How much is half a second worth? On a qualifying lap, quite a lot. Between two electric executive saloons taking you to the office, considerably less. Mercedes has added the C 300 4MATIC Electric to its German range, and its most entertaining feature may be the awkward question it asks of the more expensive C 400.
The newcomer reaches 100km/h in 4.5 seconds, against the C 400’s four seconds. Both have all-wheel drive. Both produce a hefty 800Nm of torque. Germany’s VAT-inclusive starting prices are €62,951 and €67,711 respectively, before delivery or factory-collection charges. That is a €4,760 saving for surrendering a blink on the acceleration chart. Suddenly, the smaller number on the boot looks rather grown-up.
Enough performance is a wonderful thing
Electric cars have made spectacular acceleration so accessible that perfectly rapid machinery can sound apologetic on paper. A saloon capable of reaching motorway speed in about the time it takes to find the right radio station is now the gentler option. This is marvellous progress, although it has done peculiar things to our sense of proportion.
The C 300 is hardly a hair-shirt Mercedes. It retains the electric C-Class’s dedicated architecture and offers the same optional combination of AIRMATIC air suspension and rear-axle steering. Those are the options that would catch my attention before another helping of peak power. A car that can navigate a tight car park and make a long journey less wearing has useful talents every day.
The most useful engineering serves the journey rather than the brochure. Executive saloons should make ordinary miles feel pleasantly uneventful. Nobody needs the school run to resemble a launch-control demonstration, particularly the children trying to keep their breakfast in place.
The battery trade is more interesting
The meaningful sacrifice is range. The C 300’s usable battery capacity is 85kWh, against 94kWh in the C 400. Mercedes quotes up to 690 kilometres on the WLTP cycle for the newcomer, or roughly 429 miles. The C 400 reaches up to 762 kilometres on the same official test, approximately 473 miles. Those are laboratory-cycle figures rather than promises for a wet February motorway trip.
Even so, the smaller pack is an intriguing choice. It reduces the amount of battery you buy and carry around while leaving an official range that looks ample for a great many journeys. The bigger battery buys more breathing room for regular long-distance travel. For someone who mostly commutes and charges at home, paying for capacity used only on occasional holidays deserves a little scrutiny.
Charging also offers a useful reality check. The C 300 peaks at 320kW, just below the C 400’s 330kW, yet Mercedes quotes the same 22-minute 10–80 per cent charging time for both under its specified fast-charging conditions. The cheaper car therefore loses little on that particular stopwatch. Charging curves and conditions matter more than treating the highest kilowatt figure as a league table.
A Mercedes should earn its money beyond the sprint
The electric C-Class has plenty of ideas beyond acceleration. Its rear drive unit uses a two-speed transmission, with a taller second gear intended to improve motorway efficiency. The front motor can be disconnected when its assistance is unnecessary. This is the sort of quiet engineering that deserves more applause than another animated welcome sequence.
The visual theatre remains, of course. The new C-Class wears a conspicuous grille, and Mercedes offers an enormous optional Hyperscreen. If that makes you happy, fine. I would rather the luxury budget went into seats, refinement and controls that are easy to use when the weather turns foul. A premium badge should buy relief from everyday irritation, not more things demanding your attention.
This announcement is for Germany, with German prices; it provides no British order date or price for the C 300. Mercedes also says further rear-wheel-drive models and battery variants will follow. That expanding choice is encouraging, because the most satisfying electric executive car need not be the one with the biggest pack or fiercest acceleration.
The C 400 keeps its extra range and its half-second advantage. The C 300 makes a more appealing argument: take enough performance, retain the useful technology and leave some money in the bank. Enthusiasts are allowed to enjoy restraint. Especially when restraint still gets to 100km/h in 4.5 seconds.
Sources
- New Mercedes C-Class Electric gets a bittersweet range boost
- Mercedes-Benz expands the electric C-Class range with C 300 4MATIC
- The all-new electric C-Class: Redefining the segment
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