Mercedes-Benz C400 electric priced for Australia at $105,700, arrives early 2027

Mercedes-Benz will launch an electric version of its C-Class in Australian showrooms early in 2027, priced at $105,700 before on-road costs in a single variant called the C400 4Matic. The electric sedan sits almost exactly halfway between the BMW i3 40 xDrive and 50 xDrive on price, with those rivals listed at $96,900 and $112,900 plus on-roads respectively.

The C400 pairs a 94kWh nickel manganese cobalt battery with a dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain producing 360kW and 800Nm, for a claimed 0-100km/h time of 4.0 seconds. Mercedes-Benz quotes 753km of WLTP range and 16.1kWh/100km energy consumption on the same cycle.

How it compares with the BMW i3

The range figure slots the C400 between its two BMW rivals: the i3 40 xDrive is rated at 566-710km WLTP from an 82.8kWh battery, while the i3 50 xDrive claims 912km from 108.7kWh. On power and torque the Mercedes has the edge, with the i3 40 xDrive making 275kW and 520Nm and the i3 50 xDrive 345kW and 645Nm, and claimed 0-100km/h times of 5.4 and 4.7 seconds.

That matters because the C400 is not the cheapest option in this comparison, nor the longest-legged. Mercedes is pitching it as the middle ground: more performance than the entry i3, a smaller battery and shorter range than the flagship i3, and a price that lands between the two. For buyers weighing a premium electric sedan, the decision comes down to whether they value the extra power and torque over the BMW's larger battery option.

Charging, drivetrain and dimensions

The C-Class electric uses an 800V electrical system, and Mercedes-Benz claims a 10-80 per cent DC fast charge takes 22 minutes. Maximum DC charging power is 330kW and maximum AC charging is 11kW. A two-speed transmission on the rear axle uses second gear at higher speeds to sustain power delivery and aid efficiency.

The car is offered only as a four-door sedan, measuring 4883mm long, 1892mm wide and 1503mm tall on a 2962mm wheelbase. Cargo capacity is 470L in the boot plus 101L under the bonnet.

Warranty and safety status

Mercedes-Benz backs its vehicles with a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, and the battery carries a separate eight-year, 160,000km warranty. Service pricing for the C-Class electric has not been announced.

The car has not yet been assessed by independent safety authorities ANCAP or Euro NCAP. Standard equipment for the Australian-market C400 has also not been announced; the source material lists a 'Standard' heading but provides no details beneath it.

Kia has cut the entry-level EX trim from the Sorento plug-in hybrid line for 2027, pushing the SUV's starting price up by $5,600 to $55,385. The EX started at $49,785 for the 2026 model year.

Every 2027 Sorento PHEV is now the top X-Line SX Prestige trim, which costs $400 more than the equivalent 2026 version and gains a standard head-up display.

What the single remaining trim includes

The X-Line SX Prestige is set apart by 19-inch wheels and Gun Metal trim on the bumpers, door bottoms and grille, with "X-Line" embossed on the front seatbacks and machined wood trim inside. Standard equipment runs to a 360-degree camera system, Highway Driving Assist 2, a leather interior, a microsuede headliner, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel and a panoramic sunroof.

For 2027 the head-up display is new to the standard list, and Kia has swapped the Steel Gray paint option for Pale Gray.

The catch for buyers is that the cheaper route into the plug-in Sorento is gone. Anyone who wants the PHEV now pays for the full feature set whether they want it or not, and the $5,600 jump is mostly a trim decision rather than a price rise on like-for-like equipment.

Powertrain and economy stay put

The 2027 Sorento PHEV carries over a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder paired with an electric motor, producing a combined 261 horsepower through a six-speed automatic to all four wheels.

Kia has not yet published EPA figures for the 2027 model. Car and Driver expects them to match the previous car's 33 mpg combined and 30 miles of electric-only range, but those numbers are an expectation rather than a confirmed rating.

Where the PHEV sits in the Sorento range

The Sorento remains one of the few mid-size SUVs offered with three powertrain choices. Petrol-only and hybrid versions start between $34,085 and $49,485, with the plug-in hybrid at the top of the pricing ladder.

That spread matters for shoppers: the PHEV's new $55,385 entry point sits well above the hybrid's ceiling, so the plug-in only makes sense for buyers who can use its electric range and value the X-Line SX Prestige kit. Kia has not announced any additional PHEV trims for 2027.