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This Is Money has published a UK road test of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Electric, the model’s first C-Class built on an electric-only platform. The first UK version, the £57,995 C 400 4Matic, is claimed to travel up to 452 miles per charge; first deliveries are due at the end of 2026. The review raises questions about its price, range against rivals and styling, while more affordable, longer-range versions are expected later.
This Is Money has road-tested the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Electric, the first battery-powered version of the long-running saloon, ahead of UK deliveries expected at the end of 2026. The initial model is the £57,995 C 400 4Matic, with a manufacturer-quoted range of up to 452 miles; the review finds it faces a higher price and shorter claimed range than some rivals, while judging its styling less favourably.
The C-Class Electric is not a petrol C-Class converted to run on batteries. It uses an electric-only platform and is 13 centimetres longer than the petrol C-Class introduced in 2021. Mercedes says the new layout adds 1.2 centimetres of front legroom and 2.2 centimetres of front headroom, with 1.1 centimetres more headroom for rear passengers. The car is also slightly taller and wider.
The first UK model, the C 400 4Matic, has a 94-kilowatt-hour battery, two electric motors and all-wheel drive. Mercedes quotes 493bhp, a 0-to-62mph time of four seconds and a top speed of 130mph. Its official WLTP range is 452 miles. The review’s tested car cost £75,495, including Premium Edition specification, a Refinement Package and a 22kW AC charging converter.
Mercedes says the car’s 800-volt electrical system can accept DC charging at up to 330kW, with a 10-to-80 per cent charge taking a quoted 22 minutes under suitable conditions. The report says a 400kW DC converter is included as standard and that, in theory, ten minutes on an appropriate charger can add about 200 miles of range. Actual charging speed and range depend on conditions and charger availability.
Price and range against rivals
The C-Class is a longstanding Mercedes nameplate, and the electric version puts the company’s ability to carry a familiar saloon into its battery-powered line-up to a direct test. The model matters to buyers weighing an electric premium saloon against established petrol cars and competing EVs: its starting price is about £11,000 above that of the entry-level petrol C-Class, according to the report.
Its quoted range is competitive but not the highest among the comparisons in the source. The report puts the similarly priced BMW i3 50 xDrive at up to 566 miles from a 108.7kWh battery, while the Tesla Model 3 is listed at 410 miles in all-wheel-drive form and 466 miles in rear-wheel-drive form. The report says the Tesla is about £8,000 cheaper. These are stated manufacturer range figures, not results from a matched real-world test, so they do not by themselves establish how the cars perform in everyday driving.
The higher price and range figures may influence whether buyers see the Mercedes as a practical replacement for a petrol saloon. The road test also offers an early assessment of the car’s design and driving proposition, but the source does not provide a full set of independently measured efficiency or charging results.
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A new platform for the C-Class
The C-Class name has roots in the Mercedes 190 Series, which dates back more than 40 years. The report describes the model as an important measure of the brand’s standing, although it notes that the GLC SUV is now Mercedes’ biggest seller. The electric saloon is therefore part of a broader effort to offer familiar models in battery-powered form.
Unlike the petrol C-Class, which has been on sale since 2021, the electric model was designed around a separate electric platform. Mercedes says the first UK cars will be the all-wheel-drive C 400 variants, priced from £57,995. The report says less expensive versions are expected later, including rear-wheel-drive models that Mercedes says will reach the 500-mile range mark. An AMG-tuned version with more than 600bhp has also been flagged by the company, but timing and final specifications are not given in the source.
The road-test report describes the exterior as a point of disagreement, criticising the illuminated front grille and black rear panel as visually busy. Those comments are the reviewer’s judgment, not a confirmed consensus among buyers. The report also lists a 470-litre boot and a 101-litre front storage compartment.
“The rear-wheel-drive versions are expected to reach the 500-mile range mark on a single charge.”
— Mercedes-Benz, as reported by This Is Money
Real-world range and final prices
The 452-mile range is an official WLTP figure, not a result reported from the UK road test. The source does not state the range achieved during the drive, typical energy consumption, or how much performance changed with weather, speed or road conditions. It also does not provide a directly comparable real-world test of the BMW or Tesla figures cited.
Prices and specifications for the later, less expensive versions have not been supplied. Mercedes’ statement that rear-wheel-drive models will exceed 500 miles is a forecast, not a measured result in this report. The timing and price of the planned AMG version are also unclear. The report does not set out a full assessment of long-term ownership costs, reliability, or charging access for UK drivers.
UK deliveries due late 2026
Mercedes expects the first C-Class Electric deliveries in the UK at the end of 2026, beginning with C 400 variants. Buyers will have to wait for final details on the lower-priced models, including their prices, specifications and arrival dates. Those versions are expected to add rear-wheel drive and, according to Mercedes, a claimed range of up to 500 miles.
The company has also indicated that an AMG-tuned model producing more than 600bhp is planned. Until full specifications and independent road-test results are available, the headline range, charging performance and price comparisons remain preliminary guides rather than a complete picture of ownership.
Key Questions
When will the Mercedes C-Class Electric reach UK buyers?
First deliveries are expected at the end of 2026, according to the This Is Money report.
How much does the first UK version cost?
The C 400 variants start at £57,995. The car tested by This Is Money was priced at £75,495 with the listed options and equipment.
What range does the C 400 4Matic claim?
Mercedes quotes an official WLTP range of 452 miles for the C 400 4Matic. That is a laboratory-based figure; the source does not report a real-world range result from the road test.
How quickly can it charge?
The car’s stated maximum DC charging rate is 330kW. Mercedes’ reported figure for charging from 10 to 80 per cent is 22 minutes, subject to a suitably powerful charger and operating conditions.
Will cheaper or longer-range versions follow?
Yes, Mercedes says less expensive models will join the range later. It says rear-wheel-drive versions will reach the 500-mile range mark, but final prices and delivery dates are not included in the source.
Source: thisismoney.co.uk
