Key Points
- Mercedes-Benz Australia has confirmed the next-generation C-Class will launch locally in the first half of 2027, as a sedan only.
- Globally, Mercedes-Benz has revealed a new plug-in hybrid called the C 400 e 4MATIC, with up to 290kW of system output and an electric range of up to 100km on the WLTP cycle, though the exact Australian-spec plug-in hybrid has not been confirmed.
- The update brings a reworked exterior with an illuminated grille, a new MB.OS operating system with over-the-air updates, and the latest MBUX Virtual Assistant built on Google Cloud AI.
Mercedes-Benz Australia has confirmed the next-generation C-Class will arrive locally in the first half of 2027. It follows the global reveal of the combustion and plug-in hybrid C-Class overnight, which Mercedes-Benz describes as the most comprehensive technical upgrade in the model's history.
The update touches nearly every part of the car: sharper exterior styling, a new plug-in hybrid model with up to 100km of electric range, an overhauled operating system with over-the-air updates, and a new AI voice assistant. Local pricing and full Australian specifications, including confirmation of the plug-in hybrid's exact outputs, have not yet been announced.
Australian Launch Timing
Mercedes-Benz Australia has confirmed the new C-Class will launch here in the first half of 2027, arriving as a sedan only. The current C-Class is not sold locally as a wagon, and that is expected to continue, even though Mercedes-Benz has revealed a C-Class Estate for other markets.
There is also no coupe or cabriolet C-Class anymore locally, with that body style now covered by the CLE.
Pricing for the new model has not been confirmed. For reference, here is what the current, outgoing C-Class range costs before on-road costs.
Current Mercedes-Benz C-Class Pricing (Outgoing Model, For Reference Only)
Model | Price (before on-road costs) |
C200 | $88,928 |
C300 | $99,428 |
Mercedes-AMG C63 | $195,228 |
Mercedes-Benz has not said whether the new model will be priced above or below these figures. In Germany, ordering for the new C-Class opened overnight, with local pricing starting at 41,045 euros excluding VAT (48,844 euros including VAT) for the C 200 Saloon. Those figures are for the European market and do not translate directly to Australian pricing.
A Sharper Face and New Lighting Signature
Mercedes-Benz has sharpened the C-Class's exterior design, most notably with a new radiator grille finished in a chrome pattern and, depending on the market, illuminated by an LED light guide. A gloss-black panel links the grille to new headlights that carry a star-shaped daytime running light signature, and the sedan also gets star-design taillights.
Puddle lights are new too. Light projectors built into the side sills project a Mercedes-Benz pattern onto the ground when the doors open, and the exterior mirrors project the three-pointed star alongside the car.
The new bumpers are more heavily sculpted, with gloss-black inserts and chrome trim strips. Wheel sizes range from 17 to 19 inches, including a new 18-inch design and two new 19-inch AMG wheels. Two new paint colours join the range: lavender silver metallic and a blue-grey moody sky grey metallic.
Mercedes-Benz Australia figures point to a car that is 25mm shorter at 4766mm and 5mm lower at 1438mm, with a narrower front track and an 18mm wider rear track. Wheelbase is unchanged at 2865mm. Aerodynamics improve slightly too, with a drag coefficient from 0.24 for the sedan and from 0.26 for the estate.
A new AMG Line Plus trim is available for the first time on the C-Class, adding a high-gloss black tailpipe trim and spoiler lip, the Night Package, sports seats with an integrated look, red topstitching and red seatbelts.
Interior and Technology: MB.OS, MBUX and Google Cloud AI
Inside, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster sits alongside an 11.9-inch portrait touchscreen. Both run on MB.OS, Mercedes-Benz's own operating system, which supports over-the-air software updates and a growing library of Digital Extras, purchasable add-ons covering entertainment, navigation, charging and driver assistance features, sold through the Mercedes-Benz Store and app.
The C-Class also gets the fourth generation of MBUX, Mercedes-Benz's infotainment system. It combines ChatGPT, Microsoft Bing and Google Gemini in what the company calls a multi-agent approach, drawing on different AI models depending on the question. Activated with "Hey Mercedes", the MBUX Virtual Assistant can hold multi-part conversations, remember context, and appears on-screen as one of three selectable avatars. Beyond general questions and navigation, it can now provide stock prices, currency conversions, weather and ski slope conditions, and can identify and play music or podcasts from a description alone.
Navigation is built on Google Maps, developed as part of Mercedes-Benz's partnership with Google. It is among the first systems to integrate Google Cloud's new Automotive AI Agent, letting drivers search for charging stations and parking spaces conversationally through the MBUX Virtual Assistant. Augmented-reality navigation, previously limited to the S-Class and EQS, is now available on the C-Class too.
Ambient lighting offers 64 colours across ten colour worlds, with five brightness levels and four dimming zones. The lighting reacts to the car, changing colour when the climate control is adjusted, adjusting brightness as doors open, and flashing red in the door handles as part of Active Blind Spot Assist warnings.
An enhanced Burmester 3D Surround Sound System is optional, with 15 speakers, a 710-watt amplifier and Dolby Atmos support. Customers can adjust the spatial effect across ten levels, focus audio on the front or rear seats, or let the system automatically adjust based on seatbelt buckle detection. Other options include multi-contour front seats with massage functions and inflatable side bolsters, and an AIR-BALANCE package for cabin air filtration and fragrance. New upholstery colours (warm beech brown and cherry red) and trim finishes (light and anthracite birch wood, and a gloss silver metal-mix fabric) round out the interior changes.
