Hybrid Luxury. The Mercedes-Benz C350e review!

We had three short days with the Mercedes-Benz C350e to test, despite the relatively brief period, I can already appreciate the overall air of luxury and sophistication when it comes down to the looks and ride quality that was offered with this plug-in hybrid C-Class.

To start things off, the Malaysian-spec C350e come standard with the AMG line trim with the recent EQ Power branding. Exterior wise, the car is fitted with 19-inch AMG multi-spoke alloys which we are fond of as it fits the car’s personality together with more aggressive front and rear AMG styled bumpers.

As for the interior, we were greeted with a Crystal Grey interior together with carbon fiber inlays on the center stack and brushed aluminium on part of the dash and doors which we makes for a very cohesive design package.

Overall, the interior is well put together with quality materials as expected. However, we’ve also noticed certain areas of the interior features less favorable materials one expects to find in economy cars.

As for the the overall driving experience of the car, we really love its buttery smooth driving experience whereby it’s 2.0 inline-four turbocharged engine combined with its electrical motor that provides a combined system output of 279hp and an insane 600Nm of torque. The only downside of it is the less impressive all-electric range of 29km that we’ve personally achieved.

During the transition from electric motor to combustion engine, the C350e does it so seamlessly smooth and with a 0-100 km/h time in just 5.9 seconds, you could barely feel the transition when accelerating.

As for the air suspension, it’s nothing short of amazing. It soaks up potholes and bumps so smoothly that it makes bad roads feel good. Together with a steering that is light around town and sharper around bends makes it a car that is easy to live with on a daily basis.

So what creature comfort does the C350e has to offer? The C350e is fully loaded with Mercedes-Benz LED Intelligent lighting system, keyless go and push to start, a panoramic sunroof, Thermotronic three-zone climate control, a 360 degree camera, Audio 20 infotainment system with 7.0- inch screen and a 590-watt Burmuster audio system that sounds the business.

All these could be yours for just RM 299,888.00. At this price, you are pretty much getting the best premium compact luxury plug-in hybrid sedan. However, if you’re willing to sacrifice a plushier interior for a more engaging driving experience, then the cheaper BMW 330e plug-in hybrid is your only choice.