Last February, Mercedes-Benz unveiled the new-generation C-Class (W206) in both Sedan and Estate forms but the range is going to grow further with the addition of the Cabrio, AMG, and All-Terrain variants. The latter was spied testing by our photographers, showing its slightly increased ride height and parts of the plastic cladding under the light camouflage. The first vehicle that got the All-Terrain treatment was the E-Class W213, unveiled in 2016 with a facelift following in 2020. Like its bigger brother, the C-Class All-Terrain will be based on the Estate Bodystyle with a more adventurous look inspired by SUVs and crossovers.
Plastic cladding on the wheel arches, side sills, and the lower part of the front and rear bumpers will provide extra protection and contribute to a more rugged look. The new suspension setting will allow for increased ground clearance while improving comfort during off-road driving. As a reminder, the E-Class All-Terrain sits 29mm higher than the equivalent E-Class Estate with a maximum ground clearance of 156 mm thanks to the lifted Air Body Control active air suspension and the larger wheels wearing high profile tires.
The four-cylinder engines with mild-hybrid technology and the 9G-Tronic automatic gearbox are expected to carry over from the rest of the range, but in the case of the All-Terrain, the 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system will be standard. We also expect extra driving modes, which will tune all electronic systems for light off-roading.
The Mercedes-Benz C-Class All-Terrain will compete with the likes of the Audi A4 Allroad and Volvo V60 Cross Country as BMW doesn’t yet offer a similar version of the 3 Series Touring. The official premiere is expected in 2022 at the latest.
