- The primary electrical C-Class has 473 miles (762 kilometers) of WLTP vary.
- It has all-wheel drive and twin motors delivering 482 hp and 590 lb-ft (800 Nm).
- The C-Class EV will get optionally available predictive air suspension and rear-wheel steering.
- A single-motor, rear-wheel-drive model with extra vary will observe in 2027.
Mercedes resides as much as its promise of merging combustion-engine and electrical choices right into a single cohesive lineup. As a substitute of an EQC Sedan, as it might have been known as within the outdated naming scheme, this BMW i3 rival from Stuttgart is known as the C-Class Electrical. There’s no point out of “EQ” in any of the press supplies, and, as is instantly obvious, the bulbous form of EQ-branded fashions is gone.
Considerably completely different from the combustion-powered C-Class, the electrical sedan incorporates a vintage-inspired grille with a contemporary twist. It pays homage to legendary fashions just like the W111 and W108, that includes an imposing entrance finish first seen on the electrical GLC and the Vision Iconic concept. It stands out even at evening because of 1,050 optionally available illuminated pixels, one thing that wouldn’t look misplaced on a Hyundai Ioniq mannequin.
The star motif within the headlights and taillights makes it clear this can be a Mercedes, and there are an extra 162 illuminated stars embedded within the panoramic glass roof. General, the design is precisely what you’d count on: basically a sedan model of the electric GLC, with out the controversial egg-like styling of the bigger EQE and EQS sedans and SUVs.
2027 Mercedes C-Class Electrical inside
Photograph by: Mercedes-Benz
Inside, the cabin is immediately acquainted, because it’s largely carried over from its SUV sibling. Which means an obtainable 39.1-inch steady show stretching throughout practically all the dashboard. The so-called Hyperscreen sits on the top quality, whereas lesser fashions make do with three separate shows housed below a single glass panel.
An electrical C-Class geared up with the optionally available Superscreen combines a ten.3-inch digital instrument cluster with twin 14-inch touchscreens. Go for the bottom setup, and you continue to get the identical driver show and central infotainment, however the passenger-side display screen is changed by a “digitally animated trim panel” reasonably than an precise touchscreen. In different phrases, it is principally a digital photo frame.
Past the screens, that is essentially the most spacious C-Class but. It rides on a devoted EV platform, permitting Mercedes to increase the wheelbase by 3.8 inches (97 millimeters) in contrast with the gasoline mannequin. The gap between the axles now measures 116.6 inches (2,962 millimeters), enhancing legroom, significantly for the motive force and entrance passenger. The usual panoramic glass roof additionally boosts headroom for all occupants. If you would like the illuminated star sample talked about earlier, you’ll have to go for the panoramic roof with dimmable glass sections.
Whereas a combustion engine would usually sit below the hood, the EV structure frees up house for a large entrance trunk with 3.5 cubic ft (101 liters) of capability. On the rear, the trunk gives 16.6 cubic ft (470 liters). Ought to it’s essential haul extra, Mercedes quotes a most towing capability of three,968 kilos (1,800 kilograms).
As with the electrical GLC, Mercedes is launching the lineup with a C400 4Matic variant. It options twin motors producing 482 horsepower and 590 pound-feet (800 Newton-meters) of torque, paired with a lithium-ion battery pack providing a internet capability of 94.5 kWh. The electrical C-Class can journey as much as 473 miles (762 kilometers) on a single cost within the WLTP cycle.
Whereas that determine falls wanting the smaller CLA’s 492-mile (792-kilometer) range, it nonetheless marks a transparent enchancment over the GLC. The electrical sedan travels about 30 miles (49 kilometers) farther than its crossover counterpart, largely because of its extra aerodynamic form. The C-Class has a drag coefficient of simply 0.22, in comparison with the SUV’s 0.26.
2027 Mercedes C-Class Electrical rear seats
Photograph by: Mercedes-Benz
When the battery runs low, a 10-minute cost can add as much as 202 miles (325 kilometers) of vary, offered you’re utilizing a station able to delivering the automobile’s most DC charging fee of 330 kW. To additional ease vary anxiousness, Mercedes plans to introduce a rear-wheel-drive, single-motor model with a spread of roughly 497 miles (800 kilometers) on a full cost.
Past the numbers, Mercedes describes it because the “sportiest C-Class ever.” The electrical sedan could be geared up with rear-wheel steering (as much as 4.5 levels), decreasing the turning circle to 36.7 ft (11.2 meters). At speeds under 43 mph (70 km/h), the rear wheels flip in the wrong way to the entrance wheels. Should you go sooner, the rear wheels flip (as much as 2.5 levels) in the identical route because the entrance wheels to reinforce stability.
Efficiency is brisk, with 0 to 60 mph (96 km/h) taking 3.9 seconds (or 4.1 seconds to 62 mph / 100 km/h). High pace is electronically restricted to 130 mph (209 km/h).
We’re informed the electrical C-Class is as “clean as an S-Class on lengthy journeys.” Elective adaptive air suspension with predictive damping scans the street forward utilizing Google Maps knowledge and cloud-based real-time inputs, making ready the suspension for upcoming imperfections. To make sure long-distance consolation akin to the flagship, Mercedes contains noise-insulating laminated glass for the entrance home windows, a quieter air-conditioning system, and extra sound insulation all through the cabin.
For now, the mannequin is obtainable completely as a sedan, though Mercedes already sells an electrical CLA Capturing Brake. Whether or not a direct rival to the BMW i3 Touring will observe stays to be seen. Within the meantime, the C400 4Matic sedan is scheduled to reach at U.S. dealerships within the first half of 2027.
Extra rear- and all-wheel-drive variants will observe subsequent 12 months, with availability relying on area.
60
Supply: Mercedes-Benz
Motor1’s Take: Though Mercedes’ EV gross sales clearly haven’t met expectations, this new wave of fashions may assist flip issues round. With the polarizing EQ styling now within the rearview mirror and stable technical specs, the German luxurious model has purpose to consider demand for its electrical automobiles will enhance.
That stated, the all-screen inside structure is more likely to alienate some consumers. Then once more, the BMW i3 sedan additionally replaces most typical controls with a screen-dominated dashboard. It seems to be the route many automakers are taking, though some are already starting to stroll it again by reintroducing physical buttons and switches.
