This video features the Mercedes-Benz C-Class range.

Ten Second Review

The Mercedes-Benz C350e Plug-In Hybrid is an utter tour de force. Combining a meagre fuel thirst with prodigious power, it returns 134mpg, emits of 48g/km of CO2 and smashes its way to 62mph in just 5.9 seconds. It also represents a seismic shift in power in the compact executive division.

Background

Have you ever sat and watched a sports team that is so ridiculously packed with talent yet never achieves the dominance it should? If you were a car industry reporter at the turn of the millennium, that's the feeling you got watching Mercedes-Benz. Here was a company that, if it could just align its talents, ought to be able to pulverise any semblance of opposition. But it didn't happen. Then things started to change. Quality improved and design became slicker. The AMG performance division started building cars that serious drivers would hanker after. The biggest change was in philosophy. The cripplingly conservative straitjacket that had hindered Mercedes for years was cast aside. The C-Class got really good in 2007 and its 2014 replacement is better again. Now there's a C350e plug-in hybrid version that can dramatically lower your fuel bills. The future's bright.

Driving Experience

As the hybrid badge suggests, there's a petrol engine plumbed into the front of this C-Class, in this instance a 2.0-litre good for 211PS. Granted, that doesn't sound the engine you'd immediately plump for if fuel economy was of prime concern, but this C-Class also offers something when the road opens up and the foot goes down. It's backed up by a 60 kW electric motor that drives the rear wheels and, yes, you can run solely on the electric motor if necessary, for up to 19 miles. Most will just use it for a bit of one-upmanship on the school run or for sneaking on and off the drive at the crack of dawn although those with shorter urban commutes might be drawn to this car. Its more typical use is in city driving, where the petrol engine shuts down when stationary in traffic or at very low crawling speeds and it also acts in parallel on the open road, delivering an additional surge of torque when needed. That means a peak combined power output of 279PS as well as 600Nm of torque. Performance is the rapid side of brisk, the C350e plug-in hybrid jetting to 62mph in just 5.9 seconds on the way to a top speed of 155mph. It'll even crack 80mph on electric power alone. As you might well expect given the fact that you're blending a four-cylinder Mercedes petrol engine with electric drive, the car has been engineered for supreme refinement. The transmission is a seven-speed automatic with an additional clutch between the petrol engine and electric motor.

Design and Build

Aside from the badging, there's nothing that really lets on that this car is a hybrid. It just looks regulation C-Class which is a very good thing. It's tidily executed, with hints of the latest S-Class in its detailing. The long bonnet, a passenger compartment set well back and short overhangs define the C-Class's classic proportions. Large wheels emphasise the rear and communicate a stylishly sporty character. Halogen headlamps are fitted as standard but there are also two LED options offered: a static system and a dynamic version with "LED Intelligent Light System". The interior is confidently styled, with a broad centre console swooping between the front occupants. In automatic vehicles, a large one-piece centre console panel performs an elegant sweep from the centre air vents to the armrest. On vehicles with manual transmission, the centre console is slightly steeper and features two separate trim elements in order to create ample space for ergonomic operation of the shift lever. There's also a free-standing 7-inch central display which or, if you opt for COMAND Online, an 8.4-inch item is specified. Materials quality is much improved and there are some slick details like the five metallic round air vents and the touchpad in the hand rest over the Controller on the centre tunnel. There's even a head-up display option. An extra 80mm in the wheelbase helps rear seats space but packaging the batteries has seen the C-Class saloon's excellent 480-litre boot capacity reduced to 335-litres, or 350-litres if you choose the hybrid estate.

Market and Model

As you might well be aware, Mercedes already sells the C300h hybrid model, which is a more conventional diesel/electric hybrid that doesn't come with a plug socket, and for most buyers that car will meet their needs perfectly well. The C350e plug-in appeals to a slightly different demographic, a little less concerned with hypermiling fuel economy and who just want some serious pace and some sexy technology. Like the S500e plug-in hybrid, the C350e version gets the haptic accelerator pedal that signals to the driver when maximum electric performance has been attained and also sends an impulse through the pedal that signals when the car is being driven inefficiently. Otherwise you're privy to the entire suite of dazzling C-Class technology. The air conditioning system talks to the car's satellite navigation system. When you enter a tunnel, rather than start sucking diesel fumes into the cabin from that labouring artic, the car knows it's entering a tunnel and automatically switches the air conditioning to recirculate, bringing in fresh air only when you've emerge again. The sound system is also worth a mention, utilising the Frontbass system, which uses the space within the cross-member and side member in the body structure as a resonance chamber for really punchy bass response.

Cost of Ownership

The headline numbers take quite some digesting. Mercedes-Benz quotes a carbon dioxide emission of just 48g/km and fuel consumption of 134.5mpg, although they might as well have just plucked these numbers out of thin air. If you have, say a fifteen mile commute to work each day, you're not going to be putting any petrol in this thing all week. Charging? Mercedes claims a relatively brisk recharge time of two hours on regular 240-volt household mains system, although you can shave a bit off that with a higher capacity wall box. The charge status of the battery along with a standard preset air conditioning function can be monitored via the internet. Switching the transmission into ECO mode means that electric motor boost performance is consumption-optimised, and recuperation minimised in favour of coasting distance. The all-electric mode and engine shut-off are activated. If the navigation system's route guidance function is switched on and the hybrid operating mode selected, the system will control the charge status of the high-voltage battery according to the route, ensuring that the electric operating mode is used as far as possible in built-up areas.

