MERCEDES BENZ C-Klasse T-Modell (W203) 2001-2004 Photos, engines & full specs

Mercedes-Benz introduced the second generation of the C-Class in 2000 as a sedan and station wagon, named T-Model.

It was a surprising shift in the carmaker design. While the E-Class W210 already sported four round headlights, there were a few that could see the change for its little brother, the C-Class W203. Mercedes-Benz introduced a long list of standard features, even on the base trim level. It faced stiffer competition from the BMW 3-Series Touring and from the Audi A4. But the Merc' had its aces against them. With its standard speed-limiter/cruise-control, automatic headlights and wipers, and standard ESP, it was on top of its class; again.

The carmaker introduced a slanted front fascia with twin headlights with an option for Xenon headlights. Its smiling grille at the bottom complemented the cooling needed for the AC compressor, which was also a standard feature. On the sides, the turn signals incorporated in the mirrors were an additional safety system. Its wagon shape didn't provide the largest trunk in its class, but it was stylish with its curved tailgate at the back.

Inside, the carmaker created a dashboard with a unique design for the instrument cluster with a large, half-moon speedometer. Strangely, it didn't feature a coolant-temperature gauge, but the driver could have seen that by browsing through the complicated onboard computer menu. The C-Class T-Model offered enough room for the front passengers but was limited for the rear ones. Its trunk ranged between 485 liters (17.1 cu-ft) and 1,500 liters (53 cu-ft).

Under the hood, the carmaker carried over most of the engines from its predecessor, but Mercedes-Benz introduced the newly developed 2.2-liter common-rail turbo-diesel engines. The standard transmission for most versions was a six-speed manual, while a new five-speed automatic gearbox (5G-Tronic) was available at extra cost.