Test drive Mercedes Class C 350e Estate: a radical hybrid with 279 CV

Can a hybrid be sporty? And economical with 279 CV? And achieve a consumption of 0 l/100 km? In our road test section at Highmotor today we present a very peculiar car. It is almost chameleon-like: as radical and sporty as it is extremely economical, it depends only on the moment and on our mood behind the wheel. Today we test the Mercedes Class C 350e Estate, a plug-in hybrid vehicle with a range of up to 30 km in fully electric mode and 279 CV to enjoy on the road.

The increasingly strict anti-pollution regulations invite us to use hybrid or electric cars, at least in the centres of large cities, where this type of car is exempt from traffic restrictions. For those who want a spacious, eco-friendly car, free from traffic restrictions, sporty and truly economical, this Mercedes Class C 350e is a option worth considering: a hybrid estate that, when plugged in, becomes a pure electric car with which we can save a lot of fuel.

Exterior design

Since the new generation of the Mercedes Class C was launched in 2014, there have been barely any changes to its exterior design. Its flowing lines run from the front to the rear, and we notice no difference from a conventional Class C, except for two details: the blue tone of the daytime running lights when unlocking the car and the cover on the rear bumper that hides the charging socket.

Otherwise, the front is identical to that of any other Class C, with the headlights as the stars, headlights that feature LED technology for all lighting functions, and even move mechanically to provide almost perfect illumination in corners. The large grille with the star and the two big openings in the lower part of the bumper are part of the AMG pack exterior, which lends it a sporty touch.

At the rear, again there are curved lines with a sporty touch, especially the two chrome exhaust outlets (again part of the AMG trim) and the charging cover just below the rear lights (LED-technology lights). Finally, sporty details can be seen in its perforated discs with brake calipers bearing the Mercedes-Benz logo. A practical detail is the double sunroof.

Interior design

The typical Mercedes quality is still present inside, although with a different design of the controls and centre console compared to previous generations. Dominating the centre console is the screen of the multimedia system (present on all the brand’s models), and the entire centre console is finished in a glossy black plastic that is not very practical. The full-colour instrumentation has a sporty flavour, as do the steering wheel and the seats with fabric and leather finishes.

The vast majority of materials are soft and of good quality, especially the upper part of the dashboard and the door panels, although the glossy black finish of the centre console could be improved. This is a trend across nearly all premium models (Mercedes was one of the first to adopt this fashion), and it offers neither the quality expected of a premium model nor withstands the passage of time well, as it quickly collects dust or simply scratches.

The driving position is correct, with good visibility and seats that hold the body very well (they are part of the AMG trim). They have electric height adjustment as well as backrest adjustment and heating. The centre console sits slightly high but is comfortable, with the gear lever (in the American-style position) easy to use (once we get used to it), which frees up more space on the centre console.

The rear seats are especially spacious, with enough room both for feet and for head height (partly because it is a family model). The rear has air vents, and the seats can be folded down with the press of a button. That said, three adults in the back will be a squeeze, because the centre console is high and leaves little legroom.

Storage spaces and boot

In terms of storage, the Class C has several places to leave small items, such as a glovebox in the centre console, the central cubby and the door bins. Meanwhile, the boot has less capacity than in other Class C models because of the space taken up by the batteries, which is noticeable because it isn’t very deep. Even so, it offers a capacity of 450 litres, which can increase to 1,470 with the rear seats folded down. In the lower part of the boot there is a space to store the two battery chargers.

Engine and performance: 2.0 turbo petrol combined with an electric motor that together deliver 279 CV

This plug-in hybrid hides under its bonnet a two-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine capable of delivering 211 CV, a long-time acquaintance of the star brand. Paired with the petrol engine is an electric motor with 82 CV, which handles driving in electric mode or boosts the car when we seek performance; the maximum combined power of both motors is 279 CV.

The transmission that delivers all those horses to the wheels is a 7-speed automatic gearbox, the 7G-Tronic from Mercedes, which shifts gears correctly and quickly, and also offers sequential manual mode and paddle shifters.

Electric mode operation: up to 25 km with a 2-hour charge

What sets the Mercedes Class C 350e apart from a conventional hybrid is the ability to plug it into the mains and enjoy several kilometres of range in fully electric mode; when the battery runs down, the car automatically returns to running on its combustion engine. In fact, it offers several operating modes for the electric system and several driving modes.

The operating modes of the electric system are: Hybrid, Electric, E-Save (reserving electric energy) and charge (using the car’s momentum to charge the batteries). The driving modes are: Eco, Comfort, Sport, Sport+ and Individual (which affect the steering, throttle response, suspension and gearbox).

The batteries can be charged in just 2.5–3 hours from a standard 230V socket or a Mennekes socket, with charging time varying according to the socket’s power, and the car comes with both cables so it can be charged in different places. The system is simple to use: first you connect the cable to the charging point and then to the car; at that moment the charging indicator lights up, and when the vehicle is locked, the plug is locked in the car, preventing it from being disconnected.

