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What's the difference?
When it comes to choosing a family car, sedans are often overlooked for their long-legged wagon or beefy SUV cousins.
They're a bit of a forgotten hero but they'll always hold a piece of my heart for their practicality and (often) sexier kerb-side appeal.
If you can get used to your body cracking like a glow stick when you get in and out of them, the sedan may make a comeback!
The new Mercedes-Benz C-Class, in entry-level C200 form, has definitely tempted my family to consider a sedan in the future – it looks stately and refined but the driving experience also makes it fun.
Let's see what else it did right and if there was anything that could be improved.
Did I mention, I'm fond of sedans... ?
The Ford Mustang is having a mid-life crisis.
Since the first pony car launched back in 1965 it has grown over the years and begun to appeal to an older, wealthier demographic than the original, youthful audience Ford attracted.
So, for this latest seventh-generation model, the Blue Oval has tried to make this Mustang have more appeal for a younger buyer.
What does that ultimately mean? In 2023 that's not a more powerful V8 or racing stripes (although it has both of those things) but instead a more hi-tech 'Stang.
Ford has borrowed elements from the all-electric Mustang Mach-E to give the coupe and convertible a fresh look and feel.
But don't worry if you're one of the existing Mustang fans, because they've not only kept the bits you really love - like the V8 - but have added an all-new hero model.
The four-cylinder EcoBoost and V8 GT remain and Ford has introduced the Dark Horse, a new permanent flagship for the line-up based on the limited edition Mach 1 from the previous generation.
While it's hailed as the seven-generation model and has some major changes, the reality is this new Mustang shares a lot in common with the previous model.
Which isn't unsurprising in the current automotive climate, as demand for petrol-powered performance cars remains uneven and Ford needs to invest billions into new electric vehicles.
So, to save on development costs this latest pony car features updated powertrains, a carry-over platform and a facelifted-rather-than-redesigned interior. But there's still a lot to talk about with this new Mustang, so let's dive in.
The Mercedes-Benz C-Class C200 is such a stylish sedan and I would totally have one. The driving performance, luxurious features and practical size made it a winning combo for my family. The price point is definitely up there but you do get a high-end build for the cash. I've seen bigger boots in other sedans and not being able to fit a third child seat will limit some families, but this still easily earns an 8.5/10 from me.
My son really loved this one. The ambient lighting was the highlight for him and he thought it looked like a "space car" inside. He gave it a 9/10.
Obviously we can't speak to the whole of this new, seventh-generation Mustang range having only experienced the Dark Horse. But that's enough to make you appreciate just what a special car the Mustang is, even after all these years.
The company has managed to find new ways to improve arguably its most iconic model, keeping it fresh for a new generation. The Dark Horse is a worthy addition to the line-up, for however long it lasts, bringing a higher level of dynamic capability that will appeal to both long-time muscle car lovers and anyone who appreciates a good sports car.
The truth is, this is no mid-life crisis for the Mustang, it's actually ageing very gracefully, taking on new dimensions as it does. The bigger question is how much longer it has left in it, at least with an internal combustion engine. But that's a question for another day, for now we should just eagerly anticipate its arrival in Australia in 2024.
Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with travel, accommodation and meals provided.
The C200 is a sleek and elegant steed.
Initially, you may think this is just a standard Merc showcase. There's the nice big badge on the pronounced nose. Beautiful sleek lines in the body... but it's the attention to detail that make this feel special.
There's a repeated badge motif in the grille and a cute cursive Mercedes logo tucked into the corner of the windscreen. The puddle lights on the doors project the badge at night time and you can often spot a badge etched into the LED lights.
However, it's the interior that's the highlight for me and I feel like it's a big step up from previous models I've been in.
Our model has the grey 'Artico' synthetic leather trim (says grey but it's really white) and a lovely mix of piano black and shiny chrome inserts that are set against soft touchpoints throughout.
