Mercedes was spotted testing a prototype of its upcoming 2027 C-Class recently. The sports sedan is one of several vehicles the German manufacturer has tested in recent months. Our photographer got some pretty detailed shots of the upcoming vehicle, including the interior, and here’s what they tell us.
The front fascia redesign Mercedes has undertaken with the upcoming C-Class is pretty apparent. The upper grille and lower intake both look distinct from the 2026 model. Mercedes has also incorporated the star motif into its headlights, something we’ve seen on pretty much all upcoming models. Arguably, it’s a little more toned down on the C-Class, with the company sticking to one star per lighting unit.
While the face has indeed been lifted, the rear seems largely unchanged. The camouflage Mercedes has applied could be masking something, but whatever it is will be very subtle. A star-like symbol does appear in the taped-over taillights, too, but that isn’t exactly news. The tail light shape may have changed between the 2026 and 2027 models, but that’s where Mercedes is applying an awful lot of tape to keep things vague.
But we’ve all seen the outside anyway. The big news with this batch of spy shots is all in the interior. For a start, Mercedes has rolled back the steering wheel design and has opted to bring back physical buttons. So if you weren’t a fan of the German Manufacturer’s captive touch interface, then there’s some solid news for you right there.
The biggest omission is the frankly fantastic-looking MBUX superscreen, which is confirmed for a few other upcoming Mercedes vehicles. Instead, you’ll get the same digital instrument cluster and infotainment screen that the 2026 model had.
That does not mean you’ll get the same infotainment system. An upgrade to MB.OS means features like natively integrated Google Maps are now included, alongside a more diverse app landscape. Computing power has also received a boost, so you have AI-assisted voice control and better driver assistance systems.
So is anything changing under the hood of the Mercedes C-Class?
From what we can tell, the 2027 Mercedes C-Class is just a facelift. So you won’t see any significant changes to the powertrain, suspension, or other key components. For the most part, it’s all going to be cosmetic. On the Mercedes-Benz edition, anyway.
That means on standard trims, you’ll still see the same turbocharged, 2-liter, inline-four engine under the hood. However, with the AMG version of the C-Class, you are getting a significant engine upgrade. Speaking to Edmunds earlier in 2026, AMG CEO Michael Schiebe confirmed that the Mercedes-AMG C 63’s four-cylinder hybrid system was making way for a 3-liter turbocharged inline six. Essentially the same one that is currently found in the CLE 53.
The move came after significant pushback regarding the C-class. Though Mercedes’ take on the subject centers on the difficulty of adapting the high-output four-cylinder engine to meet stricter Euro 7 emissions regulations due to come into force soon.
An all-electric Mercedes-AMG C-Class was also spotted in recent weeks. Apparently, it has over 800 horsepower, 800-volt architecture, and some unique looks setting it apart from other EVs.
