Mercedes is a brand on an electrification mission. Just about every model on its lineup is being offered with a plug-in hybrid drivetrain or is on the list to get one. From Classes A through C, E&S right through to the GLC and the GLE SUVS, there is a hybrid Mercedes for everyone.
The Chrome star has been a symbol of quality and luxury for over 100 years. Unveiling several cars under one roof shows that the company is still a big player in the automotive industry.
Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 de 4MATIC
Starting the list with an all-new Mercedes GLC 300 de 4MATIC. The car is a diesel-electric plug-in hybrid. The GLC 300 is a hybrid that comes equipped with a 2-liter inline 4-cylinder 9-speed tronic automatic engine which gives it 255 horsepower and that is possible because of the turbocharged engine. It has got a pretty quick 9-speed automatic shift which you might not even notice.
The Mercedes is a midsize SUV that is in between a GLA and a GLE not to forget there is a GLB in the market as well. In terms of space, since it is an in-between SUV, you can not expect more space in the interior as is the case with the GLE. The turbo lag is well masked and with the presence of a reasonably large turbocharger. You get more thrust on the highways.
The brakes are quite good on this model. The car goes from 0 to 100 kilometers in 6.1 seconds, with a top speed of 230 kilometers per hour. The fuel tank has a capacity of 50 liters. It has a combined fuel economy of 1.8 liters per 100 kilometers. The GLC 300 comes back with a 13 kWh battery, which on a full charge goes for 43 kilometers.
It takes approximately one and a half hours for the car to fully charge on fast charging compared to around five hours on slow charging. The car’s carbon footprint is around 46 grams per kilometer.
However, being a midsize SUV the rear passenger legroom is a slightly tight fit but the head space is sufficient.
Mercedes-Benz C 300 e
A new protagonist like this, the Mercedes C 300 e is big news, especially when it moves the goalposts as much as it does. It is a plug-in hybrid and it has a pure electric range of 62 miles.
That is nearly twice what you got in the old C-class plug-in hybrid. The carbon footprint of the car is around 14 grams per kilometer. Not only that, but it also has a rapid charging of 50 kW, quite interesting, a plug-in hybrid with rapid charging. It is no surprise that the car will be a pure electric car for a lot longer than virtually any other plug-in hybrid you can buy, and then you still get the two-liter turbocharged petrol engines back up when the 25.4kW battery has been depleted.
The c 300 e falls under the AMG line, meaning it comes equipped with entry-level AMG line configurations. For the premium and premium plus models there is a slight improvement in style. There are added features like an augmented head display, glass roof, and semi-autonomous drive mode.
You also get a full charge in half an hour from any CCS-compatible rapid charger or a full charge at home will take some 3 1/2 hours.
Getting into the car, you are met with a combination of top-notch materials. The sense of precision in the interior is the best out there, and it’s hard to fault the comfort and technology offered, which includes the lovely seats. The focal point of the car interior design falls on the massive touchscreen on the driver’s side. The system is equipped with the latest technology from the S class. Something more to geek about is the navigation system put in place. It allows the driver to track available charging stations nearby.
Mercedes-Benz EQB 300 4MATIC
Here is a familiar compact crossover for the past few years with a shape that has an upward kick near the D pillar slightly similar to the GLB but the EBQ runs on electrons. It is a pure electric vehicle. Other than the badges at the rear end, the big giveaway is the front of the car.
The front of the car is designed with slightly less airflow. Another telltale sign is the strip of lighting at both the front and the rear. Those glowing horizontal strips give the electric version a more planted look. The wheels get better aerodynamics too. In total, the coefficient of drag drops to .28. Pretty good for an SUV.
The EQB is EPA-rated at 243 miles. It also boasts a maximum charge rate, and that is 100 kilowatts. Interestingly, the Mercedes GLC is an inch longer than the EQB.EQB is strictly dual motor 4MATIC all-wheel drive.
It has a total thrust of 225 horsepower and 288 pound-feet of torque. Unlike the big EQS, the washer filler is topped off in the normal way. The 70.7 kWh liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery pack with 66.5 usable throughout the floor and interior. It is not a flat skateboard architecture.