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Specification

Body Glass
Green tinted glass
Electric windows one touch open/close
Rain sensor windscreen wipers
Heated windscreen washers
Brakes
ABS with Brake Assist
ESP with ASR
Electronic parking brake
Hill start assist
Adaptive brake system
Communication
Bluetooth system
Driver Aids
Speed sensitive steering
Attention assist
Active park assist with parktronic system
Collision prevention assist
Dynamic drive mode selector
Driver Convenience
Remote boot release
Automatic boot closing
Driver Information
Outside temperature gauge
Multi function trip computer
Service indicator (ASSYST PLUS)
Mercedes connect me
Mercedes connect me with remote online
Multifunction colour display
Driving Mirrors
Electric folding door mirrors + auto dimming rear view + drivers exterior door mirror
Electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors
Entertainment
DAB Digital radio
SD card slot
2 usb ports in centre console
Exterior Body Features
Twin exhaust pipes
Body coloured bumpers
Chrome tailgate handle
Radiator grille with integral star
Electric front sliding and fixed rear panoramic glass sunroof
Radiator grille with integral star and 2 louvres in matt iridium silver with chrome trim
Exterior Lights
Adaptive brake lights
LED daytime running lights
LED tail lights
Heating/Cooling/Ventilation
Dual zone automatic climate control
Interior Features
Illuminated glovebox
Front centre armrest with storage compartment
3 spoke leather steering wheel
2 cupholders in front centre console
Gearshift paddles
Multifunction steering wheel
3 spoke nappa leather steering wheel
Interior Lights
Advanced multicolour ambient light and LED interior light
Packs
Memory pack - C Class
Lighting pack - C class
Mirror pack - C Class
Seat comfort pack - C Class
Airmatic Dynamic handling pack - C Class
Safety
Front side airbags
Occupancy sensor for passenger seat
Child proof door locks
Warning triangle and first aid kit
Dual stage Driver/Passenger Airbags
Tyre pressure monitoring system
3 rear 3 point seatbelts
Drivers knee airbag
Window airbags
Active bonnet
Rear seatbelt warning indicator
Seats
4 way adjustable lumbar support
Heated front seats
Sports seats
Auto Mercedes-Benz child seat recognition sensor
Rear top tether child seat ISOFIX attachment
40/20/40 split folding rear seats
Front and rear head restraints
Lumbar support
Security
Remote central locking
Alarm system/interior protection/immobiliser
Keyless entry and keyless start
Chrome surround electric key
Vanity Mirrors
Sunvisors with illuminated vanity mirrors
Wheels - Spare
Tyre inflation kit

Options

Packs
Night pack - C Class Sport	£595.00
Lane Tracking Package - C Class	£595.00
Driving Assistance Package - C Class	£1,695.00
Paint - Metallic
Metallic - Selenite Grey	£685.00
Metallic - Brilliant blue	£685.00
Metallic - Obsidian black	£685.00
Metallic - Diamond silver	£685.00
Metallic - Iridium silver	£685.00
Metallic - Cavansite Blue	£685.00
Paint - Solid
Solid - Black	Standard
Solid - Polar white	Standard
Exterior Body Features
Designo paint finish	£1,795.00
Metallic paint	£685.00
Solid paint	Standard
Designo metallic paintwork	£895.00
Interior Features
Leather upholstery	£795.00
Artico leather upholstery	Standard
Body Glass
Side windows surround in polished aluminium	Standard
Privacy glass (rear side windows and rear screen)	£385.00
Engine
Charging cable for household socket	Standard
Charging cable for industrial socket	£375.00
Charging cable for wall box/charging stations	Standard
8m charging cable for household socket	Standard
8m charging cable for industrial socket	£375.00
8m charging cable for wall box/charging stations	Standard
Driver Information
Smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay and Android auto	£295.00
Analogue clock	Standard
Driver Aids
Cruise control with speedtronic variable speed limiter	Standard
Reversing camera	Standard
Surround camera system	£335.00
Exterior Lights
LED headlights	Standard
Intelligent LED headlight system with active Light System, cornering light function, Adaptive High Beam Assist and blue LED locator lighting	£545.00
Paint - Special
Designo magno - Selenite grey	£1,795.00
Designo metallic - Diamond white	£895.00
Designo metallic - Hyacinth red	£895.00
Towing
Manually folding towbar	£750.00
Trim - Leather
Leather - Black	£795.00
Artico leather - Black	Standard
Leather - Crystal grey	£795.00
Artico leather - Crystal grey	Standard
Leather - Silk beige	£795.00
Artico leather - Silk beige	Standard
Embellishment Trims
High gloss dark brown ash wood trim	£195.00
Wheels - Alloy
17" 5 twin spoke design alloy wheels in Himalaya grey	Standard
18" 5 twin spoke design alloy wheels in titanium grey	£595.00

Performance

Performance
0 to 60 mph (secs)
0 to 62 mph (secs)	5.9
Engine Power - BHP	293
Engine Power - KW	215
Engine Power - PS
Engine Power - RPM	5500
Engine Torque - LBS.FT	258
Engine Torque - NM	350
Engine Torque - RPM	1200
Top Speed	155