2026 Mercedes-Benz C-Class: Facelifted C 400 e PHEV Adds 395 HP, 100 km EV Range

Mercedes-Benz pulled the wraps off a comprehensively updated C-Class on August 17–18, 2026, and the plug-in hybrid range gets the biggest technical bump of the mid-cycle refresh. The C 400 e 4MATIC now combines a turbocharged four-cylinder with a stronger electric motor for a combined 395 hp and 650 Nm, and Mercedes finally pushes the usable battery past the 19 kWh mark so drivers can cover roughly 100 km on electricity alone. Ordering opened in Germany on August 18, 2026, with European deliveries first and U.S. showrooms following in the first half of 2027. This article covers only the electrified C-Class trims — the facelift also brings updated mild-hybrid gasoline and diesel engines, which freshmotors.net does not cover. Positioned as Mercedes' answer to a compact-executive segment that increasingly expects real EV range alongside German driving dynamics, the C 400 e targets company-car and private buyers who want most of an EQ-badged EV's daily usability without giving up a combustion engine for longer trips.

Performance & Specs

The C 400 e pairs the updated M254 EVO 2.0-liter turbo four with a 100 kW electric motor and a 19.53 kWh usable battery, sending drive through all four wheels via 4MATIC and a 9-speed automatic — the PHEV is offered exclusively with all-wheel drive. Combined output rises to 290 kW (400 PS, 395 hp) with 650 Nm of torque, enough for a 5.4-second 0–100 km/h run and an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph). A lower-output C 300 e remains in the lineup for buyers who don't need the extra shove (details below). Mercedes says every 2026 C-Class engine, electrified or not, now meets Euro 7 emissions standards, and the PHEV's standard 48-volt mild-hybrid starter-generator has been carried over from the gasoline range to smooth throttle response and support brief electric boosts even when the main battery is depleted.

Powertrain	2.0L turbo four-cylinder (M254 EVO) + 100 kW e-motor
Power	290 kW (400 PS / 395 hp) combined
Torque	650 Nm
0–100 km/h	5.4 s
Battery	19.53 kWh usable
Range	up to 100 km (62 mi) WLTP

POWERTRAIN TYPE	Plug-in hybrid (turbo I4 + electric motor)
HORSEPOWER	290 kW (400 PS / 395 hp)
ACCELERATION	0–100 km/h in 5.4 s
TOP SPEED	250 km/h (155 mph, electronically limited)
DRIVETRAIN	4MATIC AWD, 9-speed automatic
BATTERY	19.53 kWh usable
ELECTRIC RANGE	up to 100 km / 62 mi (WLTP)
COMBINED RANGE	TBA — not published by Mercedes in sources checked

Dimensions & Practicality

Length	4,751 mm
Width	1,820 mm
Height	1,442 mm
Wheelbase	2,865 mm
Weight	~2,055 kg

Mercedes did not alter the C-Class's structural footprint for this facelift, so the Saloon retains its 4,751 mm length, 1,820 mm width, 1,442 mm height and 2,865 mm wheelbase — changes are confined to bumpers, lighting and trim rather than sheet metal. The plug-in hybrid's battery pack does eat into cargo space: boot capacity for the C 400 e drops to 315 liters, well down from the 455 liters of the standard mild-hybrid Saloon, since the battery lives under the boot floor. Rear-seat space is unchanged from the outgoing car, which already offered class-competitive knee and headroom for a compact-executive sedan, and the C 400 e's roughly 2,055 kg curb weight reflects the added mass of the battery and second motor over the four-cylinder-only trims.

LENGTH	4,751 mm
WIDTH	1,820 mm
HEIGHT	1,442 mm
WHEELBASE	2,865 mm
SEATS	5
CARGO VOLUME	315 L (vs. 455 L on non-PHEV C-Class trims)

Charging & Battery

The C 400 e's 19.53 kWh usable lithium-ion battery sits under the boot floor and is good for up to 100 km (62 miles) of WLTP electric-only range — enough for most daily commutes without the turbo four ever firing. A carried-over 48-volt mild-hybrid starter-generator supplements the main plug-in system, smoothing throttle response and providing brief electric assistance even once the traction battery is depleted. Charging tops out at 11 kW on AC and 55 kW on DC fast chargers, figures that apply across all three facelifted plug-in hybrid variants (C 300 e, C 300 e 4MATIC, and C 400 e 4MATIC). Mercedes has not published a specific 10–80% DC charge-time figure for the facelifted C 400 e in the sources checked for this article, so that detail is marked TBA below rather than estimated.

