Mercedes Makes Its Electric C-Class Cheaper, But It’s Still A $73,000 CarAutoblogYash BajajWed, September 16, 2026 at 10:31 PM UTCAdd us on GoogleAutoblog and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.This is entirely a German-market story for now. Mercedes-Benz announced the C 300 4Matic Electric is available to order starting at €62,951 including VAT — roughly $73,000 at current exchange rates — positioning it as the accessible entry point beneath the C 400, which Autoblog covered at its own launch starting around $80,000 and climbing past $110,000 when fully optioned, hardly leaving the C-Class in the "entry-level luxury" segment it has historically occupied.Mercedes-BenzWhat The C 300 Actually OffersThe C 300 trades down on both battery and power to hit its lower price: an 85-kWh usable battery pack rather than the C 400's 94-kWh unit, delivering a WLTP-rated 429 miles of range against the C 400's 473. Combined output lands at 416 hp and 590 lb-ft, enough for a 4.5-second sprint to 62 mph — a genuine step down from the C 400's 483 hp and 4.0-second run, though still standard all-wheel drive on both cars. The 800-volt architecture carries over unchanged, with DC fast charging up to 320 kW adding 180 miles of range in 10 minutes.Not Just A Cheaper BadgeMercedes-BenzView the 2 images of this gallery on the original articleAdvertisementAdvertisementEverything else about the C 300 is shared with its pricier sibling: the same coupe-like silhouette, the same MBUX Hyperscreen dashboard, and optional Airmatic air suspension with rear-axle steering. That's consistent with how Mercedes has positioned this whole generation — early passenger-seat impressions of the C 400 described a docile, refined cruiser rather than a sport sedan, a character that should carry over largely intact to the less powerful C 300.Still No Word On AmericaWhat's confirmed is simple: neither the C 400 nor this new C 300 has a US launch date, following the same pattern BMW's competing i3 sedan has followed so far — both automakers are actively fighting for this segment in Europe while leaving American buyers of compact electric luxury sedans with nothing from either brand.This story was originally published by Autoblog on Sep 16, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.