for the day . . . "You probably don't recognise me, reshuffle and all that. I'm the new minister for larking about in a Merc."
Cream leather trim added to the power trip, but buyers may be brought down to size with a bill of €3,173. Pricey cowhide indeed, but the cream interior trim really adds to the sense of luxury (a tip here is black floor mats - they don't take from the overall look, but keep grubby mudprints to a minimum).
So, what's new in the latest C-Class? Mercedes says over 1,000 features have been adjusted, but most are hidden from view. There's a modified bumper design, clear-lens headlamps and a new radiator grille. A more practical difference is an increased track width and it sits on wider profile 16-inch tyres.
The big difference, however, is inside. Instrument layout is now in the format of the E-Class, S-Class and even the Maybach. Dials have been adjusted to reflect the new look. The end result is an interior that's the best in its class - for now - and worthy of a car with a €40,000-plus tag.
As to the actual driving, suspension is slightly more "sporting" - though still too soft to overtake the 3-Series in driver enjoyment - and steering is more direct. Steering has always been a foible of Mercedes saloons, bigger models losing feel at speed. We must tip our metaphorical hat to this C-Class in this area.
Our brow furrows slightly, however, when we try to push along with the automatic gearbox. When cruising it's smooth, without noticeable changing. However, on tighter back roads where you need quick response from low rev power, it seems to muddle a bit as it works out the best gear.
Having driven all other variations of the C-Class at its British launch some months back, the best offer is the six-speed manual gearbox.
The only other crack in our perfect picture was the engine's rather tinny drone, which didn't match the cream comfort of the interior.
The straight four-cylinder petrol engine is not lacking in power, although it needs a push at low revs. The problem is its lightweight whine, particularly when the turbo kicks in.
This is the entry-level engine, however, and the benefits of the turbo outweigh the audible downsides. Most notably there's the cost factor, with savings in tax and initial price thanks to the smaller 1.8-litre engine size, which scrapes under the top VRT rate.
Even still, it's not cheap.
On fuel, we got 30.2 mpg out of our test car, a bit down on the official consumption figures.
Compared in price to major competitors, it's a pretty attractive package. It mightn't offer the driving excitment of the BMW or the Lexus, but if you're after status and a touch of luxury the latest C-Class will hit the spot.
So why the sudden fondness for the Mercedes? It's partly improvements in handling - though it's still not the leader of the pack here - and partly the changes in trim. But what really won us over was the overall feeling that for €40,000 we were finally getting a bit of luxury motoring. This from a brand not renowned for value for money. Something worth writing about.
