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18<br />
Thursday <strong>April</strong> 6 <strong>2023</strong><br />
Incorporating<br />
best motorbuys<br />
www.drivesouth.co.nz<br />
Hybrid with luxury and speed<br />
THERE ARE an ever-increasing<br />
number of plug-in EVs landing<br />
in our market, most of them<br />
sport utility vehicles, and that is<br />
what the market is demanding.<br />
However, if it’s a sedan you<br />
are after and want to explore the<br />
luxury market, then Mercedes-<br />
Benz may have the car for you –<br />
the C350 e – it is a plug-in hybrid<br />
with a 2-litre petrol engine.<br />
Even though it joins the C-<br />
Class series, it lands here in one<br />
specification only that lists at<br />
$111,200. It’s around $6000 and<br />
$23,000 more expensive than its<br />
non-hybrid counterparts, but it<br />
will give you fuel usage benefits<br />
and will travel up to 100km on<br />
purely electric.<br />
According to Mercedes-Benz<br />
the C 350 e will provide a combined<br />
cycle fuel usage average<br />
of 1.5-litre per 100km. That is,<br />
of course, at best possible usage<br />
– the readouts were listing<br />
around 7l/100km during my<br />
testing time, which in real-world<br />
terms is about as good as you can<br />
expect on a commute or highway<br />
run. At 100km/h the engine sips<br />
fuel at the rate of 5l/100km.<br />
Under the bonnet sits a fourcylinder<br />
turbocharged engine.<br />
This is much the same unit that<br />
is fitted to the C 200 and C 300,<br />
although the power outputs<br />
are down significantly to the<br />
latter at 150kW against 190kw<br />
and 320Nm against 400Nm.<br />
However, when you have another<br />
95kW and 440Nm from the electric<br />
motor it’s as strong under<br />
the bonnet as it needs to be.<br />
Cleverly, power is directed<br />
through a fairly traditional ninespeed<br />
automatic transmission.<br />
Such are the number of ratios<br />
drive is seamless and smooth,<br />
well the entire driving experience<br />
is smooth, but the point<br />
I’m trying to make as well is<br />
that the C 350 e is little different<br />
to drive than any of its C-Class<br />
stablemates.<br />
The C350 e is stunningly quiet<br />
and civilised and it has impeccable<br />
handling manners. Riding<br />
on high quality 18in Bridgestone<br />
rubber there is a solid footprint<br />
on the road surface that translates<br />
to a very pointy feel at the<br />
steering wheel. Turn-in is precise<br />
and any body movement over<br />
the suspension can be discounted,<br />
at just 1.4m tall gravitational<br />
forces aren’t high.<br />
The evaluation car was<br />
showing an almost 800km<br />
distance to empty (petrol)<br />
when I picked it up. After a long<br />
highway drive of 450km I took<br />
it back to the dealership still<br />
showing 500km to empty. That’s<br />
just an example of how thrifty<br />
the C 350 e is on the highway<br />
and associated commute.<br />
Both a fast charge cable (type<br />
2) and a domestic supply cable<br />
are included, the latter has good<br />
length at 8m, perfect for my<br />
unique charging situation at<br />
home.<br />
Mercedes-Benz is launching<br />
head-first into the realm of electric<br />
vehicle transport, it was just<br />
a few weeks ago I drove the fully<br />
electric EQS, both have impressed<br />
me simply through quality and<br />
the commitment to provide a<br />
natural driving experience, one<br />
that you would find in any new<br />
model from the marque.<br />
• Price – Mercedes-Benz<br />
C 350 e, $111,200<br />
• Dimensions – Length,<br />
4574mm; width, 1876mm;<br />
height, 1664mm<br />
• Configuration – Fourcylinder,<br />
1991cc, 150kW<br />
(+95kW), 320Nm<br />
(+440Nm), nine-speed<br />
automatic<br />
• Performance – 0-100km/<br />
h, 6.1sec<br />
• Fuel usage – 1.5l/100km<br />
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2018 tOYOtA HILUX SR5 D/CAB 4WD<br />
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2011 KIA SPORtAGE AWD<br />
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more, ‘top spec NZ new’.<br />
VERY tIDY $11,995<br />
SALE<br />
2018 ISUZU D-MAX LS D/CAB 4WD<br />
Immaculate example, 3.0 t/dsl, auto, franchise service<br />
history, satnav, towbar, deck liner & more…<br />
1 OWNER $34,995<br />
2016 tOYOtA HILUX EXtRACAB 4WD<br />
NZ new, 2.8 turbo diesel, 6 spd manual, high/low 4wd,<br />
rear difflock, alloy bullbar, 1 owner, service history.<br />
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2002 tOYOtA LANDCRUISER VX<br />
4.2 turbo diesel, auto, 8 seats, spare under, towbar,<br />
factory truck in great condition!<br />
NZ NEW $41,995<br />
2014 SKODA OCtAVIA RS162KW LIFtBACK<br />
NZ new, 2.0 TSi petrol, 6 spd dsg auto, park assist,<br />
satnav, stunning sports sedan!<br />
1 OWNER $22,995 $19,995<br />
2007 HOLDEN RODEO 4WD SPACECAB<br />
3.0 D/Turbo, 5 spd, practical ute with dual side<br />
opening canopy & roof racks, very hard to find!<br />
NZ NEW $15,995<br />
2017 HYUNDAI SANtA-FE ELItE AWD<br />
2.2 CRDi, auto, 9 airbags, esc, rear cam, 7 seats,<br />
leather, satnav, dual zone a/c, towbar & more..<br />
1 OWNER $26,995<br />
2013 SUBARU XV HYBRID AWD<br />
2.0 Petrol hybrid, low 51,500km, auto, leather<br />
upholstery, adaptive cruise control, eyesight<br />
technology, smart key & more…<br />
HYBRID $20,995 $19,995<br />
2012-13 tOYOtA HILUX EXtRA CAB 2WD’S<br />
3 arriving, NZ NEW, 3.0 turbo diesel, 5 spd manual,<br />
alloy flatdeck, towbar, hard to find.<br />
FROM $21,995<br />
2015 tOYOtA DYNA D/CAB 4WD<br />
Very rarely available, 3.0 diesel, 5 speed, full time<br />
4wd, 6 seater, flatdeck, just 11,400km!<br />
LOW LOW KM'S $31,995<br />
2011 tOYOtA HILUX D/CAB 2WD<br />
NZ new, 3.0 turbo diesel, 5 speed manual, hardlid,<br />
deck liner, 18” alloys, nudgebar, nice tidy ute.<br />
GREAt LOOK $22,995 $21,995<br />
113 Sherborne St, Edgeware<br />
Ph (03) 377 8873 www.tcm4wd.co.nz
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