The quality of the build oozes through every stitch and join. Don't even get me started on the cool customisable ambient lighting system inside, which makes this feel like you're on the set of Tron and really elevates the interior.
It's quite fun to build one of these in Mercedes' online configurator. You can customise your trims to make it feel like your own and their blue paintwork options are great (I do love a blue car).
Ford figured out with the fifth-generation model that what customers want is a Mustang that retains the silhouette of the original 1960s Fastback, so ever since the design has been evolutionary rather than radically different.
That's no different with this seventh-generation model, which features a more modern look, with crisper lines, but still is unmistakably a Mustang from every angle.
There have been some more significant design changes though, the most obvious one being the decision to have a clear visual difference between the V8-powered GT and four-cylinder EcoBoost at the front-end of the car.
So, the GT gets a larger, more aggressive front grille and a vented bonnet, whereas the EcoBoost has a more subtle appearance, but both have a clear family resemblance.
The Dark Horse elevates this edgier look even further, with a more aggressive appearance that includes a racier bodykit, with a sizeable rear wing, that speaks to its more serious intentions.
The Dark Horse also includes a first for the Mustang in seven generations - a forward facing horse badge. While the now iconic striding 'Stang profile badge remains for the GT and EcoBoost, the Dark Horse gets its own unique badge that shows Ford isn't afraid to try new things even after all these years to keep the car fresh.
The forward facing view is meant to signify a dark horse in a race, sneaking up from the rear to take victory, with its flared nostrils meant to connect to the dual throttle bodies of the Mustang Dark Horse.
I'm not going to lie – there are sedans out there that have an almost limo-like space inside but the C200 isn't one of them.
It's not small by any means and all occupants enjoy the comforts of decent legroom and headroom but it's not cavernous considering the specs (1437mm high/1820mm wide/4751mm long).
The optional panoramic sunroof does cut into the headroom for back seat passengers, which is something to consider if your family is very tall.
The storage is maybe a tad leaner-than-average for a car of this size. The glove box and middle console aren't massive but will suffice.
The cupholders up front can be removed if you need extra storage space for larger items and back seat passengers enjoy retractable cupholders in the armrest.
The way the front doors curve out creates a larger than normal storage bin and drink bottle holder – which help make up the difference. There is a dedicated phone pocket, to tuck it out of the way.
The boot space is 455 litres (VDA), which isn't as large as some others on the market but it was plenty big enough for my family's needs.
There's a handy under-floor storage pocket for smaller items, like the puncture repair kit, because you don't get a spare tyre in this.
When it comes to ease of use, my six-year-old loved not needing my help to get into his seat and he still enjoyed a decent view out of the wide back window.
The amenities in each row are good but not class-defining. Still, creature comforts have be well-thought through.
Front occupants enjoy heated seats and fantastic lumbar and under thigh support. Dual-zone climate control sorts out the temp, and the cool circular air vents that make loud audible 'clicks' when manoeuvred give the interior a jet cockpit vibe.
While I've never had an issue opening or closing a sedan boot, the powered lid was a nice feature to have this week.
The tech throughout is great and intuitive to use. The massive 11.9-inch touchscreen multimedia system is cool and is easy to use once you become acclimatised to Mercedes system.
The customisable digital instrument panel makes the driving experiences feel individualised.
The interior is a chilled out space with gentle scrolling touchpads taking the place of most 'push' buttons and dials.
Think of each surface as being a bit like a touchscreen tablet in how you operate it. I was a little worried the touchpads would be laggy but they're very responsive.
There's only one USB port in the whole car, which limits charging for other passengers but I did enjoy the easy connectivity of the wireless Apple CarPlay.
The electric heated front seats are a nice touch but I was amused by the 'kinetic' function on both. It's what you might call a 'massage' function on another car but here they don't really work. It's best to think of them as a way to do some (very) gentle stretching on a long trip.
