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2027 Mercedes-Benz C300e | PH Review

Can the new 326hp plug-in C-Class really take us to places the EV can't reach?

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You might think that an updated C-Class wouldn’t stand a chance against all-new rivals in the G50 BMW 3 Series and B10 Audi A5, but Mercedes says this is the most comprehensive facelift applied to the model in its history. Everything has been seen to, from the engines and chassis to the interior tech. Yes, the styling has been tweaked too - but thankfully it doesn’t seem to have been anywhere near the Affalterbach design studio.

Mercedes claims that this updated W206 represents a fine-tuning of what came before, and given how good the C-Class has been since this current generation landed in 2021, that’d be no bad thing. Whatever the result, the truth is that barely a few weeks before we find out how the all-new G50 3 Series drives, Mercedes gets one chance to lay down its marker. And here’s a spoiler: it’s a good one, albeit not for the reasons you might expect.

Mercedes’s obsession with its own badge has clearly not faded because while the petrol C-Class doesn’t get the fully closed and very plastic-looking front grille of its electric sibling, it does wear a nose bearing a gazillion stars and illuminated lipstick. Stars have also been added to the upgraded headlights (which are said to project 40% more light while using 50% less energy) and rear lights, although overall, this remains a handsome motor from all angles.

It’s much the same inside, where you’ll find the same basic layout as the pre-facelift model. A digital driver display and angled central infotainment system mean there’s much less screen than in both Mercedes’s electric cars and the Audi A5. Plus, the vents aren’t a gaudy chrome like in the C-Class EV, and there are even physical buttons. The ones on the steering wheel are new - or, more accurately, new to the W206 - as they represent a return of what Mercedes was doing a few years back. Overall, the cabin is comfy, relaxing and generally a pleasure to spend time in. 

There are, as you’d expect, tech updates, including a new user interface for the infotainment that’s slick and quick to react. Built-in Google Maps works with the head-up display to project directional augmented reality arrows directly onto the windscreen. There’s also a new facial recognition camera, which takes the place of the old fingerprint system to identify who’s in the driving seat and load up the appropriate profile, but it doesn’t double up as an alternative to the digital key. You still need that to start the car.

If you’re wondering, like the petrol 3 Series, the combustion-powered C-Class is based on a totally different platform to its electric alternative. But that doesn’t mean the hardware hasn’t been tweaked - in fact, as promised, the entire line-up of four-cylinders has received changes, largely to conform to Euro 7 and also to give the W206 fighting power to take on Bavaria’s latest. That doesn’t, however, include any M350- and S5-rivalling straight-sixes. And no, the V8 won’t make it to the C-Class either, meaning no AMG derivative. Boo.

No less disappointing is the fact that the UK loses the two diesel options still offered on the continent. Yes, sales here have long been dwindling, but the oil burners were good motors. It means those wanting the highest fuel economy are left with one obvious choice, the C300e plug-in hybrid, and this is the car we’re driving on the launch in Germany. Naturally, we’d rather be in the more powerful C400e, but guess what: we don’t get that in Britain either.

That said, with 326hp of combined power, the C300e is no slouch. In fact, this is an impressively elastic powertrain with a seamless blend of petrol and electric propulsion. Helpfully, the 9G-Tronic torque converter it’s mated to is a clever, smooth-shifting transmission, meaning the whole mechanical setup feels brilliantly polished. It’s quiet and refined, and muscular when you want it to be. Plus, there’s even a decent on-paper EV range of 66 miles.

And yet the best discovery of our drive is how the new C-Class has benefited from improvements to the chassis. Engineers have tweaked the suspension to unlock more comfort, but it doesn’t seem to have come at the cost of body control. The two-tonne-plus C300e manages to feel light on its feet with a supple ride over bumps (as few and far between as they are in Germany), and yet it doesn’t lean over if you fling the car at a bend or power hard onto the autobahn.

Admittedly, our car’s handling was enhanced by two key options, adaptive dampers and rear-axle steering, which combine to give the C300e a neutral balance. This is no M-devision rival, obviously, but cross country pace isn’t just a point-and-squirt affair. Momentum can be carried into corners and that elastic torque delivery can be engaged as soon as you like. It’s satisfying and efficient. Which is probably what you'd choose for a plug-in saloon. 