The Plug-in Hybrid: What's Confirmed So Far
Mercedes-Benz's global reveal names the plug-in hybrid variant the C 400 e 4MATIC, available with either rear-wheel drive or 4MATIC all-wheel drive. It combines a further-developed four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor for a system output of up to 290kW (395hp) and 650Nm of torque.
The high-voltage battery has a usable capacity of 19.53kWh, enough for up to 100km of electric-only driving on the WLTP cycle, according to Mercedes-Benz. AC charging tops out at 11kW, suitable for a home wallbox, while DC fast charging goes up to 55kW.
Mercedes-Benz C 400 e 4MATIC: Global Specifications
Specification | Saloon | Estate (not sold in Australia) |
System output | Up to 290kW (395hp) | Up to 290kW (395hp) |
System torque | Up to 650Nm | Up to 650Nm |
Battery (usable) | 19.53kWh | 19.53kWh |
Electric range (WLTP) | Up to 100km | Up to 100km |
AC charging | Up to 11kW | Up to 11kW |
DC fast charging | Up to 55kW | Up to 55kW |
Fuel use, discharged battery | 7.8–6.9 L/100km | 7.9–7.0 L/100km |
CO2 emissions (weighted, combined) | 64–48 g/km | 66–51 g/km |
Mild-Hybrid Petrol Lineup for Australia
Alongside the plug-in hybrid, Mercedes-Benz Australia has confirmed mild-hybrid petrol power will continue, with the C200 and C300 carrying over as the confirmed local variants. Both use a further-developed four-cylinder petrol engine paired with 48-volt mild-hybrid technology and a second-generation integrated starter-generator (ISG 2.0), which adds up to 17kW and 205Nm and enables smoother stop-start, coasting and energy recuperation.
Mild-Hybrid Petrol Lineup
Model | Power / torque | 0-100km/h | Fuel use (combined) |
C200 | 130kW / 270Nm | 8.5 seconds | 6.2–6.8 L/100km |
C300 | 190kW / 400Nm | 6.1 seconds | 6.3–7.0 L/100km |
C250 (not confirmed for Australia) | 160kW / 320Nm | Not stated | 6.2–6.9 L/100km |
Mercedes-Benz says all engines in the new C-Class, including the mild-hybrid petrol range, are designed to meet the upcoming Euro 7 emissions standard. That exceeds what is currently required in Australia, which has mandated only a Euro 6d-equivalent standard since December 2025.
Chassis, Steering and Ride
Mercedes-Benz has retuned the suspension for a more agile feel, with a stiffer connection and newly tuned adjustable damping intended to reduce body movement without sacrificing long-distance comfort.
Rear-axle steering continues on the new C-Class, still a rare feature in this segment. With a steering angle of up to 2.5 degrees, it cuts the turning circle by 43cm to 10.64 metres and reduces the number of steering wheel turns needed lock to lock. Below 100km/h, the rear wheels steer opposite to the front for tighter manoeuvring; above 100km/h, they steer in the same direction for added stability during lane changes and evasive manoeuvres.
Mercedes-Benz has also targeted noise and vibration, with reworked exterior mirrors, additional windscreen sealing, a cage-mounted exhaust system and refined insulation packages aimed at keeping the cabin quiet at speed.
Safety and Driver Assistance
The new C-Class uses up to 10 cameras, five radar sensors and 12 ultrasonic sensors, feeding a control unit built on the MB.OS platform. Depending on the package selected, the MB.DRIVE suite can assist with steering, lane keeping, distance, braking and acceleration.
MB.DRIVE ASSIST adds automatic lane changes with a tap of the indicator stalk. MB.DRIVE ASSIST PLUS builds on that with automatic slowing at stop signs and red lights. MB.DRIVE ASSIST PRO goes further again, enabling point-to-point driving support in dense traffic, though Mercedes-Benz says this system will launch first in China, with no confirmed timeline for Australia or other markets.
Other features include Manoeuvring Assist, which can brake the car during low-speed reversing if it detects an imminent collision, Trailer Manoeuvring Assist with steering support and articulation angle protection, and an optional Parking Package with a 360-degree camera. A new "Reverse function" Digital Extra can automatically retrace part of a route the car has already driven forwards, useful in situations where turning is not possible.
An optional next-generation DIGITAL LIGHT system uses micro-LED technology to expand the illuminated field by around 40 percent while cutting energy use by up to 50 percent compared with the outgoing system. It includes a dynamic swivelling high-beam, a partial high-beam function that avoids dazzling other road users, and cornering lights that adapt to the road ahead.
Estate Wagon (Europe Only)
Mercedes-Benz has also revealed a new C-Class Estate wagon, though it is not expected in Australia, mirroring the current model. The Estate offers 490 litres of boot space, expanding to 1510 litres with the 40:20:40-split rear seats folded, along with a powered EASY-PACK tailgate.
What's Confirmed for Australia, and What Isn't
Mercedes-Benz Australia has confirmed the timing of the new C-Class launch, that it will be sedan-only, and that a mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid lineup is coming. Still unconfirmed locally: exact plug-in hybrid naming and outputs, full model grades, and Australian pricing. Given the gap between CarExpert's earlier C300e reporting and Mercedes-Benz's global C 400 e 4MATIC reveal, buyers considering the plug-in hybrid should wait for Mercedes-Benz Australia's official specifications before treating any figures as final.
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