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The Mercedes-Benz C-Class is a staple in the executive sedan segment, along with the famous BMW 3 Series and the recently renamed Audi A5 (formerly the Audi A4). As this is an industry focused on company car drivers, this means all three brands offer plug-in hybrid versions of their limousines and estates, all with extended range to help reduce company car tax burdens.
The Mercedes-Benz C-Class has a 19.7kWh battery and an electric range of up to 73 miles. This impressive range means it will become a viable pure electric car for many people, especially if they can charge overnight. Combined with ultra-low CO2 emissions, it can deliver enviable savings to fleet drivers.
Uniquely, Mercedes-Benz also offers a C-Class plug-in hybrid with a choice of petrol or diesel engines. Both the C 300 e and C 300 de are 2.0-liter turbo engines and use the same battery or electric motor, which means the only choice is which fuel type you prefer. Diesel-engine plug-in hybrids are rare, but drivers with higher mileage will find them useful due to the inherent greater efficiency of modern turbodiesel engines.
When it comes to driving, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class is an impeccable car. It embodies calm, cool and collected excellence, with exceptional stability and a tense, controlled driving experience. The plug-in hybrid C-Class comes standard with rear air suspension to offset the weight of the battery and maintain Merc’s sophisticated styling.
I also love interior decoration. It’s very Teutonic, with dark upholstery set against intricate bright ones, but it’s all illuminated by integrated ambient lighting that brings it to life at night. The latest Mercedes-Benz infotainment system is also top-notch, with a slick and well-integrated display that’s both comprehensive and easy to use. This is another reason why this car would be a lovely car to live in.
How we test
I spent a week in the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, during which I happily spent several hours in its natural environment (the autobahn). This includes a trip to Leicester to explore the UK’s newest American fast food joint.
Independent Rating: 8/10
- advantage: Efficient plug-in hybrid technology, super smart cabin, impressive infotainment technology
- shortcoming: Expensive, small trunk
Mercedes-Benz C-Class Specifications
- price range: £50,745-£63,745
- Battery size: 19.5kWh
- Maximum electric vehicle driving range: 73 miles
- engine: 2.0L petrol or diesel
- Claimed battery and engine range: To be determined
Battery, range, charging, performance and drive
The choice of 2.0-litre petrol or diesel engines makes the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Plug-in Hybrid a unique proposition. No rival offers such an option – petrol is the default choice for plug-in hybrids. However, Mercedes-Benz still believes in the diesel’s long-distance efficiency, making it an interesting alternative for high-mileage drivers. The diesel does cost £2,250 more, though.
With a large 19.5kWh battery, engineers hope that many C-Class vehicles will be driven primarily in pure electric mode. With an electric car’s range of up to 73 miles, it’s a realistic proposition. The battery offers DC fast charging speeds of up to 55kW and can be fully charged in three hours via a 7.4kW wallbox, making it ideal for ensuring those with driveways are fully charged every day.
However, there is an interesting difference between the models: the City version has a smaller fuel tank capacity of 50 liters, while all other versions have a fuel tank capacity of 66 liters. The difference may lie in the entry-level City Edition’s pursuit of the lowest possible CO2 emissions, but it’s a noteworthy point of difference for those planning to make the most of the petrol and diesel engine range.
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The Mercedes-Benz C-Class is as confident a driver as you’d expect. The ride is authoritative and the handling is guaranteed. The controls don’t have BMW-level feel and feedback, but it does the job on all surfaces. I did notice some tire roar on certain surfaces, but otherwise the refinement is impressive – the C-Class feels rock solid and secure to drive.
Interior, practicality, trunk space
The Mercedes-Benz C-Class has an impressive interior that brings the luxury and wow factor of the large S-Class into more affordable territory. It’s primarily digital, with an electronic driver display and a large central touchscreen in a novel portrait format.
Most controls are integrated inside, including the heater settings, with just a slim row of physical touch-sensitive buttons underneath. I find this can be a bit fiddly, especially when the steering wheel contains a double layer of similar touch-sensitive buttons that are sure to be hit and miss. The setup lacks the sense of precision you’d expect from a Mercedes-Benz, and these damaged controls will soon be replaced.
