Benz C-Class hybrid is the anti-Prius

meh.

 

MB claims their future plug-in version is supposed to "get 112 mpg". Oh yes, that's using the ridiculous European testing standards for plug-in hybrids.

But . . . . accordinig to this article;
Quick Spin: 2015 Mercedes-Benz C300 BlueTEC Hybrid [Review] | New and Used Car Reviews, Research & Automotive-Industry News & LeftLaneNews

Oddly enough, the article is called, "quick spin"
Let the spin continue.


Real world - I'm betting it'll get an epa combined around 24mpg.

 

The E300 bluetechybrid (same engine) has a record of 36MPG real.
Overview: Mercedes-Benz - E-Klasse - Spritmonitor.de
The same engine, without hybrid system, gets 31MPG in the E250CDI.
Currently C250CDI get 34MPG:
Overview: Mercedes-Benz - C-Klasse - Spritmonitor.de

I would expect 39MPG in this C300hybrid, so endind up with an emission of 159gCO2/km. Not bad (?)...Or dreadful (?)...

Comparing to the Lexus IS300h, which is much less complicated...
Overview: Lexus - IS300h - Spritmonitor.de
(real world 36MPG gasoline, yields 151gCO2/km)

Seems a spin...

 

+1

Thanks for the european numbers. I wish Lexus would export the ISh to the US.
I wouldn't call this a anti-prius, but really a hybrid only a european could love. Or with more positive spin - a power hybrid. Mercedes needs to increase european fuel economy, and this is one way to do it, if they can get enough people to buy it. Some better numbers for europe.
Quick Spin: 2015 Mercedes-Benz C300 BlueTEC Hybrid [Review] | New and Used Car Reviews, Research & Automotive-Industry News & LeftLaneNews

In europe there seems to be almost a pro-diesel group of buyers. The hybrid smooths out some of the diesel disadvantages, but here is a double whammy in added cost for diesel then added cost for hybrid. Probably with taxes in some countries lower taxes for diesel fuel (for equivalent power) and lower carbon dioxide. That is an expensive upgrade for not so much fuel savings versus the regular diesel.

In the US taxes for diesel and regular gas are about the same, but diesel is more expensive because oil companies can export it profitably to euorpe ;-), and it takes a great deal of natural gas to remove the sulfur. Here the plug-in gasoline hybrid makes a lot more sense. It likely after us tax credits has lower costs than the diesel hybrid.
2016 Mercedes-Benz C350 Plug-In Hybrid Photos and Info – News – Car and Driver

BMW who works with mercedes on the hybrid system is also coming out with a phev version of the 3 series. I don't expect them to sell too well. The gen II volt and fusion energi have become quite luxious and better economy, but not the performance, for a lot less money. Sonata is also going to come in a phev. Still if you want a c-class, have a garage, and a short commute, the phev may be the right one to buy in the US. I don't quite understand the market for the diesel hybrid.

 

The lure of a diesel hybrid comes down to a hybrid gets better fuel economy than a gas car; so does the diesel; let's combine the two for even greater fuel economy. What gets overlooked is that some techniques for improved fuel efficiency are overlapped between them, and the great fuel economy isn't as great as expected for the extra cost.

 

No the motor lessens the turbo lag, and improves 0-60 to 6.2 seconds according to the reviews.

but but but it gets the highest mpg of any non-plug-in that is that fast ;-) The Lexus GSh and LSh don't make much sense either ;-) The ice in all these cars is very expensive and adding the hybrid makes it more so. In all these cars you get a little improvement in city mpg, but they are heavy and expensive. You do better with price and fuel economy with a set up like in the camry hybrid (ESh, avalon), fusion hybrid, or next gen sonata hybrid - but these cars are fwd and slower.

 

Many ifs here...
1 - highest MPG according to the review (Mercedes source);
2 - MPG of diesel, not gasoline; apples to apples
3 - Real consumption is? will be?

 

Oh I agree with you, this only makes sense in complying to european co2 regulations, and then real world fuel consumption does not matter. The gasoline powered plug-in works for the also strange calculation of compliance to cafe in the US. Without the strange math of these agencies mercedes wouldn't be building these variants, but may disount them to get sales so they don't have to pay fines.

To a buyer the diesel hybrid is a little more efficient and a little faster than the diesel. The amount extra it costs mercedes isn't worth it to the customer, so I expect mercedes will discount it bellow costs, but in order to make money versus fines for non-compliance.

 

Expensive.
...and built to stay that way!

Prius killer?
That's like saying that The new Lamborghini Aventador is a "Corvette Killer."

Gas: $1.68
Diesel: $2.00

Prius G3 MSRP: $24.2k
Benz Ch MSRP: $38k (maybe)

Prius MPG: 50
Benz MPG 30?

Estimated maintenance/repair costs over 100k:
Prius: about $2500
Benz: about the size of Greece's national debt.



...yeah.
It's killing me.

I'm not much of a fan of Prius Piousness, but I think I have to call this one a win for the folks in Aichi.

 

Target is not US, they won't even export to the US. Taxes vary country to country and diesel is often cheaper than gasoline, and multiply by 4.3 to get dollars per gallon from euros per liter.
Germany 95 grade
gas 1.30 euros/liter.
diesel 1.14 euros/liter.

The gasoline C300 in the US is that price with no options, add diesel add hybrid add forced options and the price starts at $72,000. You can't buy the the prius for that price in europe either but the mercedes is a much faster more luxurious beast.

Compare Side-by-Side
The heavier non hybrid E diesel gets 33 on the US test. I suspect telemo is correct and this hybrid diesel would get around 39 mpg in the real world. That is a big price increase over the diesel though which for most is fast enough. The diesel would probably beat both the prius and the hybrid diesel on fuel economy on the autobahn.

Again not a anti-prius or a bad hybrid, the beast is simply too expensive to produce.