Mercedes-Benz C-Class Facelift Hides Combustion Heart Behind EV-Inspired Looks

The new Mercedes-Benz C-Class may look like the electric version revealed in April, but appearances are deceiving. This is actually the combustion-powered model, and it doesn't share its underpinnings with the EV.

The combustion C-Class is a facelift of the current W206 generation, which launched for the 2022 model year, and it still rides on the MRA2 architecture used across the lineup from the C-Class to the S-Class. The front end has been heavily restyled to mimic the EV, featuring a taller grille first seen on the Vision Iconic concept last October.

New headlights adopt the three-pointed star motif, but the grille lacks the EV's pixelated LED styling since it remains functional.

The rear is where the differences are most obvious. The EV uses a full-width taillight bar with four LED rings, while the combustion version splits the taillights into two units, also featuring the star motif similar to the new E-Class. Tailpipe finishers in the rear bumper give away the powertrain.

Under the hood, there's no V8 or inline-six, the six-cylinder AMG C53 is still coming later. 0-liter turbo four-cylinder carries over unchanged, including its 48-volt mild hybrid system. Outputs remain at 255 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic and rear- or all-wheel drive.

Inside, the combustion C-Class keeps a central portrait-orientation screen and separate digital instrument cluster, unlike the EV's full-width dash display. One benefit of the older platform is the lack of batteries under the chassis, so the trunk stays sizable at about 11.6 cubic feet.

The new combustion C-Class arrives at US dealers in the first quarter of 2027, with pricing expected to increase slightly from the current model's starting price of $49,650 (excluding destination).