With the batteries fully charged, we carried out several range tests: in city driving (where the real range was around 18 km) and on the road, where the maximum range reached 25 km. Of course, everything depends on our driving style. That said, we can drive in electric mode even on motorways (if we have battery charge) up to 130 km/h, and the batteries are also recharged while driving (as with any other hybrid) or when braking.

Handling: a bipolar vehicle, from furious sports car to silent, calm electric

We often associate hybrids with calm driving, and there are several examples showing this isn’t always the case, but this Mercedes Class C 350e is certainly a good proof of it. Handling, driving fun and running economy will depend on our mood. To explain: this Class C can be an extremely economical car if we charge it daily and drive in Eco mode with the hybrid system achieving really good consumption, or it can be a sporty estate with outstanding acceleration if we select Sport+ mode.

On the road it is a car with a high level of onboard comfort, it is well insulated and the suspension (air suspension, standard on this version) helps filter out any irregularities in the asphalt, making it a very comfortable car for covering long distances. If we want to have fun, we just need to select Sport or Sport+ mode (the more radical one) and we immediately notice the car becoming far more aggressive. With the limitations of an estate body, even stiffening the suspension response cannot fully control the ferocity of its 279 CV and 600 Nm of combined torque. The engine sound and response are more typical of a two-seater sports car than of a family estate.

In the city is where the hybrid system makes most sense, and whenever we can drive in electric mode the savings are noticeable, besides being a very pleasant car thanks to the absence of noise and good interior insulation. The brake feel is unusual, as often happens with hybrid vehicles: if we lightly touch the brake pedal the braking sensation is not good (this is because it is recharging the batteries), although when we press the pedal fully, its effectiveness becomes evident (it’s a matter of getting used to it).

Consumption of the Mercedes Class C 350e Estate

Talking about consumption in the Mercedes Class C 350e is not an easy task. Many factors must be taken into account when obtaining the consumption figure, such as the battery charge level. On motorways, in the two tests we carried out (Madrid > Vigo and Vigo > Madrid), consumption always hovered around 7.5 litres per 100 km, regardless of the battery charge state (on one occasion we started the route with no charge, and on the other with fully charged batteries).

On the open road with no charge at all, in hybrid mode, average consumption is around 6.5 litres per 100 km. Meanwhile, in the city, with no battery charge, consumption is around 9 litres per 100 km. To test whether fully charging the batteries is economical or not, we tried it on a typical route from our home to work in the city centre and back home, with two full battery charges (at home and at work), resulting in an average consumption of 4 litres per 100 km over an 80 km route. This is where it really shows how economical it is: on those routine commutes to work (even more so if we have the option of charging it at work). With a charged battery and on a route of up to 50 km, average consumption is below 5 litres per 100 km.

Equipment and price

The safety equipment fitted as standard on this Mercedes Class C includes all kinds of systems, such as multiple airbags (including knee airbags), an attention assist that warns us when we should take a break, and automatic emergency braking with a preventive warning, among other features. Optionally it can also be equipped with: lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring and the PRE-SAFE system.

Some elements stand out, such as the LED lights (which come as standard), though optionally you can opt for the Intelligent Light System, that is, adaptive LED headlights that adapt to the road, offering outstanding illumination, as well as automatically switching high beams on and off, trying to keep maximum brightness without dazzling other drivers.

The Comand Online (navigation) is starting to need an update, since it is a veteran navigation system that is being outpaced by some of its rivals, which are more up to date and intuitive to use. The Touch Pad also needs an update. That said, its five standard speakers deliver more than adequate sound quality.

The Mercedes Class C is available from 36,450 euros, while the Estate starts at 39,250 euros. However, this plug-in hybrid version has a starting price of 53,400 euros.

Opinion and personal verdict

After several days testing this peculiar plug-in hybrid from Mercedes, perhaps the biggest question is whether this hybrid system, which allows fully electric operation of up to 25 km, really makes sense and is truly economical. It is true that the electric-mode range is short, although charging time is also quick, which lets us have the car fully charged in just two and a half hours without having to wait six or eight. If we have a place at work to charge it, together with a charging point at home, and our workplace is no more than 30–40 km from our home or is in the centre of a large city, this C 350e is undoubtedly interesting for the savings it can bring, and since it is a hybrid it is not subject to the traffic restrictions of cities such as Madrid.

With one charge before leaving for work and another while we are at work, we achieve really low consumption, in fact, covering around 80 km in total during our test, with two charges, consumption hovers around 4 litres per 100 km. It also has a bonus that not all hybrid vehicles offer: sportiness. Because if we don’t want to be eco-friendly, we just need to select Sport mode and its 279 CV will let us enjoy the road’s twists and turns.

So in a single car we combine sportiness, economy of use and interior space, always without limitations when making a trip or when accessing central Madrid during high-pollution episodes.

Photos | Diego G. Moreira