Obviously, a Benz’s natural state is to be more relaxed, and if you let it settle the C300e’s mechanicals are quiet, thanks in part to more cabin insulation present in the facelift. You can even hand more of the driving over to the car, because the C-Class’s comprehensive tech boost includes Merc’s latest autonomous driving stuff. Steer assist, auto lane change and auto park are all present and genuinely decent. Although given how nice this saloon is to drive, you’d be forgiven for wanting to retain full control.

Will the far-reaching facelift be enough to face off the all-new 3 Series and A5? We won’t know for sure until we get them together. But one thing’s clear, this W206 C-Class stands as evidence that Mercedes still knows how to make a cracking executive saloon. Here’s hoping this remains the case when the next generation finally arrives, if only because by then Mercedes might be ready to install the V8 it richly deserves...

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SPECIFICATION | Mercedes-Benz C-Class C300e AMG Line Premium

Engine: 1,999cc, four-cylinder, turbo, with 19.5kWh battery and e-motor
Transmission: 9-speed auto, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 326
Torque (lb ft): 406
0-62mph: 5.9 seconds
Top speed: 149mph
Weight: 2,154kg
MPG: 117.8mpg
CO2: 55g/km
Price: £57,515

• 2027 Mercedes C-Class Electric | UK Review
• 2026 Mercedes S-Class | PH Review

[pSyCoSiS]

The more I see this, the more it is growing on me. I suppose we have accepted the fact that less chintzy cars no longer exist.

[GTEYE]

Looks like as close to a traditional Benz as we’re likely to see in 2026.

It’s a great pity however that the U.K. is being denied the choice of powertrain options available elsewhere and I guess this will only get worse in the next couple of years as the ZEV mandate gets stricter.

66 miles of theoretical EV range doesn’t seem particularly class leading for a new car though.

Edited by GTEYE on Tuesday 27th October 05:03

[Dog Biscuit]

That looks lovely.

They've chosen a very different degign path to BMW haven't they!

[pb8g09]

The front grill makes it look it has a goatie like the A6 all those years ago. I suspect with a few more views it will look the most ‘normal’ offering for Mercedes. At least it doesn’t look like a slug.

[Codswallop]

Let's hope the quality and reliability are much improved over the pre facelift car, which was distinctly poor in both regards. I miss the time when Mercedes made classy, elegant cars that were well made.

[oldaudi]

Will the C Class ever return with the ornament on the bonnet and the nice grill with horizontal slats?

I saw a new GL of some sort in the rear view mirror last week with the illuminated grill. Surely you can switch that off ? Why would you drive down the M5 with that switched on?

Edited by oldaudi on Tuesday 27th October 07:05

[dinkel]

MB does what it does best: variations on a theme and stick to a theme that will last.

Albeit a bit heavy, I like it.

[Sway]

oldaudi said:

Will the C Class ever return with the ornament on the bonnet and the nice grill with horizontal slats?

I saw a new GL of some sort in the rear view mirror last week with the illuminated grill. Surely you can switch that off ? Why would you drive down the M5 with that switched on?

Edited by oldaudi on Tuesday 27th October 07:05

I believe you can switch the illuminated grill off.

At least, I've only ever seen one lit up - incredibly noticeable and not in a good way!

Quite like this as a medium modern saloon. Get it in Brilliant Blue (one of my all time favourite automotive paints), tone down the bling as much as possible - and spec those adaptive dampers!

[cerb4.5lee]

It is mad that this is around 600kgs heavier than my 2018 F82 M4 I reckon, yet it only has exactly the same amount of torque at 406Ib/ft though.

Modern cars are definitely getting fatter for sure. Weight aside, I don't actually mind this though.

[MountainsofSussex]

So the Mercedes facelifted dino-juice car looks much better than its newer electric sister, while BMW's facelifted 3er looks much worse than its electric sister. It'll be interesting to see if that has any effect on sales (if the number of iXs I see now is an indicator of that, the answer is probably no)

[Mouse Rat]

Good package.

The problem is these cars are chasing government targets in pursuit of lowering BIK, needing longer EV range, meaning more battery, meaning more weight.
Not sure where the sweet spot is, but the original Golf GTE was close.

[leglessAlex]

MountainsofSussex said:

So the Mercedes facelifted dino-juice car looks much better than its newer electric sister, while BMW's facelifted 3er looks much worse than its electric sister. It'll be interesting to see if that has any effect on sales (if the number of iXs I see now is an indicator of that, the answer is probably no)

I was just thinking this. I saw the article and immediately thought it was less ugly than the EV, I had to go and check that it was a different design and that it wasn't just growing on me.

