Power and economy? Yes!
So long as you plug it in a lot, the new E-Class PHEV scores on both fronts
This had better be worth it. I’ve shunned the opportunity to drive the E53 AMG, the mild hybrid that sits near the top of the new-look E-Class line-up just below the mildly bonkers E63, in order to drive the new E300 plug-in hybrid. So our first taste of the new E involves a 2.0-litre petrol four, with a battery that shrinks the luggage capacity and a sales spiel that goes big on tax breaks, running costs and silent city running. Hmm. What have I done?
I needn’t have worried. There’s much about the E300e EQ Power to enjoy. Not least its lively acceleration when the petrol engine teams up with the electric motor to bring a combined 315bhp and 516lb ft of torque, allowing a 0-62mph time of 5.7 seconds in the case of the rear-drive saloon, the only version of the E300e sold in the UK. (The diesel plug-in hybrid comes as a saloon and estate, but we don’t get either version in the all-wheel-drive form available elsewhere.)
Of course you only get the full whack if you’ve actually got any juice in the 13.5kWh battery. If you’re relying on the petrol four alone, you’re down to a rather more modest 208bhp and 258lb ft. And you can forget all about the ocial fuel consumption figure of around 170mpg (which assumes a lot of battery use).
Charging by a wallbox should take 90 minutes to get from 10 per cent to full charge, or five hours via a domestic socket. What you don’t get is the last PHEV’s ability to charge on the go from empty, as that’s ruinous to the figures. The new model requires a healthy battery level before it will start replenishing e-power. Running with just its petrol engine, it will reach the same 155mph top speed as it would with battery help, but driven like that we were getting no better than 24mpg. So owning this car only makes sense if you’re sure of getting access to a suitable charger whenever you need it. If you do have sucient charge, you can run on battery only for a WLTP-certified 28 miles. We clocked up a useful 25 miles in town.
The Charge and Save modes will let you maintain the level of battery charge, if you’re keen to
PRICE POWERTRAIN
No, not the new S; latest E is classy and techy
do some clean running later in your journey. In Eco and Comfort, data from the sat-nav, radar sensors and cameras can be processed to help the car do your eco-thinking for you, planning ahead and acting accordingly. And if you opt for the £1695 Driving Assistance Plus package, you get a level of nannying that initially goes against the grain of a switched-on driver. But over time, you come to appreciate the way it keeps a safe distance, lifts off just in time and deals with stop-start trac. Coasting and recuperation work in flawless tandem.
Hit Sport, and it switches from relaxed to active, keen and ready to play. And so long as you’ve not neglected your charging, the electric motor’s vast torque contribution – 325lb ft, versus 258lb ft from the petrol engine – can make for some glorious overtakes.
But you won’t mistake this PHEV for an AMG hottie. Like most Benzes, it leads its class in terms of ride comfort, refinement and amenities. The main source of acoustic intrusion is not the engine but wind- and tyre noise. And you certainly wouldn’t say that about an E63.
First verdict
The E is a great car in many ways, but you’d need to be sure a PHEV would fit into your life before you opted for this version #### # 13.5kW battery, 1991cc four-cyl plus e-motor, PHEV, nine-speed auto, rear-wheel drive
PERFORMANCE
315bhp @ 4500rpm, 516lb ft @ 1600rpm, 5.7sec 0-62mph, 155mph
WEIGHT
1990kg
THE FIRST HOUR
1 minute