The all-new 2022 W206 Mercedes-Benz C-Class launched in Malaysia a few days ago and even when it made its global debut in 2021, there are comparisons remarking the former Baby Benz’s similarities with the ultra-luxurious (W222) S-Class.

That is no mere coincidence as even Mercedes-Benz acknowledges that the S-Class inspired the latest C-Class, much like some of its predecessors. So, without further ado, here are some evidence that shows how similar the W206 is to the W222.

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia is currently offering 2 variants of the all-new W206 C-Class which are the C200 Avantgarde (From RM 288,334) and the C300 AMG Line (From RM 330,681). For now, the C-Class is fully-imported (CBU) from Bremen, Germany or East London, South Africa.

Also read: Launched in Malaysia: All-new (W206) 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class - From RM 288k, CBU

Meanwhile, the C-Class’ bigger brother and source of inspiration, the S-Class is available in Malaysia with only one variant, the S580e plug-in hybrid (PHEV). The locally-assembled (CKD) flagship Merc sedan is priced from RM 698,744.

Also read: W223 Mercedes-Benz S580e: Price confirmed at RM 698,744

Still, from a visual standpoint, the C-Class does look every bit alike to the S-Class albeit with a few distinct changes. For instance, the S-Class comes with the famous three-pointed star hood ornament while it is absent on the C-Class.

Also read: Mercedes-Benz Malaysia confirms hood-mounted star to go away, limited only for S-Class

The side profile of both sedans looks similar too though obviously the S-Class is larger in every way and the C-Class has a bit more sportiness imbued especially on the AMG Line variant.

Park both the C-Class and S-Class side by side (or in this case, top and bottom) in the rear and well, to quote Pam from The Office, they’re the same. Obviously, Mercedes-Benz’s designers try to give the C-Class a slightly sportier appearance with the air intakes on the bumper but overall, it’s a mirror image in the back.

Despite looking like twins in the rear, there are some subtle differences in design between the two such as the taillights but you have to look really close.

Still, the S-Class costs more than twice the price of the C-Class because it has some state-of-the-art features like retractable door handles and the world's first rear airbags. Perhaps these features could appear on the C-Class in a generation or two?

Also read: The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is a crystal ball to the future of car safety

But you don’t have to look very far to predict which technological feature from the S-Class will trickle down to the C-Class. Both cars come standard with a fingerprint scanner located below the infotainment screen to store personalized vehicle settings securely.

Combined with the potrait orientation which makes it advantageous for navigation and resembling a smartphone, the fingerprint scanner identifies the user quickly and conveninetly.

By simply touching the scanner, the user is granted access to stored protected data such as profiles and office functions. It's more straightforward and secure than entering a PIN.

Speaking of the interior, compared to the outside, there is a stark contrast between the two inside. The C-Class gives off a sportier design that still mixes well with the elegance that is familiar in the larger S-Class.

The AMG Line variant of the C-Class comes with a sporty flat-bottomed steering wheel while the lone S-Class variant comes with a standard 3-spoke steering wheel.

However, both the C-Class and S-Class feature a fully digital instrument cluster. Both driver displays measure in at 12.3 inches, keeping in with the similarities of the two sedans.

Taking centre stage (literally) is a large vertical infotainment screen running the latest generation of MBUX. Although both might appear similar because of their portrait orientation which was seen as controversial when the W222 was unveiled, it’s actually slightly larger on the S-Class (12.8 inches) compared to the C-Class (11.9 inches).

Also read: Mercedes-Benz MBUX is the best out there, but..

Continuing with the distinction between the C and S is the design of the air vents. The C-Class features a squircular (square + circle) design while the S-Class gets a more traditional-looking slim, rectangle shape.

As for the seats, no doubt you can tell the difference between the two even further with the C-Class going for a more performance-oriented style while the S-Class goes for plush even in terms of design. Obviously, the seats in the S-Class are many classes above, question is, how close will the all-new C-Class be? Stay tuned for our review

For the first time in Malaysia, the C-Class is only available with electrified powertrains. On the C200, it is powered by a mild-hybrid 1.5-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged engine paired to a 48V integrated starter generator (ISG) that makes 204 PS/300 Nm.

Meanwhile, the C300 is also powered by a mild-hybrid powertrain - a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged unit that gives out 258 PS/400 Nm.

So, is the all-new C-Class truly the baby S-Class that everyone thinks it is? Well, based on this set of photographic evidence, suffice to say that while the C-Class is clearly inspired by its larger, flagship brother, there are a few features that make it more than just a shrunken S-Class.

The only other way to really see the similarities is to head over to your Mercedes-Benz showroom and experience both for yourself.