What is it?
You’ll have heard the term 48-volt hybrid a lot lately, as manufacturers put the technology into mass-market models for reduced running costs and a bit of extra power.
Merc's version, badged EQ Boost on this C200, is essentially a 17bhp electric-motor-cum-belt-driven-alternator which can give progress a little nudge when required, or keep fuel economy and emissions down at all other times.
This little electric unit is paired to a new 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine, and Mercedes claims that it has the same delivery of power and torque as the previous car’s 2.0-litre petrol, without the higher fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
The official figures are 181bhp, plus 17bhp from the electric boost, with maximum torque of 207lb ft. 0-62mph passes in a hair under eight seconds, and the maximum speed is 146mph. It goes 44.1 miles before asking for another gallon of fuel and breathes out 136g/km of CO2 in return.
We’ve not yet driven the C200 in estate form in the UK until now, but the C-Class is the UK’s best-selling car of its type, so the pressure is on for lower-end petrol models like this, as the public continues to turn away from diesel-powered cars. For the time being, though, C220d saloon is still expected to be the top dog among customers.
Join the debate
Bristolbluemanc
Versus Lexus
It would be interesting to see a back to back test between the C200 saloon and the Lexus IS300H.
jamesf1
Bristolbluemanc wrote:
spare us another whinge about the "CVT" gearbox. having driven a couple of Lexus hybrids recently, the tconstant criticism the motoring press make of them is unfounded in my opinion, and the issues they harp on about are nothing like as a big deal as they make out.
As for this Merc, really dont like that steering wheel
Lanehogger
Such is progress
Standards to which cars are assessed against must be changing rapidly because in the latest edition of Autocar this very same car recieved a 4 star rating.....
Jeremy
Pricey
I've had a couple of C-class estates (C270CDI & C320CDI) in the past but over £46,000 for a 1.5l petrol with an add-on electric motor/alternator seems steep to me.
DBtechnician
Agreed
Car prices for anything remotely desirable are going through the roof. I suspect the idea is to make the even more expensive electric versions seem realistic/viable.
FMS
Jeremy wrote:
This article does not contradict that this engine is the equivalent of the previous, so why are you hung up on the number of cc's?. If you can deconstruct the MB arguement and make accurate negative criticism of it, then go ahead and contradict both Autocar testers and fleet buyers who seem to know what their business is.
jason_recliner
47,000!!!
johnlennon
John Lennon
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Will86
£46k might be price as tested with options
I suspect the standard version is mid thirties otherwise people would just buy a 3 series or A4.
SpeedAce
Economy not so great
I’ve just read the recent review of the new Peugeot 508 saloon with comparible performance figures and a standard 1,6 turbo petrol with no fancy added electric power, and that manages to get approx. 7 mpg more than this Mercedes. I know some of this defecit will be because this is an estate, and a good chunk heavier, but stil...
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