The C-Class feels very sporty to drive, with firm seats, a well-positioned steering wheel, tactile trim on the dashboard and five individual air vents that give the dashboard a sporty feel. Some may find it a bit cool and clinical, but keen drivers will love it, especially since the seats and steering wheel have such a wide range of adjustment.
The space in the back is tight. It’s okay and certainly not crowded, but alternatives like the Skoda Superb are much larger at the back. Since the central tunnel is extra wide, it’s best reserved for two people rather than three.
Boot space in the plug-in hybrid Mercedes-Benz C-Class is compromised by the need to accommodate the battery. The regular car offers 455 liters of space, but the C-Class sedan’s space shrinks to just 360 liters. That’s a full 20 liters smaller than the Volkswagen Golf. The estate isn’t much better, down from 490 liters to 360 litres. For a company with engineering depth like Mercedes-Benz, such a compromise on boot space is disappointing.
Technology, stereo and infotainment
All Mercedes-Benz C-Class vehicles come with a 12.3-inch driver display and 11.9-inch touchscreen, running the company’s MBUX infotainment system. I like this system because it’s very comprehensive and easy to use. It’s colorful and attractive, with a depth that makes you think of a high-end computer rather than a car system.
It can even be controlled remotely via touch-sensitive buttons on the steering wheel. I’ve already mentioned how fiddly they are and it takes some time to get used to using them, but once you get used to them they are very convenient. This is where the touch-and-swipe functionality of the steering wheel buttons comes into play, but it’s still imperfect technology.
Sat-nav is standard and includes electric vehicle routing so you can get the most out of the battery and petrol or diesel engine. For those who prefer to use navigation via their mobile device, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are also standard.
The standard stereo is nice, but I really like the optional Burmester sound system. It has excellent depth and makes listening to music on the move a pleasure. This system is standard on the AMG Line Premium Plus; otherwise, it’s an expensive option.
Another interesting technology is radar-based battery recovery. It uses sensors behind the rearview mirror to monitor the distance to the vehicle in front and maintains the distance by slowing down the car through battery-supplemented energy recovery. It can also slow down the car as you approach junctions and curves, again discreetly recharging the battery. I found it worked quite well.
Price and running costs
The Mercedes-Benz C-Class is an expensive executive sedan, especially a plug-in hybrid. Prices across the range start at nearly £51,000, and you can spend nearly £64,000 on a well-specced regular model, or even more if you want the sportier Mercedes-AMG version. If you also want to add some optional extras, you can consider healthy payouts.
As a premium car, you should expect high maintenance costs, and insuring the C 300 e from Group 43 onwards can be expensive. Retention value isn’t as flashy as that of a BMW or Audi, either, which can impact monthly lease and PCP costs.
Mercedes-Benz C-Class Rival
FAQ
How long does it take to charge?
55kW DC fast charging capability means the Mercedes-Benz C-Class can charge from 10% to 80% in just 20 minutes.
How much does it cost – and is it worth it?
The Mercedes-Benz C-Class is an expensive plug-in hybrid, although the company will argue that you get what you pay for, including its efficient hybrid technology and comprehensive infotainment system.
Does Mercedes-Benz replace the battery for free?
Mercedes-Benz offers an 8-year, 100,000-mile hybrid battery warranty.
Why trust us
Our team of automotive experts has decades of experience driving, reviewing and reporting on the latest electric vehicles, and our conclusions are drawn with a variety of driver scenarios in mind. We thoroughly test drive every vehicle we recommend, so you can be confident that our conclusions are honest, unbiased, and factual.
Judgment
The Mercedes-Benz C-Class plug-in hybrid is an impressive technological achievement. It has an extra-wide electric range and the combustion engine mixes smoothly when the battery is depleted. I also like that it offers a choice of petrol or diesel engines – a novel touch in the plug-in hybrid world.