Mercedes C300 BlueTEC Hybrid

The C-Class feels like a shrunken S-Class inside, but if you buy a BlueTEC Hybrid for its fuel-saving potential, you might be disappointed. It runs on its noisy diesel too often, spoiling the cabin ambience and harming economy, while the car never feels as relaxing as the IS 300h on the road. There’s lots of kit, but apart from the C300’s added performance and low emissions, it doesn’t deliver much more over a standard diesel C-Class.

The new C-Class is a real step up over the old car, boasting the kind of relaxing drive and high-quality cabin that we’ve become accustomed to from cars boasting a far higher price tag. This Mercedes C300 BlueTEC Hybrid model may not be the smoothest or the sharpest of the bunch but the margins are fine and company car buyers will certainly see the appeal. If you buying for personal use, though, we’d say go for the C250 BlueTEC and if emissions are really a priority then there’s always the 99g/km C200 BlueTEC.