MG HS +EV vs Mercedes-Benz C350

What's the difference?

The MG HS +EV Essence is a smart-looking hybrid medium SUV that comes well-stacked with features and has a price point that will make you swoon.

Add the plug-in hybrid engine/motor combination and it’s pitched as a firm competitor against heavyweights like the Ford Escape, Toyota RAV4 and the newer-kid on the block – the Haval H6.

For the top model, it has the goods on paper but how does it perform in real life? I’ve been driving it with my family of three to find out for you.

If you’re picturing the premium mid-size segment in Australia, you’re almost certainly picturing Mercedes-Benz. Honestly, the premium carmaker has the kind of powerful and unquestioning stranglehold on the segment that would have despots and dictators turning green with envy.

The C-Class often outsells its nearest competitor by a factor of two to one. Even more impressive, that nearest competitor is another Mercedes, the CLA. Audi and BMW are left off in the middle distance, duking it out for third and fourth place.

So yes, the C-Class is a very important car for Mercedes. And this new one, updated for 2019, is even more so. It’s the first major update in the current car’s four-year lifespan, with a handful of exterior tweaks, some new key cabin technology and, most importantly, a new and clever engine option for its top-selling version.

So is that enough to keep the C-Class at the top of the mid-size pile?