The 360-degree camera view is super clear and crisp but the dynamic guidelines (which tilt the camera angle) are a bit too dynamic for my liking and I relied mostly on the bird's eye view to park.
As I've mentioned, the ambient lighting system creates a stellar atmosphere inside. I've often wondered why other car manufacturers haven't jumped on that bandwagon because it's a relatively cheap way of creating wow factor. And it generates massive wow factor in here.
The interior of this latest Mustang sums up where Ford was at with this new-generation model, as it introduces some attention-grabbing technology but also carries over large amounts of the previous model's design.
For example, the interior doors look nearly identical to the old model, with the same handles, window buttons and even trim elements.
The layout of the centre console is largely the same, too, with a pair of cupholders and a lidded centre console box making up the bulk of the small item store space.
The materials used have improved in some areas and stayed the same in others, with the softer touch plastics introduced on the mid-life facelift of the sixth-gen used again here.
However, the Dark Horse also gets a new carbon-fibre effect trim that features prominently around the dashboard for a fresh and sportier look.
But far and away the biggest difference between the old model and this new one is the instrument panel. Gone is the iconic 'double brow' design and in its place is a huge digital display that combines two screens into one long, plank-like element.
It's a 12.4-inch digital instrument panel and a 13.2-inch media touchscreen integrated together to try and help the Mustang appeal to a younger, more tech-savvy audience that wants its car to integrate with a digital lifestyle.
Unquestionably it makes a statement, whether you like the statement it's making will depend on your point-of-view.
If you love technology and the personalisation it offers you'll love it, but if you pine for the days of analogue dials you'll likely think it looks too much like a giant smartphone.
What you can't deny is the capability it brings, with a variety of virtual instrument displays to suit each of the driving modes the car has, including 'Normal', 'Sport' and 'Track', as well as the fun 'Fox Body' layout that harkens back to the '80s Mustang.
The central media screen has also been utilised for the Dark Horse with extra auxiliary gauges - for g-force, oil temperature, oil pressure, etc - able to be displayed, as well as the 'Track Apps' feature that allows you to record lap times, start times and controls the launch control and drift brake settings.
Unfortunately, the screens also control virtually everything, including the air-conditioning, so trying to make small temperature adjustments is more complicated than just pressing a physical button.
As for the seating, the Dark Horse is available with two seating choices up front in the US (and likely in Australia), with a standard six-way power adjustable leather sports seat or an optional Recaro racing-style seat trimmed in suede and mircofibre.
As for the rear seats, they remain incredibly tight for space and are better for storing bags rather than carrying people without severely compromising front seat leg room.
Despite the largely carried over body and interior, the boot is slightly smaller than the previous model, with the coupe measuring 376 litres compared to the 408 litres offered previously.
The Dark Horse we drove in the US was fitted with a tyre repair kit under the boot floor.
Herein lies the rub. There are four models for the C-Class sedan and ours is at the bottom of the pack.
But don't let its position fool you in thinking it'll be cheap because this model starts at $78,900... and that's before you start adding the option packs.
Our model is fitted with the 'Vision Package' which adds a host of features – like a panoramic sunroof, head-up display and heated front seats, to name just a few. This adds about $3000 to the price tag.
This also has the optional 'Sport Package' which adds 19-inch AMG alloy wheels and rear privacy glass, among other things, for an extra $1300.
Unfortunately, even without all of those options, this is still one of the most expensive 'entry-level' sedans in the luxury class!
Pricing and specifications aren't confirmed for the Australian market, but the new Mustang is already available in the USA so we do have an idea of what to expect.
For starters, we know it will be a three-tier line-up initially, with the V8 GT and four-cylinder EcoBoost joined by the new flagship Dark Horse model. The GT and EcoBoost will, once again, be available as a coupe or convertible, but the Dark Horse is strictly fixed-roof only.
The Dark Horse is officially a limited edition, but Ford hasn't put any number of how many it will produce, but it's expected to be in the thousands.
