The moose test isn’t just about dodging those huge quadrupeds standing on skinny legs. It is also an assessment of a vehicle’s behavior in emergency situations. This time, the 2023 Mercedes-Benz C 300 e manages to swerve through the cones, and the plug-in hybrid sedan performs quite well.
For the first run, the C-Class has an entry speed of 48 miles per hour (77 kilometers per hour). The car hit two cones, but the driver reported that the steering responded well to the quick change of direction.
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The sedan’s top speed is 45 mph (73 km/h). The suspension keeps body roll under control.
The C-Class also goes through a slalom in 24.2 seconds. The top performer in this chain’s test is the Polestar 2 Long Range Dual Motor with Performance Pack with a time of 22.8 seconds. The BMW i4, Lexus NX 350h and Peugeot 308 Hybrid all complete this challenge in 24.0 seconds.
The Mercedes-Benz C 300 e uses a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with an electric motor. This configuration makes a total of 308 horsepower (230 kilowatts). Power is sent to the rear wheels via a nine-speed automatic, but there’s also a 4Matic all-wheel-drive variant.
The sedan reaches 62 mph (100 km/h) in 6.1 seconds. Top speed is 152 mph (245 km/h).
The charging system supports up to 11 kW on AC and 55 kW from a DC charger. Going from 10% to 80% on DC takes 20 minutes.
The C 300 e is not part of the current C-Class lineup in the United States. Americans get the C 300 and C 300 4Matic. Both have a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine developing 255 hp (190 kW) and 295 lb-ft (400 Nm) of torque. There’s also the AMG C 43, coming later this year, with a 2.0-liter turbo rated at 402 hp (300 kW) and 369 lb-ft (500 Nm).
Next year, the C 63 S E-Performance joins the lineup with a 2.0-liter plug-in hybrid turbo that develops 671 hp (500 kW) and 752 lb-ft (1,020 Nm).
