Hybrid vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles of the new C-Class are equipped with pre-entry climate control which efficiently increases interior thermal comfort already at departure. Similar to the remote activation of the heating and ventilation systems in conjunction with a conventional drive system, this function activates the rear defrost and the mirror heating in winter. On the plug-in hybrid the high-voltage PTC is activated for auxiliary heating.

In summer the electric refrigerant compressor allows actively cooling the interior and considerably enhancing entry comfort.

Different pre-entry climate control stages are used depending on the degree of hybridisation. In the mild hybrid pre-entry climate control is activated with the key shortly before engine start. On a plug-in hybrid the type of pre-entry climate control is dependent on whether the vehicle is currently being charged. If that is the case, pre-entry climate control can be activated for up to 50 minutes. A plug-in hybrid is also capable of powering the system from the high-voltage battery and continue to operate the climate control system during a stopover.