The Mercedes-Benz model line that replaced the 190 series in 1993 was the C-Class.
The 190 series, internally known as the W201, was Mercedes-Benz’s first compact executive car. It launched in 1982 and helped the company compete in a smaller, more affordable market segment while retaining rear-wheel drive and Mercedes engineering standards. After roughly 1.88 million W201s were built, Mercedes introduced the W202 C-Class in 1993.
The C-Class name reflected Mercedes-Benz’s broader system of class designations. The original C-Class was available as a sedan and, later, a station wagon. It remained the brand’s smallest model line until the A-Class arrived in 1997. The E-Class was a larger executive line, while the S-Class was the flagship sedan; neither replaced the 190 series. The CLA-Class came much later, debuting as a compact four-door coupé in the 2010s.