Mercedes pulled the covers off its first-ever electric C-Class sedan back in April, but so far we’ve only seen one flavor. That was the C 400 4Matic electric, a bi-motor, all-wheel-drive version of the compact luxury car. Now it’s joined by a more affordable C 300, but the specs are so close it feels like one of those cars is pointless. But which one?

First, let’s quickly recap the C 400 specs. It makes 482 hp (490 PS / 360 kW), gets to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 4.0 seconds, can charge at 330 kW, and claims a 473-mile (762 km) range from a 94 kWh (usable) battery.

Related: The Mercedes-AMG CLE 646 Will Demolish An M4, But You Can’t Buy One

Now the C 300. You still get two electric motors and all-wheel drive, plus the same 590 lb-ft (800 Nm) of torque. But output falls to 416 hp (422 PS / 310 kW) and the 62 mph trip takes 4.5 seconds, so half a second longer. That’s still plenty of power and performance though, and even the range holds its own, despite a drop in battery capacity to 85 kWh.

180 Miles Added In A Bathroom Break

Mercedes says it’ll manage 429 miles (690 km), and while the max charge rate is slightly slower, from 330 to 320 kW, the C 300’s ability to add 180 miles (290 km) of range in 10 minutes isn’t that far off the 202 miles (325 km) the C 400 gains in the same time.

If you want that plush air-spring ride, a passenger-side screen, and more than 18 inches of wheel, you’ll have to hit the options list in both cars, so there’s no big difference in spec that we can see. But in Germany, where C-Class electric prices have been announced, the C 300’s €62,951 ($72,700) sticker saves you €4,760 ($5,500) versus going for the €67,711 ($78,200) C 400. In the US, the C 400 is expected to cost around $65,000.

Worth The Premium?

The C 400 pulls rank in every key area, but to be honest, we’re surprised how close the C 300 gets. It’s still brisk, still has a really usable electric range, and also the security of all-wheel drive. For plenty of buyers who can look past the kudos of the C 400’s badge, the C 300 looks like the better value option.

But that’s not the end of the C-Class electric story. Mercedes says even more affordable single-motor, rear-wheel-drive cars will follow, and at the other end of the spectrum, AMG is working on a tri-motor rival for BMW’s electric M3 with at least 671 hp (680 PS / 500 kW). Which would you pick – C 300 or C 400?

Mercedes

Another electric AMG is creeping closer to production, and this time it’s literally raised its game. Fresh spy shots of the upcoming AMG C-Class EV have caught its pop-up rear spoiler deployed, giving us another clue about the car Mercedes hopes will keep the electric BMW M3 honest.

The regular electric C-Class debuted in April, but AMG’s version is still undergoing development ahead of an expected 2027 launch. Curiously, this latest prototype is actually more disguised than the one we saw in June, with additional camouflage obscuring the taillights and lower doors, suggesting its an older test car. But at least it forgot to hide the interesting bit.

Related: 2027 Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 EV Debuts With 3 Motors, 671 HP And A Vibrator

SH Proshots

Rising from the trunk lid is the active rear spoiler we’d previously suspected was lurking there. Sources say the AMG will use active aerodynamic hardware to genuinely key the fat tires into the road surface, so the wing isn’t simply an elaborate way of telling everyone you bought the expensive C-Class.

Elsewhere, this prototype wears different wheels from the last one we spied, while the production car is expected to get a more aggressive AMG body kit. Underneath, Mercedes is reportedly developing modified air suspension and rear-wheel steering, with AMG promising an “authentic experience” covering performance, handling and even sound.

Can fake sounds be authentic? The recently revealed electric CLA 45 uses synthesized combustion noises, simulated gearshifts and even active seat shakers to replace some of the sensations EVs normally delete. So we expect similar features in the electric AMG C-Class, and plenty of power to go with them.

778 HP Rumored

SH Proshots

Mercedes hasn’t confirmed the specs of the AMG C-Class, but between what we already know about the CLA 45 and the C400 4MATIC Electric, and rumors coming out of Affalterbach, a Yasa tri-motor setup producing around 778 hp (789 PS / 580 kW) seems likely.

The hot C-Class will need serious muscle simply to outrank the CLA 45, which already produces up to 671 hp (680 PS / 500 kW) from its own three-motor powertrain. The standard C400 4MATIC Electric, meanwhile, has two motors and makes a more modest 482 hp (490 PS / 360 kW). The C400 also supports DC charging at up to 330 kW and can travel up to 473 miles (762 km) on a charge, though the AMG C-Class won’t match those figures if it retains the C400’s 94 kWh battery.

Ultimately, though, AMG’s biggest challenge won’t be beating its little brother. BMW is preparing its first electric M3, meaning two of Germany’s defining performance sedans are heading into the battery era at roughly the same time.

SH Proshots