Mercedes C-Class review - MPG, running costs & CO2

While the engine range still revolves predominantly around petrol and diesel engines, the latest C-Class is the first Mercedes to come with all its engines electrified. Every engine is fitted with either mild-hybrid or plug-in hybrid technology to boost efficiency.

Mild-hybrid models are fitted with a 48-volt system that harvests energy under deceleration into a small battery, and can provide a boost of up to 20bhp to take some strain off the engine, allowing for engine-off coasting and smoother restarts when the engine restarts. The plug-in hybrid gets a much bigger battery than most of its rivals, giving it around double the EV range and making it ideal for company-car drivers. 

Mercedes C-Class MPG & CO2

Despite the waning popularity of diesel engines, they're still a core element in the C-Class range. The entry-level diesel is the 220 d and it accounts for a good proportion of C-Class sales. It's capable of returning up to 62.8mpg depending on trim level and wheels, with CO2 emissions of 120-127g/km. 

Sitting above it, there's the C 300 d, which is also a four-cylinder 2.0-litre turbodiesel with similar running costs to the more affordable version; despite the extra power it can still achieve 54.3mpg.

The petrol range kicks off with the C 200, which uses a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Like the diesels, the C 200 and the now-withdrawn C 180 petrol return similar efficiency to each other and can manage up to 45.6mpg, with emissions figures from 141-163g/km. This makes them well-suited to private buyers but places them towards the top of the Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) bandings for company-car drivers.

With a larger 2.0-litre petrol engine, the C 300 is more powerful, and also a bit more costly to run. It manages up to 42.2mpg, while emitting 150-180g/km of CO2.

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Then there’s the high-performance C 43 with its turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder. The previous-generation C 43 used a larger six-cylinder unit and while this new, smaller engine may not be as characterful, it should, in theory, be more economical. Mercedes claims it can return up to 30.7mpg, however to achieve this, you will have to resist the urge to use the car’s 402bhp performance too often.

The C63 S e may be a plug-in hybrid, but its focus on performance means it’s not particularly frugal – you can expect up to 26.9mpg, which is very little for a PHEV. It can do up to nine miles on electric power alone.

The big news for the plug-in hybrid C 300 e is a much larger 25.4kWh battery than the 13.5kWh version found in its predecessor. This should see its EV range jump from around 34 miles to 71 miles, making it possible to complete longer zero-emissions journeys and charge less often, and giving it a serious range advantage over rivals. CO2 emissions as low as 12g/km and an on-paper fuel economy figure of 565mpg should also make it the cheapest version to run for business users, thanks to a lower BiK liability. As with any plug-in hybrid, the C 300 e is most efficient if you regularly drive on battery power and recharge as often as possible. Even on a longer drive we got almost 70mpg out of it.

Insurance groups

Insurance groups seem to be slightly higher than those for the previous model. A C 200 petrol in the entry-level trim starts in group 38 out of 50, while the C 300 AMG Line is two groups higher. Diesel versions span almost identical groups, while the C 300 e plug-in hybrid is in group 45 and the C43 is in the highest band of 50. The Mercedes isn't likely to be cheap to cover but its groupings are roughly comparable with rivals such as the 3 Series. 

Warranty

Mercedes models are offered with a three-year/unlimited-mileage warranty, which matches the BMW 3 Series. This is slightly more appealing for very high-mileage drivers than the Audi A4's warranty, which expires after three years or 60,000 miles. More mainstream manufacturers tend to offer longer warranties, including Genesis with its five-year care package and Toyota with a free warranty that can last for up to 10 years.

Servicing

Buyers are offered fixed-price servicing plans by Mercedes; you can either spread the cost of maintenance over regular monthly payments or pay one upfront fee. Expect to pay around £30 a month to cover servicing for two years.