when the W201 was first introduced, many pundits hailed the exterior design as a "bold" one. It had a number of character lines along the body, which, according to Bruno Sacco, was meant to mimic the streamlines of the C-111 experimental car. It's pinched-up tail was trend-setting, with many followers, most notably the Jetta.

my favorite styling feature is the C-pillar with its vent holes, and the rear portion of the roof, with that subtle fold, and how they bend to meet the rear window.

even compared with the W124, the W201 has a crisper, tauter styling, due to its smaller size.

the W202 and subsequent models began to shed the taut, purposeful origami styling, replacing them with subtle (and beautiful) character lines. Actually, the W202 is just beginning to grow on me, which says something about its timeless design.

so at least in the styling department, there probably is no real successor to the W201.