Mercedes C350e hybrid (2017-2018) - Practicality & boot space
Plenty of room for passengers, but the boot volume is reduced
While the C350e is very comfortable for adults in the front or rear seats, the biggest negative is its reduced boot size. This could be a major drawback for the Mercedes, because owners are likely to rely heavily on its practicality, especially if they have a family or often need to carry luggage or equipment.
Mercedes C350e interior space & storage
Front-seat occupants should be happy with the amount of space on offer and the range of adjustment offered by the seats and adjustable steering wheel. The rear seats offer plenty of knee room and shoulder room, too, but the curved roofline of the C-Class saloon cuts into headroom slightly, so the estate is better in this regard.
Boot space
The addition of a battery pack and hybrid powertrain reduces boot space in the saloon from 480 to 335 litres, while the C350 Estate has gone from 490 litres to 350 – reductions of around 30%. The C-Class is a large family car, so having a boot smaller than a SEAT Ibiza could be off-putting for some customers.
The fact there’s also a step in the boot doesn’t help (although it’s less noticeable in the Estate) when loading larger items. For comparison, the 330e iPerformance has a 370-litre boot while the V60 Twin Engine has 430 litres of space. Folding down the rear seats in the C350e Estate increases space to 1,370 litres.
Towing
Unlike some alternative-fuel models, the plug-in hybrid C-Class is certified for towing and its maximum limit of a 1,600kg braked trailer is enough to haul a medium-sized caravan.