This new addition is an evolution of what the company offered with the sixth-generation Mach 1 model, with a more powerful engine tune and chassis engineered for better handling, especially on a racetrack.
Because of that you can expect the Dark Horse to be priced around the mid- to high-$80,000 range, as the Mach 1 was priced from $83,241 (plus on-road costs) but there's a chance it could creep higher.
That should leave the GT to sit in the mid to high $60,000 range and the EcoBoost somewhere around the $55,000 mark, or at least that's what we'd estimate based on the increase in equipment and the recent trend for higher priced vehicles.
In terms of specifications, the Dark Horse won't be available with the 'Handling Option' package that US customers can add on from the factory.
However, Ford's aftermarket partner, Herrod Performance, is expected to offer the majority of the 'Handling Option' pack elements, including the more aggressive aerodynamic kits (a larger front splitter and rear wing) as well as stiffer springs and larger front and rear sway bars.
The upgrades also include wider Pirelli P Zero Trofeo RS tyres in the US market, but it's not clear at this stage if the track-style tyre will be available in Australia.
Even without this 'Handling Package' the factory-spec Dark Horse is still a well-equipped model. This will include the new digital interior treatment, which combines a 12.4-inch digital instrument panel and a 13.2-inch multimedia touchscreen into a single unit for a more 'hi-tech' look.
It also comes with a leather-trimmed interior, wireless smartphone charging pad and a Bang & Olufsen 12-speaker sound system.
In the US Ford offers a wider line-up that is likely here, with 'standard' and Premium models for each variant. That does make it difficult to know precisely what to expect, but it's fair to assume that Ford Australia will opt for the better-equipped versions based on previous experience.
For example, the GT will be equipped to a higher level than is standard in the US, with Australian-bound versions getting the active exhaust system which means a more powerful engine tune as well as Brembo brakes as standard.
Equipment highlights for the GT include a standard six-speaker stereo (with optional nine-speaker premium audio), leather-wrapped flat-bottom steering wheel, electric parking brake and the new digital dashboard and multimedia system.
The EcoBoost shares a similar specification with the GT in the US, with some minor differences such as a round steering wheel, but we won't know details until it arrives locally in the first quarter of 2024.
The new Mustang is available with 11 exterior colour options, as well as three brake caliper colours for selected models. There's also the choice of adding racing-style stripes to customise your 'Stang.
The C200 has a 1.5-litre, four-cylinder, turbo-petrol engine with an integrated starter-generator.
What's that, you ask? So, glad you did. It's basically an electric battery that also acts as your starter... or alternator.
It smooths out vibrations from the engine and generates some power from braking. Making this a very mild hybrid. Note the 'mild'.
Is it powerful? Surprisingly, yeah. It has a maximum output of 165kW and 300Nm of torque. Combine that with the starter-generator and we have a powerful little engine that can push the C200 from 0-100km in 7.3 seconds, while still feeling like there's power in reserve.
The nine-speed auto transmission is damn smooth and there's no clunky gear changing at any speed. It's got great pick-up, too, for when you need to overtake or zip across traffic.
Despite plenty of rumours that Ford was preparing to electrify the Mustang, either as a hybrid or full battery EV, in the end the company has stuck to the tried and tested formula.
That means an updated version of the 5.0-litre V8 and a 2.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder 'EcoBoost' engine, similar to the one offered in the previous generation.
The range-topping Dark Horse features the most powerful naturally aspirated engine Ford has ever installed in a Mustang, making 372kW (which is 500-horsepower) and 566Nm.
However, Australian models may not quite hit that figure due to our older emissions regulations, but a final number hasn't been released by Ford Australia.
The 5.0-litre V8 is paired to either a six-speed manual or 10-speed automatic transmission and a Torsen limited-slip differential.
The manual gearbox is specific to the Dark Horse, the Tremec unit is the same one used in the Mach 1 and features the same ability to 'flat shift' - change up gears without lifting off the accelerator if you have full throttle applied.
