First Drive: 2016 Mercedes-Benz C 350 e Review by Henny Hemmes +VIDEO

By Henny Hemmes
Senior European Editor

      • SEE ALSO: Mercedes-Benz Buyers Guide

2016 Mercedes-Benz C 350 e

March 24, 2015: Mercedes’ second plug-in hybrid model, the C 350 e is on the road. From our ‘base’ in the heart of San Francisco, we took the new Benz southward onto the Pacific Coast Highway for a first driving experience.

The C 350 debuted with the letter ‘e’ , that from now on will be the designation for plug-in hybrid models of the German automaker. However, the name of the first model that debuted with the new plug-in hybrid technology, the S 500 Plug-in Hybrid, will not change.

In several European markets, the new C-Class variant is an important extension of the model range in the business class. Because of the low fuel economy, the C 350 e is up for interesting tax incentives that are ruled by CO2 emissions.

2016 Mercedes-Benz C 350 e

In 2009, Mercedes-Benz introduced its first hybrid model, the S 400 Hybrid. Last Year, the second generation hybrid technology was again offered in the S 400. The intelligent drive line is modular, which means it can be used in all rear-wheel drive Mercedes models. Compared to gas powered variants, the new technology will reduce CO2-emissions between 26 and 41 per cent during the life cycle of the car.

Recently, Daimler announced that Mercedes-Benz will get 10 plug-in hybrids by 2017, including the S 500 and C 350. The planned expansion of the range of hybrid and electric models is necessary to meet the CO2 emissions for car manufacturers’ European fleets of 95 grams/liter by 2020.

2016 Mercedes-Benz C 350 e tail

In Europe the C 350 e will be offered both as a sedan and a wagon, but customers in North America only can get the sedan. A real pity. It is about time that the American customer will be able to buy – any - current, good-looking and practical estate model, like we do in Europe. Last week, I wrote something similar about the Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake, a combination of a coupe and an estate.

The C 350 e is equipped with a 220 pound water-cooled high-voltage 6.4 kWh battery pack that is placed under the luggage compartment in a special frame. Because the floor is partially raised by approximately 2 inches, the trunk space is reduced to 11.8 cu-ft in the Sedan and 15.9 cu-ft (expandable to 51.9 cu-ft) in the Estate. The lithium-ion battery can be charged via an intelligent on board charging system and through a part on the rear bumper in 1 hour 30 minutes at a wall box or at public charging points in 2.5 hours hour or more, depending on the connection’s Voltage.

2016 Mercedes-Benz C 350 e

In the C 350 e, Mercedes has combined the hybrid drive concept for the first time with a 4-cylinder gasoline engine. In this case, the 2.0-liter unit with 155 kW/211 hp and 258 pound-feet of torque. The combination with the 60 kW/114 hp electric motor generates a system output of 205 kW/279 hp with 443 pound-feet of (electronically limited) torque. The plug-in hybrid delivers up to 19 miles of range in electric mode on a full charge before the combustion engine kicks in and it can reach 80 mph on electric power. Technically speaking, the technology will cut fuel consumption to 112 mpg in the European cycle, corresponding to 48 grams of CO2-emission per kilometer.

2016 Mercedes-Benz C 350 e

Of course, we are well aware of the fact that mileage of PHEVs will vary according to driving habits. You can only achieve a very good mileage by making full use of the possibilities of the electric drive system. On the other hand, the C 350 e can accelerate from 0-62 mph is just under 6 seconds, according to Mercedes. That is pretty quick for a car that weighs 3,924 pounds.

During our first drive from down town San Francisco southward and onto the Pacific Coast Highway, we could go through the different modes (Eco, Comfort, Sport and Sport+) of the 7-speed transmission and the four operating modes for the power train. Hybrid, which is the default setting, offers optimized driving with al hybrid functions available. E-mode, the purely electric propulsion, is excellent for city driving, E-Save maintains the battery charged and Charge mode charges the battery from the gasoline engine while driving. It offers a higher battery charge in case you know that you will need that for a part of the trip.

E-Save and Charge are not very efficient, but we used them in order to be back in town in time. Those colleagues who did not need to hurry had a much better mileage than we did. But like I said, driving circumstances and habits are important.

The choices may be too much for a test drive of only half a day. But I realize that when you buy a plug-in hybrid, it will be inspiring to make the best use of the possibilities of the technology, which includes coasting to recharge the battery, as well as brake energy recuperation. Then the C-Class will be fit again to drive in Electric mode through the next town.

Another possibility is to chose Eco Assistant, a function in Eco drive, or configurable in the Individual drive program, that uses the car’s radar system to detect a slower vehicle ahead. In that case, a double pulse in the so-called haptic accelerator pedal warns the driver with a double pulse that the combustion engine is about to kick in. But when the foot is lifted off a bit, the car uses the electric motor.

2016 Mercedes-Benz C 350 e trunk

Furthermore, driving the C 350 e is not much different from a ‘normal’ C-Class with a powerful engine. You feel the weight, in particular in corners, but you can put that in the back of your mind. With standard air suspension the car is comfortable and with the election settings for chassis and steering, it is easy to adjust the driving experience to your own taste.

The C350 e has standard features such as Airmatic air suspension and Thermatic automatic air conditioning, Collision Prevention Assist Plus, Attention Assist en Preconditioning, the possibility to control the climate system via the internet before entry. The Sedan will arrive on the Californian market in the fall of this year and on the other North-American markets in 2016.