AutoWeek Test – Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate

Get to know us: the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate

Mercedes-Benz has been active in the middle class since the early 1980s. First with the 190 series, then with the C-class. The fifth generation of the C-class appeared on the market in April 2021. After the four-door Limousine, the practical station wagon followed not much later – baptized by the German brand Estate.

The design of the new C-Class follows broadly the same course as was already initiated with the previous (fourth) generation. Elements that we know from the current S-class visually enhance the new C-class further. The C-class also got a 2.5 centimeter longer wheelbase. The interior in particular underwent a metamorphosis, with the latest version of Mercedes’ MBUX interface and a large central control screen playing a prominent role – just like in the S-Class.

Technically, however, much remained the same. The C-class is only available with four cylinders, but the number of petrol and diesel engines from which you can choose is, as usual, extensive. All engines are mild hybrids, in which a starter generator provides an extra boost of power to protect the combustion engine under heavy load – and thus make it more economical.

The most important motor development in the new C-class is the C300e. The letter ‘e’ stands for plug-in hybrid technology. Compared to the old model, the new PHEV has a significantly larger electric range of more than 100 kilometers. This puts the Mercedes C300e in the shade every other mid-sized car with plug-in hybrid technology – such as the BMW 330e Touring and the Volvo V6 T6 and T8 Recharge.

What does the Mercedes C-Class have to offer as a plug-in hybrid?

Mercedes is not only investing billions in the development of the all-electric EQ line, but also continues to invest in the existing model ranges. However, traditional models such as the C-class Limousine and Estate cannot escape electrification. With the plug-in hybrid variant of the C-class, the brand has made great strides. Especially with the electric range: purely on electrical power, the new model comes almost twice as far on a full battery as its direct predecessor.

In addition to the C300e designation on the tailgate, you can recognize the plug-in hybrid version of the C-class by the double ‘tank valve’. The car has a filling opening in the right rear screen, where you can fill up with petrol. On the back left is a mirrored cover for the charging port. In our opinion, an ideal position to plug in the charging cable, because you can easily park the car with its plug connection at a charging station. In addition, the double lid is aesthetically pleasing integrated into the design.

As an option, you can also get a fast charging connection here.

The C300e is powered by a two-litre turbo petrol engine that produces 204 horsepower. The four-cylinder is assisted by a 129 hp electric motor. At the ‘sweet spot’, both engines achieve a combined power of 313 hp and a maximum torque of 550 Nm. The C300e Estate reaches 100 km/h in just 5.9 seconds and has a top speed of 240 km/h.

The car is lightning fast, but also very economical. In the test period we achieved – without plugging in beforehand – an average consumption of 1 to 15.5, which can easily be improved by structurally plugging in. Incidentally, the Mercedes still has something to gain in terms of refinement. The engine and the nine-speed automatic transmission sometimes seem to disagree, making the powertrain appear hesitant in certain situations. In addition, the four-cylinder petrol engine sounds rather raw.

Will the hybrid technology come at the expense of the interior space?

Yes. To achieve an electric range of more than 100 kilometers, the C300e Estate houses a large battery pack with a capacity of 25.4 kWh in the rear. The batteries are located under the floor of the luggage compartment, so it had to be raised. Mercedes was therefore forced to sacrifice loading volume. There is now only 360 liters of luggage in the back. A big loss, because the C-class Estate with mild hybrid engine (petrol or diesel) transports 490 liters. However, the towing capacity of the C300e is equal to that of the other engine variants: 1800 kilos (braked).

Not very nice, that bulge in the trunk.

Nowadays, lifestyle combinations such as the C-Class Estate are rarely purchased because of the volume of their luggage space. Moreover, the occupants themselves do not experience any disadvantage of the batteries, except that they can take less luggage with them. In the front you can position the largely electrically adjustable seat very low, there is a pleasant sitting position for everyone. The time when the Mercedes middle class car hardly had any (leg) space in the back seat is now far behind us. Now it is going too far to grant the new C-Class Estate the same living space as, for example, the Volkswagen Passat Variant, but your head and limbs are not easily pinched.

How does the Mercedes C300e Estate drive?

With a fully charged battery, the Mercedes immediately starts in electric driving mode. If the journey is longer than the electric range of 100 kilometers, it is advisable to always enter the destination in the navigation. The technology then decides for itself when the electric motor does its job independently or mainly supports the petrol engine. So that you can drive to your destination as efficiently as possible.

In the test week it is around 7 degrees Celsius. Nevertheless, with the C300e Estate we reach 93 electric kilometers, not much less than the range promised by Mercedes. The technology detects roundabouts and bends and then provides more resistance in the accelerator pedal, and when the accelerator pedal is released, it regenerates itself. The signals from the car urge you to get as much out of the battery pack as possible; together with the car you go for maximum efficiency.