The GT features a slightly different version of that same 5.0-litre V8, and as mentioned earlier, it's available with or without an active-valve performance exhaust.
Australian GTs will get the improved exhaust system, meaning it will make 362kW/566Nm; instead of 358kW/562Nm with standard exhaust. It too is available with a 10-speed auto or a six-speed manual Getrag gearbox.
Finally, the EcoBoost engine is an all-new version of the same engine featured in the last model, featuring the same capacity and format but upgraded performance. The 2.3-litre four-cylinder unit makes 235kW/474Nm, up from 224kW/441Nm the previous engine produced.
The official combined cycle fuel figure is 6.9L/100km. Real world testing saw my figure at 7.2L, which was awesome for the heavy driving I did this week on a combo of urban and open-roads.
The light regen braking probably helps this coast comfortably into being a very efficient sedan for its size.
Minimum fuel requirement is 95 RON premium unleaded and you'll need 66 litres of it to fill the tank.
Driving range using the official consumption figure is around 950km, and 915km using our real-world number.
As final specifications haven't been locked in for the Australian market we're basing these numbers off the US Environmental Protection Agency's claims.
They have the trio of Mustangs rated at 13.8L/100km for the Dark Horse and GT with their manual gearboxes, the GT auto at 13.0L/100km and the EcoBoost at 9.0L/100km to make it the most efficient of the bunch - unsurprisingly.
The steering feels solid and concise. The tyres seem like they're glued to the road, making winding roads downright fun to tackle. Oh, and the sharp 11 metre turning circle is wonderful.
The handling makes this your best friend in a car park. The lower ground clearance did elicit some unladylike grunts when I parked on a hill, but otherwise the wide door apertures makes it easy to get in and out of.
The only thing I would note is the low-profile ground clearance. Just be aware of your speed and angle when you handle car park ramps or road bumps in this. They are not your friends.
While the final Australian specifications may not be locked in just yet, Ford did provide us with a comprehensive drive experience in the Mustang Dark Horse.
We spent three days with this new model, driving it across a variety of conditions including urban roads, highway stretches, winding country roads and even at the Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Across all conditions the Dark Horse demonstrated a more refined driving experience than the model it replaces. The sixth-generation was the first Mustang designed for the global market, rather than focusing on the USA, and that meant it couldn't quite match its more worldly rivals.
But Ford has clearly worked to make strides on that front, including adding the Dark Horse to the Mustang range to launch with a definitive flagship model.
The engine may be carried over rather than all-new but you won't care when you put your foot down. The roar from the V8 is truly a thing of beauty to anyone who appreciates an evocative exhaust note.
It's a deep, guttural growl at low revs and builds to a more high-pitched scream as it approaches its 7300rpm redline.
It packs a punch, too, with enough grunt to shove you back in your seat and had no trouble hitting 205km/h just halfway down the back straight at the Charlotte Motor Speedway circuit.
It's a joy to drive with the six-speed Tremec 'box, especially on the track as it has both the rev matching for downshifts and the flat shifting for upshifts, which make you feel like a racing pro.
The flat shifting does take some getting used to and requires a lot of faith the first time you try it, as you need to have more than 90 per cent throttle and more than 5000rpm to make the system work correctly and not crunch the cogs. But when you get it right it just feels so good.
Even without that, on the road it's a nice gearbox to use, with a short, mechanical throw. It may feel a bit heavy for some, but it's in keeping with the muscular attitude of the Mustang.
It also feels really well matched to the engine, on the track but also the road. The engine has enough torque to take-off in second (and probably third) gear, feels nicely spaced through the middle gears and will cruise along in sixth gear in a relaxed manner.
The automatic is a nice alternative if you really don't want a manual, but the 10 speeds feel like overkill at times.
