I know what you are thinking. “The Mercedes-Benz C-class and the BMW 3-series, again? Hasn’t Autocar India declared the Merc the better car before? And where’s the new Jaguar XE?” Allow me to explain. Firstly, this is not a straight rematch simply because the contenders are different. The C-class here is the recently-launched C 250 d version. This one is powered by the same 2.1-litre four-cylinder diesel engine as the 220 d we’ve featured before, but thanks to the use of twin turbos, power and torque are bumped up to 204hp and 500Nm; quite an increase over the 220 d’s 170hp and 400Nm. The C 250 d is also the first of the Cs to get Merc’s latest 9G-Tronic nine-speed gearbox.

The BMW 320d is also quite different from the one that went up against the Merc the last time around. Retuned suspension and mildly revamped cabin apart, this one features BMW’s latest 2.0-litre, four-cylinder diesel engine that makes 190hp and 400Nm. Sure, it’s down on power to the Merc, but don’t race to conclusions on the 3’s chances. The 3-series has always been the sportiest of its contemporaries, a trait that will hold it in good stead here.

Coming to the matter of the Jag XE not being here. Well, it’s simply down to the fact that the XE isn’t available with a diesel engine, at least as yet. A shame, because the XE would have shone in a comparison where performance and driver engagement are to get due importance.

Enough of the back story. Time to put the C 250 d and the 320d through their paces.