With electric driving, the car drives more smoothly than when you drive in hybrid mode. We mentioned the sometimes difficult cooperation with the petrol engine: with changing load you feel shocks in the drivetrain. With the Mercedes C300e you have to make even more concessions. The enormous battery pack makes the car incredibly heavy and you always feel the more than 2,000 kilos while driving. The car sways and feels much more sluggish than a normal C-Class. You also notice in fast corners that many kilos press on the air-suspended rear axle; there is a high center of gravity behind. On thresholds, the car continues to swing in its springs, so that you hear the flaps for the wheel arches scrape over the road surface even more than in a mild hybrid C-class.

High quality interior and very nice screens.

How user-friendly is that state-of-the-art digital dashboard?

Inside, the C-Class looks ultra-modern thanks to the latest generation of the MBUX interface. The design corresponds to that of the top model S-class and that means that the driver has a horizontal screen in front of him, and a vertical display is placed on the center console. The first can be operated with a touch/swipe button on the left steering wheel spoke, and this way you can also set the almost infinite display options. You touch the second screen directly with your fingers or with the touch/swipe button on the right steering wheel spoke. The central control button on the center console, known from Mercedes, has been discontinued with the latest evolution of the interface.

The graphics are a feast for the eyes, there are hardly any physical buttons in the interior, but we do not miss them. Many brands can learn something from Mercedes in that regard. Only adjusting the speed of the cruise control via the touch button requires a subtle thumb, we would rather see a regular button for that.

These swipe buttons are not really user-friendly.

What engine variants are there besides the PHEV?

In addition to the plug-in hybrid C300e, the Mercedes C-class is available with three different four-cylinder petrol engines. The C180 has a power of 170 hp, the C200 taps 204 hp and the C300 has a maximum of 258 hp. Plus on top of that 20 horsepower that comes from the mild hybrid starter generator. All versions come standard with a 9G-Tronic automatic transmission, the C200 and C300 can also be ordered with 4Matic four-wheel drive.

Then there are three diesel versions of the C-class. The range starts with the C200d (163 hp) and reaches its peak via the C220d (200 hp) with the C300d (265 hp). The diesels are also standard equipped with a mild hybrid system that provides an extra 20 hp. Four-wheel drive is only available for the C220d.

Mercedes has now announced two sporty AMG versions of the C-class. For this fast-paced violence, a switch has been made from six and eight cylinders with turbos to four-cylinders that can rely on the availability of electro-power. The AMG C43 4 Matic has a power of 408 hp from its two-liter four-cylinder biturbo engine, and has a starter generator that generates 14 hp. The sporty climax is the AMG C 63 SE Performance, which even manages to extract 477 hp from its two-liter four-cylinder engine. But that doesn’t stop the festivities, as a 204 horsepower surge boosts the combined power to a mind-boggling 680 horsepower – and peak torque of no less than 1,020 Nm. Sprint from 0 to 100? The AMG C 63 SE Performance does that in 3.4 seconds.

The Plug-in hybrid powertrain does not excel in sophistication.

What trim levels does Mercedes offer for the C300e?

We test the C300e Estate as a sporty AMG Line, which even as a PHEV is equipped with exhaust tailpipes in the rear bumper and is mounted on 18-inch AMG wheels. The AMG Line is recognizable by the grille, which lacks the wide horizontal slat and is sprinkled with small, shiny Mercedes stars in the black background. If we look at the interior of the AMG Line, we see a carbon-like layer over the dashboard and the center console. Modern, neat and beautiful, leave that to the interior designers at Mercedes.

The C300e Estate can also be ordered as a Luxury Line. It does have the wide horizontal molding in the grille. The front bumper has less prominent cooling grilles and the exhaust openings in the rear bumper are more graceful and subtle in the whole. The interior of the Luxury Line is finished as standard with decorative panels in high-gloss black and metal structure – although there are various options for cladding the dashboard with wood veneer. The Luxury Line has standard comfort seats, the AMG Line comes with seats that hold your body a little more firmly.

The choice of AutoWeek test coordinator Marco Gorter

There is really a lot to choose from when putting together your C-Class. The cheapest Business Line is not available in combination with the PHEV powertrain. Then it automatically becomes a Luxury Line, which itself is fairly fully equipped. With the Premium Plus Pack, winter package and the extensive safety package, the C-class is quite luxurious and complete. The optional fast charger is especially interesting for those who regularly have short appointments and can charge the battery pack (almost) full in that time.