The new Mercedes C-Class estate will go on sale in the UK in time for the September plate-change.

The fourth-generation model is 80mm longer for 45mm of extra rear legroom. Mercedes has said the new model has more head, leg and elbowroom for passengers in the back.

The C-Class estate will go up against the Audi A4 avant and BMW 3-Series Touring. Boot space has been increased slightly over the outgoing model with a 10 litre increase to 1,540 litres, which is 40 litres more than the 3-Series and 110 litres more than the current Audi A4 avant.

The new C-Class estate includes hand-free tailgate opening which customers can use by swiping their foot below the boot. Customers will also be able to fold the rear seats with the touch of a button.

Interior specification includes a new dashboard layout with a 7-inch centre screen, optional head-up display, Bluetooth connectivity is standard across the range and safety equipment includes adaptive headlights, speed limit warnings, lane-keeping assist and auto-braking.

Other high-tech equipment includes automatic assisted parking, radar cruise control, steering assist and a Mercedes Stop&Go system that will maintain a distance between the C-Class estate and the car in front when a driver is in heavy traffic.

The C-Class estate will come with the same three engines as the saloon, which includes a 2.0-litre, direct injection four-cylinder petrol engine, developing 179bhp, or a 2.1-litre twin-turbo common-rail diesel in two outputs: 168bhp or 201bhp. Mercedes will add a plug-in hybrid version and six-cylinder option in 2015.

Prices for the C-Class estate will be revealed closer to launch in September.