Mercedes-Benz introduced the C-Class first generation in 1993 and refreshed the lineup four years later for both versions, the sedan and the station wagon.
The C-Class had a tough job to do. It replaced one of the most iconic cars built by Mercedes to that date, and the customers were reluctant for the new shape of the vehicle. By 1997 though, the customers forgot the 190. The C-Class was a massive success for the three-pointed star brand.

Unlike other former station wagons built by Mercedes-Benz, the S202 was more of a stylish car with a larger trunk than a utility vehicle. It provided less luggage space than its main competitors, but that didn’t matter to them. Its customers preferred them for their sporty yet elegant appearance. At the front, the rectangular horizontal headlights received clear, corner-mounted turn signals. The wrapped-around, body-colored bumper sported a smile-like lower grille, while the central radiator grille wore a chromed finishing in a typical Mercedes-Benz fashion.

Inside, the carmaker offered a wide variety of trims, from simple, black plastic panels to wood veneers or even carbon-fiber-looking adornments on the center stack. For the sport trim level, the carmaker installed bucket seats with higher bolstering than on the rest of the range, and that trim was available even for the station wagon. At the back, the C-Class T-Model featured a 60/40 split-folding bench which increased the trunk space from 465 liters (16.4 cu-ft) to 1,510 liters (53.3 cu-ft).

Under the hood, the carmaker installed a wide engine range, gasoline or diesel-powered. The carmaker paired all of them with either a five-speed manual or a five-speed automatic.