Mercedes is going head-to-head with native rival BMW in a battle of electric saloon cars. But it has already lost the range race.
The new Mercedes C-Class Electric has been revealed on Monday, and it's designed for luxury buyers in the compact-executive class.
While an impressive 473-mile range has been confirmed and makes the saloon one of the longest-range EVs on the market today, it falls noticeably short of BMW's recently unveiled i3, which boasts a mind-blowing 526 miles between charges.
Yet both cars are expected to be around the same £50k price point.
The coupe-looking C-Class shares styling cues with the bigger GLC Electric SUV. This includes a grille made up of 1,050 LEDs, headlights with the three-point star embedded and the GLC’s rear clusters. It's also longer than the existing combustion C-Class, so expect a more executive and roomier ride.
What else do we know about the new C-Class Electric? Here's what to expect from Mercedes' latest EV offering.
The new Mercedes C-Class Electric has been revealed, and its impressive 473-mile range still isn't enough to beat its new rival the BMW i3 saloon which offers 526 miles of range
Range and charging: how it compares to BMW's i3
The C-Class's 94.5kWh battery powers a dual-motor set up and will be able to charge at 330kW speeds thanks to 800V architecture.
And 198 miles of the C-Class Electric's 473-mile range can be added in a mere 10 minutes.
The German car giant says that a less powerful, longer-range, single-motor version will follow, which will be able to do 497 miles on a single charge - so, still no match for its Beemer competition.
As the C-Class sits on Mercedes' new 'MMA' EV platform, it will be offered with an optional DC converter so it can charge to 400kW at ultra-rapid charging stations.
We think the converter is a bit of a rip off, especially as the BMW i3 can fast charge to 400kW as standard with no need to upgrade at additional cost.
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Performance and safety: How will it drive?
Mercedes says the C-Class Electric is the 'sportiest C-Class ever - raising the bar for true driving pleasure'.
This is thanks to its air suspension, rear-axle steering and interior comfort, which means it is 'an extremely agile cornering machine' and as 'smooth as an S-Class on long journeys'.
The dual-motor variant comes with 482bhp and is said to be able to sprint from 0-to-62mph time in just 4.1 seconds (which, coincidentally, is the same as a Mercedes-AMG C63). The i3's performance figures haven't been released, so we can't compare the two for the moment.
Mercedes has packed a lot of safety kit into the C-Class. This includes some pioneering optional assistance functions, such as 'MB.DRIVE ASSIST PRO6F'.
This is Mercedes' AI-powered autonomous driving system - already seen in the CLA - which allows users to take their hands off the wheel and eyes off the road up to speeds up to 40kph in certain regions.
It has already been launched in the US though Level 3+ automation is yet to receive regulatory approval in the UK.
Inside there's a 39.1-inch seamless MBUX Hyperscreen with matrix backlight technology with over 1,000 individual LEDs. The panoramic roof has 162 ambient-lit stars
Tech and comfort
Inside, the C-Class is as flash as you might expect.
It has a 'create your own sky' function, which allows you to individually select the ambient lighting colour of 162 stars in the 'Sky Control' panoramic roof.
There too is an AI Virtual Assistant you can quiz and ask to change the vehicle's settings.
The EV also gets an augmented reality head-up display and 4D surround sound.
Its cockpit is dominated by a 39.1-inch MBUX Hyperscreen. This comes with matrix backlight technology with over 1,000 individual LEDs and independently adjustable brightness zones, so driver and front passenger can modulate the display appearance like you would an Apple iPhone.
And comfort has not been overlooked in any way: as well as a certified vegan interior, there's a 'Twisted Diamond' Nappa leather design and electric seats with lumbar support, massage and seat ventilation.
Practicality hasn't been forgotten either with a 101-litre 'frunk' [front trunk] and a 470-litre boot, as well as a 1.8-tonne towing capacity.
It's estimated that the C-Class Electric will cost around the £50,000-£55,000 mark, as the GLC Electric starts from £60,350
How much will it cost and when will it arrive?
It's estimated that the C-Class Electric will cost around the £50,000 to £55,000 mark, given that the larger GLC Electric starts from £60,350.
The single-motor variant - due to arrive months later- could come in at the sub-£50,000 point, but that remains to be seen.
If it does, it will importantly sit below the £50k Expensive Car Supplement threshold for EVs. The ECS is a £440-a-year surcharge on top of standard rate tax (vehicle excise duty) for five years for the priciest models.
The C-Class Electric is expected to go on sale in late summer, with first deliveries to British customers arriving before the end of 2026.