Mercedes has moved the game on with its new E-Class executive saloon. We've already driven the firm’s E 220d and were impressed with the quality cabin and the refinement from the new 2.0-litre diesel unit, not to mention the improved efficiency.
However, if you’re looking for the eco champion in the new E-Class range, it’s not the E 220d – on paper, at least, that honour goes to the firm’s new E 350e plug-in hybrid that’ll go on sale in the UK later this year.
Combining the tech inside with an advanced petrol-electric powertrain, the E 350e officially emits just 49g/km, meaning it gets free road tax, is congestion charge exempt and, crucially – due to those emissions, it’s 20-mile all-electric range and the car’s plug-in capability – the E350 e qualifies for the new Category 2 Plug-in Car Grant discount of £2,500. Prices haven’t been released, but expect the car to cost around £41,000 after the government discount.
Under the bonnet is a 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine. Combined with the electric motor it serves up 282bhp and a maximum of 550Nm of torque. That’s a strong figure for an executive saloon, but it’s actually in zero emissions mode where the E-Class is more impressive.
The e-motor whisks you along silently on a wave of torque that’s available instantly. It’s not fast – rather brisk – but it delivers decent performance from 0-30mph. However, you have to be careful how much throttle you use as squeezing the accelerator too far brings the petrol engine into play. Once this cuts in it impacts the quiet cabin as the motor revs noisily to deliver the performance you ask for.
Ask for everything off the line and the E 350e can sprint from 0-62mph in 6.2 seconds, helped by the extra shove from the e motor lower down. However, you’ll quickly use up the energy stored in the battery.
There are four driving modes to choose from, including Hybrid, which intelligently manages both engines and recovers energy on the brakes to recharge the power pack and boost range. E-Save lets you hold onto energy in the battery until you need it most, while E-Mode prioritises electric driving. There’s also an E-Charge setting, which uses the petrol engine to charge the battery – and you’ll need it, as once depleted the E350 e feels sluggish.
Carrying the extra weight of the batteries around dulls the chassis’ reactions, so the E-Class doesn’t turn in or grip as well as its diesel siblings – and the Merc isn’t as sharp to drive as the BMW 5 Series or the Jaguar XF.
But attacking a back road isn’t what the E 350e is about. With standard air suspension it rides well, and if you travel less than 40 miles a day with a plug-in point at your home and your office, say, you might not need to use petrol power all that frequently. But it’s there for when you want to make the most of the car’s cossetting ride quality on a long journey.
Plugging into the mains will charge the battery pack in “around three hours”, according to Mercedes, while the on-board charging system drops to 90 minutes when connected to a wallbox.
Like on the larger S-Class plug-in, the charging socket is located on the back bumper underneath the taillight, but apart from this, the blue brake calipers and a few small badges, it looks identical to the rest of the range from the outside.
Inside, the E-Class’s twin 12.3-inch digital displays also gives the driver a readout on how much range the system has left, as well as data on energy flow and usage.
On top of this tech it’s still eminently practical. While the associated extras as part of the hybrid powertrain marginally eat into the E-Class’s 540-litre boot, there’s still plenty of space for luggage, while interior quality and equipment have moved the exec saloon game on another notch.
Whether low CO2 is important to you for its environmental or financial benefits, the E 350e is an appealing choice. However, your lifestyle has to fit the car’s strengths to maximise what you get from it – but even then it’s a narrow window in which those assets outshine the more affordable and more practical E220 d.
- Price: £39,500 (est)
- Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo petrol plus electric motor
- Power/torque: 282bhp/550Nm
- Transmission: Nine-speed auto, rear-wheel drive
- 0-62mph: 6.2 seconds
- Top speed: 153mph
- Economy/CO2 : 134mpg/49g/km
- On sale: Late 2016