HYBRID cars have been with us for some time and I have driven plenty of them, but I still find it unnerving to be greeted by an eery silence when I spark up the ignition.

More than once I have found myself reaching for the start button a second time because I thought the car hadn't started - and I was caught out yet again by the new Mercedes C300 BlueTEC Hybrid Sport estate.

Silent starts are becoming increasingly familiar, though, as hybrids catch on with UK motorists and more manufacturers offer them.

The benefits are perfectly illustrated by this impressively slick and smooth load lugger from the Stuttgart-based giant.

Who would have thought a few years ago that we would see estate cars offering well over 70 miles per gallon with emissions low enough to make them exempt from road tax?

That is the case with the C300 hybrid, though - and it has plenty more to offer besides.

Driving this car is a serene experience.

It glides along the road effortlessly, eating up the miles on long journeys while the slick seven-speed automatic transmission goes unobtrusively about its business in town traffic.

At low speeds the hybrid system switches seamlessly between electric and diesel power, Mercedes looking to have really mastered this technology.

The supple suspension keeps the body in good order, with little pitching or rolling in bends while all but the biggest potholes are absorbed without disturbing the comfort of passengers.

And while this isn't the type of car you'll be throwing around winding country lanes it possesses the sort of pace that proves hybrids don't have to be pedestrian.

A combination of the 2.1-litre diesel engine and electric motor plus a much lighter body than the previous C-Class estate, thanks to more aluminium being used in construction, means the C300 will sprint from 0-62mph in a very spritely 6.7 seconds and on to a top speed of 148mph.

And while there is a little noise under sharp acceleration or when it kicks in from electric-only mode, the diesel engine is pretty refined the rest of the time - showing a big improvement on Merc oil-burners of old.

The interior of this fourth-generation C-Class is also a step up in quality and everything you'd expect of a premium-badged German motor.

Admittedly, the Artico upholstery is a man-made leather substitute but it has been widely used by Mercedes for some time and I certainly found it hard to tell the difference. It was comfortable, felt plush and looked classy - as does the rest of the C300 interior.

Of course, whether you're buying bargain basement or high-end, if you're shopping for an estate you expect versatility and practicality and the C300 does well in this department.

The new car is 10 centimetres longer and 4cm wider than its predecessor so there is plenty of space to get comfortable. Leg and headroom in the rear is good even with the optional panoramic glass sunroof (part of the £2,795 Premium Plus package) that this car boasted.

The boot is an accommodating 490 litres, rising to 1,510 with the rear seats folded flat, and has a low load lip as well as an electronic tailgate to make life easy when loading and unloading. There are various hooks and tie-rings to secure your items and the rear seat backs are also split 40/20/40 - offering some real versatility in configuring your loadspace.

In estate form the C300 hybrid is only available in mid-range Sport and range-topping AMG Line spec, with standard equipment also living up to the premium billing.

Kit includes chrome roof rails, a touchpad multimedia system with DAB radio and seven-inch display, a drive mode selector (with eco, comfort, sport, sport+ and individual options), cruise control, heated sports seats in the front, Bluetooth, automatic climate control, two USB ports and an SD card slot.

A comprehensive raft of safety aids includes active park assist, collision prevention assist, electronic stability control and all the usual airbags.