BATTERY	19.53 kWh usable
AC CHARGING	11 kW
DC FAST CHARGING	55 kW
DC 10-80% TIME	TBA — not published by Mercedes in sources checked

Design & Interior

The headline exterior change is a new illuminated front grille with an integrated light strip and an optional glowing three-pointed star at its center, flanked by redesigned headlamps that weave star-shaped daytime running lights into the signature. At the rear, new tail lamps pick up the same star motif, and the bumpers front and rear have been reshaped for a slightly wider, more planted stance. Two new paint finishes, Miami Silver Metallic and Moody Sky Grey Metallic, join the palette. Inside, the changes are more about software than materials: the dashboard keeps its driver-focused, high-set center console layout, but the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 11.9-inch central touchscreen now run Mercedes' latest MBUX generation, giving the cabin a noticeably more current feel than the pre-facelift car without a wholesale redesign of the physical space. Trim and upholstery options continue to span cloth, faux leather and full leather packages depending on the AMG Line or Avantgarde-style trim selected.

Technology & Features

The single biggest change under the skin is software: this is the first C-Class to run on Mercedes' MB.OS operating system, which brings over-the-air update capability to infotainment, navigation and select driver-assistance functions instead of requiring a dealer visit. The fourth-generation MBUX system adds a genuinely conversational AI voice assistant capable of multi-turn dialogue rather than single rigid commands, alongside built-in Google Maps for turn-by-turn navigation. The updated MB.DRIVE assistance package leans on eight cameras, five radar units and twelve ultrasonic sensors to support adaptive cruise, lane-keeping and parking assistance across the range. Buyers can also option rear-axle steering, which turns the rear wheels up to 2.5 degrees opposite the fronts at low speed for a tighter turning circle, and in the same direction at higher speed for added stability.

Safety & ADAS

The facelifted C-Class carries the updated MB.DRIVE assistance suite across the electrified lineup, built around eight cameras, five radar sensors and twelve ultrasonic sensors. That hardware set supports adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assistance and parking assistance as standard-fit functions on the refreshed range, with the optional rear-axle steering acting as a further low-speed maneuverability aid. Mercedes has not published a specific SAE/ADAS level designation for the facelifted C 400 e in the sources checked for this article, so that figure is marked TBA below.

ADAS LEVEL	TBA — not published by Mercedes in sources checked
ADAS FEATURES	Adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, parking assistance, 8-camera/5-radar/12-ultrasonic sensor suite (MB.DRIVE), optional rear-axle steering

Available Versions

VERSION	POWER	TORQUE	0-100	TOP SPEED	DRIVETRAIN	BATTERY	EV RANGE	COMBINED RANGE	PRICE	KEY DIFFERENCES
C 300 e	308 hp	550 Nm	TBA	TBA	AWD	19.53 kWh (est.)	~100 km WLTP (unconfirmed)	—	TBA (Germany); from £52,515 (UK)	Lower-output entry PHEV; German list price not confirmed in sources checked
C 400 e 4MATIC	395 hp	650 Nm	5.4 s	250 km/h	AWD	19.53 kWh	100 km (62 mi) WLTP	—	€73,548	Higher-output PHEV; the trim covered throughout this article

Pricing & Availability

Confirmed: Mercedes opened order books for the full facelifted C-Class range, including both plug-in hybrid trims, in Germany on August 18, 2026. The C 400 e 4MATIC Saloon carries a German list price of €73,547.95 before options, per Mercedes-focused outlet mbpassion.de — a specific U.S.-dollar price has not been announced, since American buyers won't see the facelifted C-Class until the first half of 2027. The lower-output C 300 e is also available at launch, but its exact German list price was not confirmed in the sources checked for this article, so it's marked TBA above; in the UK it starts from £52,515. European deliveries begin first, with right-hand-drive UK order books already open at broadly similar timing. TBA: exact European delivery start dates by country, and any U.S. pricing or trim structure for 2027.

How It Compares

None of these are direct segment rivals for a German compact-executive PHEV sedan — freshmotors' in-house comparison catalog skews heavily toward Chinese EV and PHEV models — so the value here is a spec-for-money contrast rather than a like-for-like cross-shop. BYD's Denza brand undercuts nothing here on price versus the C 400 e's German list, but it packs more combined power, a much larger 1,200 km combined range, and a shooting-brake body for less money than the Mercedes — a reminder of how far Chinese PHEV performance has scaled at this price point. A closer body-style match, the ArcFox Beta S3 BEV sedan from BAIC offers similar output to the C 400 e for roughly 30% less than the Mercedes' German list price, illustrating the value gap between a legacy-brand PHEV and a Chinese-market full EV, even though the powertrains aren't directly comparable. Changan's premium AVATR 12 sedan out-powers the C 400 e by a wide margin for a similar price to the Mercedes' German list figure, underscoring that buyers cross-shopping purely on power-per-dollar have faster, all-electric options at this price — though none carry the C-Class's badge, dealer network or three-pointed-star resale value. Buyers choosing the C 400 e are paying for Mercedes badge equity, interior finish and dealer support at a price where Chinese brands routinely offer more raw power or range. That trade-off is exactly what keeps traditional premium sedans relevant even as EV alternatives close the performance gap.