Don't get me wrong, it doesn't look great, but I've seen worse, namely the new ICE i3.

[plfrench]

Mouse Rat said:

Good package.

The problem is these cars are chasing government targets in pursuit of lowering BIK, needing longer EV range, meaning more battery, meaning more weight.
Not sure where the sweet spot is, but the original Golf GTE was close.

That trend will stop soon - BIK rates for hybrids have jumped quite a bit so if people have a choice and can make an EV work, hybrids really don’t make sense financially for Comoany car / Sal sac unless people really don’t mind paying a lot more tax.

[CMTMB]

I'll never understand why they choose to showcase new cars in primer grey. It would look better in just about any other colour.

[Cryssys]

Apart from the front grille and Temu star lights that's not a bad effort and one that will worry BMW. I'll be interested to see what the estate is like and if they can squeeze a bit more performance out of it.

Edited by Cryssys on Tuesday 27th October 09:21

[Mouse Rat]

plfrench said:

Mouse Rat said:

Good package.

The problem is these cars are chasing government targets in pursuit of lowering BIK, needing longer EV range, meaning more battery, meaning more weight.
Not sure where the sweet spot is, but the original Golf GTE was close.

That trend will stop soon - BIK rates for hybrids have jumped quite a bit so if people have a choice and can make an EV work, hybrids really don t make sense financially for Comoany car / Sal sac unless people really don t mind paying a lot more tax.

Maybe, but there are still many company car drivers that wont use EVs. (long days, no drive, public charging costs etc)

[MountainsofSussex]

plfrench said:

Mouse Rat said:

Good package.

The problem is these cars are chasing government targets in pursuit of lowering BIK, needing longer EV range, meaning more battery, meaning more weight.
Not sure where the sweet spot is, but the original Golf GTE was close.

That trend will stop soon - BIK rates for hybrids have jumped quite a bit so if people have a choice and can make an EV work, hybrids really don t make sense financially for Comoany car / Sal sac unless people really don t mind paying a lot more tax.

Given that the tax breaks were intended to drive uptake of new technology for cars and infrastructure (plus get cleaner cars into the future second hand market), you could argue that there's less benefit in the public money subsidising PHEVs than EVs. Especially as lots of data shows many PHEVs rarely plugging in so not benefitting environment or infrastructure takeup. I did like the GTE - thought it was a better hybrid than it was a hot hatch. Though it was probably less efficient than the equivalent diesel at the time...

[MikeMi-4]

This has definitely grown on me and I'd rather have this colour than the white one in previous magazines. The electric range could do with being more around the real-world 70 mile mark but this wouldn't be a deal breaker for me. What would be a deal breaker is the fact that these stupid car interior designers persist on placing all HVAC and other controls within a massive screen. quality-looking and feeling dials and knobs still have their place and work perfectly fine! Take a look at the Skoda Superb's smart dials. This is the way to go!

[SDK]

plfrench said:

Mouse Rat said:

Good package.

The problem is these cars are chasing government targets in pursuit of lowering BIK, needing longer EV range, meaning more battery, meaning more weight.
Not sure where the sweet spot is, but the original Golf GTE was close.

That trend will stop soon - BIK rates for hybrids have jumped quite a bit so if people have a choice and can make an EV work, hybrids really don t make sense financially for Comoany car / Sal sac unless people really don t mind paying a lot more tax.

Indeed
BIK tax for hybrids is 4% now and by 2030 it's increasing to 19%.

Currently for someone on 40% income tax, getting a £50k hybrid, they pay £800 per year/£66 a month tax
In FY 28/29, that tax is increasing to £3,600 a year/£300 a month

So anyone getting a hybrid now (Sal Sac/business lease), for 3 years - their monthly payments towards the end of the deal are going to significantly increase!

Edited by SDK on Tuesday 27th October 10:41

[otolith]

Mouse Rat said:

Maybe, but there are still many company car drivers that wont use EVs. (long days, no drive, public charging costs etc)

If they're not going to charge it, they're carrying a load of heavy electric gubbins for no reason. If they're doing long days using it to flog paperclips rather than having it as a personal car it would make more sense to not allow personal use and swerve the BIK entirely.