It has a preference for looking for the tallest gear possible at any stage in order to save fuel. This included on the racetrack, where it felt like it still wanted to go to the highest gear it could if you left it to its own devices.
Using the steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters is the better choice when you want to go for a spirited drive, but it just doesn't feel as engaging or shift as crisply as the manual.
As for the handling, on the road the Dark Horse is a pleasure to drive, with a new level of poise and directness than even the Mach 1 possessed. The steering is excellent, with a directness to it that makes the Mustang feel responsive to your inputs.
It helps that the Dark Horse rides on Pirelli tyres developed specifically for it, which provide excellent grip on the road and add to that feeling of responsiveness and composure.
However, if you want to take that to the next level, then you'll need to speak to Herrod Performance about adding the Handling Package options.
However, it's not clear at this stage if that will include the amazing Pirelli P Zero Trofeo RS tyres that are used in the USA. At this stage they're not approved for use in Australia, which is a shame because they provide immense grip and, once again, elevate the Dark Horse above any Mustang we've had so far.
The changes to the aerodynamics and suspension, along with the tyres, combine to make the Mustang Dark Horse with the Handling Package a genuine rival to the likes of the BMW M4 and Audi RS5 Coupe, in this reviewer's opinion. We'll stop short of saying it's clearly better, but it's definitely a rival on performance terms.
The other notable new addition to this generation Mustang in a nod to the younger audience is the addition of the 'drift brake' that allows you to slide the back of the car around.
Working like a rally car handbrake, the drift brake only needs you to dip the clutch and pull up on the lever/bar and the back wheels lock up and allow you to slide. It's a fun new addition that does add a new dimension to a car that was previously focused on straight line performance at the drag strip.
The safety sheet is well-stocked and has the usual suspects you want in a family car, like: AEB with car, pedestrian, cyclist and junction turning assist (effective speed 7.0-90km/h); forward and back-over collision warning, lane keeping assist, lane departure warning and emergency lane keeping assist, as well as, blind-spot monitoring.
I quite like the 'Active Distance Assist' which helps to automatically slow your vehicle speed to keep a set distance to the car in front in stop-start traffic.
Perfect for those busy city commutes. And if you're not confident on parking, this also has a 'Park Assist' feature.
It's nice to see that this has nine airbags, which include a driver's knee airbag and the newer front centre airbag.
This has a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating which is nice and new from testing done in 2022.
There are ISOFIX child seat mounts on the outboard rear seats and three top tether anchor points but because of the narrower rear seat, you'll only comfortably fit two side-by-side.
It was super easy to fit my seats and there's a good amount of room for front passengers when a 0-4 rearward facing child seat is installed.
Another area where we don't have firm details is the safety equipment. In the US all models are equipped with at least a reversing camera, rear parking sensors, auto high-beam headlights as well as front, side airbags, plus a driver's knee airbag.
There's a decent level of active safety gear with pre-collision assist with autonomous emergency braking and lane departure warning all standard, but adaptive cruise control, lane centring assist and intelligent speed assist are all optional.
Whether ANCAP crash tests it or not will be interesting to watch, as the safety body typically doesn't crash sports cars due to the high cost of buying enough examples for the multiple tests required.
But the sixth-generation Mustang was tested and slammed by ANCAP for only scoring an initial two-star rating (although it was later upgraded to three-stars with a subsequent facelift).
It was a controversial decision by ANCAP, providing a much-needed insight into the state of safety in the sports car segment, but the operation has failed to test similar sports cars like the new Nissan Z, Subaru BRZ and Toyota Supra.
The C200 comes with a five-year/unlimited km warranty, which is standard for the market.
There are multiple servicing options and on the five-year plan, the services average $1090 annually, which is quite expensive.
Servicing intervals are pretty good at every 12 months or a longer than usual 25,000km, whichever comes first.
Again, this is one of those topics with limited confirmed details at this stage, but there's no reason to believe the Mustang won't be covered by Ford Australia's usual five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty.