THE British obsession with class is a strange thing and one which is reaping benefits for German prestige manufacturers. While Mercedes-Benz C-classes and BMW 3-series are two-a-penny in Germany, in Britain they are seen as an aspirational benefit to have in the company car park.

This means Mercedes-Benz and BMW can charge a hefty premium for their entry-level models over here. Witness the C220 CDI Classic tested here - ú23,185 on-the-road, which significantly outweighs the rivals we have chosen here.

Although Classic trim is the gateway to Mercedes-Benz motoring, the CDI diesel engine technology ups the price ante - our chosen model sits pretty much in the middle of the new C-class range. For our rivals, we have chosen BMW's 320d SE, Alfa Romeo's 156 Veloce and the outgoing Audi A4 1.9 TDI 115 SE.