Driven: The 2027 Mercedes-Benz C-Class EV Has Conservative Looks, Cutting-Edge Everything Else
Up to 350 miles of range, 800-volt charging, and cutting-edge tech—but is it a proper Mercedes? We drove it in Finland to find out.
MT first drive '27 C-class EV
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"Some might find the new C EV’s overall shape, with its low and flat front and rounded rear, not flashy enough. Then again, others may find the new grille, with its wide chrome frame, 1,050 points of light, and a star pattern in the smoked glass-look mesh, too flashy."Driven: The 2027 Mercedes-Benz C-Class EV Has Conservative Looks, Cutting-Edge Everything Else
Up to 350 miles of range, 800-volt charging, and cutting-edge tech—but is it a proper Mercedes? We drove it in Finland to find out.www.motortrend.com
I'm in the "too flashy" camp. However, this large grille looks better than BMW's recent beaver-toothed grilles, which are, thankfully, going away.
Compared to the upcoming BMW i3, this C Class EV is quicker (3.9 seconds to 60 mph vs 4.7), has rear-axle steering, offers an optional predictive damping system, offers optional air suspension, and offers optional ventilated front seats. The i3 has a larger battery, giving it more range (440 miles vs ~350). However, even with its smaller battery, the C Class EV is heavier than the i3 (5,150 pounds vs 4,850).
Then there is the huge difference in these cars' user interface. Some people hate it, but I prefer BMWs less-overwhelming Panoramic Vision to the Mercedes Hyperscreen. OTOH, Mercedes wins the steering-wheel contest hands-down.
Dating myself, I remember the all-metal dashboards of the 1950s jokingly called "Safety by Gillette" (knowing that Gillette razor motto also dates me). Would the glass Hyperscreen dashboard be "Safety by Corning?"