Does anyone else remember the days when a luxurious car proved that it was a luxury vehicle by having a massive engine that consumed a lot of fuel?  “The bigger the engine, the better the car,” seemed to be the name of the game.  However, in today’s world, where most of us are concerned or at least aware of carbon footprints, climate change, peak oil and sustainability, this isn’t quite so desirable or admirable.  Today’s high-end vehicles aim to deliver top-quality performance, handling and overall style while still conserving fuel and considering the environment.

This seems to be the thinking behind the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Hybrid.  Make no mistake about it: this is definitely a luxurious executive sedan or estate that looks sleek and beautiful inside and out. However, beneath that nicely sculptured bonnet lies a plug-in hybrid engine that is there with the aim of consuming less fuel.

A lot of thought has gone into the engine in question, which is known as the 350 e.  This combines a petrol engine with an electric motor.  The petrol part of the equation is a 4-cylinder 2-L petrol engine with a maximum power output of 155 kW at 5500 rpm.  The electric part, which kicks in during around-town driving or when demand is low, has a maximum power output of 60 kW at 2000 rpm.  After all, you don’t need masses of raw power when you’re sweeping along the streets of Sydney or Melbourne (or Adelaide or…) but you do want the people who are looking sending admiring glances in the direction of your Mercedes-Benz C-Class Hybrid to not be put off by the emissions.  Put together, this hybrid engine’s torque curve peaks at 350 Nm, if a “peak” is the right word for when the top of the torque curve runs from 1200–4000 rpm. In both the sedan and the estate variants of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Hybrid, the engine is coupled to the rear-wheel drivetrain via Mercedes’ 7G-TRONIC transmission system.  The smooth shifting and the efficiency of both engines adds up to a combined fuel economy figure of 2.6 L/100 km for the estate variant and 2.4 L/100 km for the sedan.  The Eco Stop/Start function also helps achieve this low level.

More needs to be said about the seven-speed 7G-TRONIC transmission.  This is, as the name suggests, an automatic transmission, but like many good cars today, you can opt to change gears when and how you want to with the paddle shifters mounted on the steering wheel with the direct select system.  Other factors that add to your driving pleasure and control that are integrated with the 7G-TRONIC system include the Agility Select function, which allows you to select one of five driving modes to suit your style, cruise control with speedtronic speed limiting and a synchronised torque converter to fine-tune the throttle response.

Other driver assistance features available in the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Hybrid include the electronic stability program with crosswind assistance – if you’ve ever felt your car lurch suddenly to the side when you drive out from behind the shelter of a tall building or a hedge and the wind hits you, you’ll know how handy this will be.  The Mercedes-Benz C-Class Hybrid also has Mercedes’ Intelligent Drive system, which features an array of sensors that continually monitor where the vehicle is and what it is doing as well as what the objects around it are doing.  This system includes distance control to monitor what’s in front and getting closer, lane keeping assistance (which won’t just vibrate the steering wheel to warn you that you’re drifting but will also gently brake selected wheels to get you back on track), parking assistance, blind spot warning and brake assistance that detects potential collisions from the front, side or rear. It also includes the Attention Assist features, which detects if you’re bordering on nodding off during a long night drive.

It could be quite easy to nod off inside the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Hybrid if you were sleepy, as the interior is so comfortable.  Not only can you get the temperature just right with the dual-zone climate control system; you also feel supremely comfortable in the 4-way electrically adjustable front seats (and as if that wasn’t enough, you can upgrade to the optional Seat Comfort package that includes heated seats and lumbar support).  Maybe it might not be best to play soothing music over the sound system that is part of the Audio 20 multimedia set-up.  This doesn’t just play music (or audiobooks or radio programmes) from the CD, iPod, USB or SD card input; it is also integrated with the Bluetooth interface and the Garmin navigation software.  With the Bluetooth up and running between your Mercedes-Benz C-Class Hybrid and your smartphone, you can use the 17.78-cm touch-sensitive colour display screen to search the internet (but not while you’re driving, please!) and to stream your Spotify and similar playlists.

Overseas model of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class hybrid estate shown.

Needless to say, if you want to upgrade your Mercedes-Benz C-Class Hybrid from what is already available as standard in the sedan and the estate, there is a very wide range of options.  One of the more distinctive ones would have to be the Air Balance package, which adjusts the air quality inside the cabin using subtle fragrance and ionization.  Use the standard Mercedes fragrances or top up the flasks with anything you fancy, from Chanel #5 to your favourite aromatherapy essential oil.  It’s about time that car makers started thinking about the sense of smell as well as all the other senses, so well done, Mercedes, for coming up with this one.

Current model series include:

•  Mercedes-Benz C-Class Hybrid Sedan
• Mercedes-Benz C-Class Hybrid Estate

For any more information on the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Hybrid, or for that matter any other new car, contact one of our friendly consultants on 1300 303 181. If you’d like some fleet discount pricing (yes even for private buyers!), we can submit vehicle quotes requests out to our national network of Mercedes-Benz dealers and come back with pricing within 24 hours. Private Fleet – car buying made easy!