The EQB 300 sprints to 60 miles an hour in about 7 seconds, if you go for the EQB 350, it shaves about a second off that time. But the 350 is more expensive and takes about 16 miles off the range. While the EQB300 acceleration numbers are about the same as the gas-powered GLB 250, this electric car is more satisfying.
Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 e
The GLA 250 e is among the small SUVs in the range that has got plug-in treatment. The plug-in hybrid GLA is aimed squarely at other small premium SUVs with similar petrol-electric power including the BMW X1 XDrive 25 E and Volvo XC40 Recharge. And just like its petrol and diesel engine siblings, the new hybrid GLA Sports are much more modern look than the car it replaced.
Featuring styling in line with the latest A Plus. It looks more car-like than the Volvo and just as slick as the BMW. Under the bonnet, you’ll find the same 1.3-liter petrol engine and electric motor combo that is in the great A-class plug-in hybrid pushing out to a healthy 215 horsepower. There is an 8-speed junk clutch, automatic gearbox, and the fuel tankers being moved to free up space under the boot for the 15.6 kWh battery.
Mercedes reckons you get 37 miles of pure electric running from that. If you run the batteries dry and let the hybrid system take charge, you could expect to get something more like 40 to 45 miles per gallon.
When it comes to charging, you have to ensure that your batteries are fully charged at all times to get the most out of the GLA 250 e. If you have a wall box at home, full charge will take less than 2 hours, while the three-pin socket will take up to 5 hours. The upside to that is that you will not have to use any fuel at all, when going for short trips, making the GLA a good option for city dwellers. The GLA is pretty competitive in its class with a quoted 37-mile range on its plug-in.
It is not enough these days to make a small, desirable plug-in SUV that is stylish and efficient, it also has to be good to drive too. And the first thing you notice about the way the GLA drives is the impressive integration of its drivetrain. It does a good job of relying on electric power until the petrol engine is needed. It cruises along silently up to about 80-81 mph. Mercedes claims 0 to 62 mph in 7.1 seconds acceleration as a result of the great torque that has been incorporated in the small SUV.
Mercedes-Benz EQE 350
Mercedes’s electric expansion continues with the EQE model. The EQE comes in three variants. All EQEs use the same 90 kWh battery pack. The 300 has a single electric motor at the rear, whereas the 350 adds another one at the front 4 wheel drive. The additional motor adds a kick in the car’s acceleration attaining 0 to 100 kilometers per hour in 6.3 seconds.
Probably more importantly the claimed maximum range is an impressive 462 kilometers using the more stringent WLTP regulations. Mercedes doesn’t claim any specific charging times, but it’s the usual deal now. Five or six hours at an AC wall box at home or around an hour to top up using a DC charger, and around 30 minutes if using a DC fast charger.
Its shape allows for a coefficient of drag of about .22, which is an extremely low number, and allows it to slip through the air.
Another fun fact is that the body shell is made from 100% recycled steel, which helps its eco credentials. Lastly, the 300 and the 350 look identical except for the 350 has a slightly bigger rear spoiler and the badge on the back.
In the interior, it is still a similar story. The 300 and 350 look identical and come loaded with equipment. Everything is standard from the head-up display, big screens, panoramic sunroof, Burmester, stereo, and heated sports seats.
Mercedes expects the 350 to be the volume seller because of the extra power and the all-wheel drive. For an EQE the 350 feels lighter and smooth on the road while offering agility and a great range.
Mercedes-Benz EQS 580 4MATIC
The EQS 580 is the first dedicated electric vehicle from the brand. Designed from the ground up to be an EV. Think of it as a fully electric S class built using carbon-neutral manufacturing. This is a Mercedes-Benz and when it comes to pricing it leans on the expensive side, but the EQS well put together getting your hands on it is a bargain.
Starting with the interior, you are bombarded with the hyperscreen. Mercedes calls it a 56-incher. Then there is the ambient lighting that looks great anytime at night. The colors can be changed to suit your preference
The 4MATIC badge means the EQS 580 is a dual-motor EV with all wheels driven. Like nearly all EVs, it’s a skateboard platform. This one has a 400 Volt architecture. It acts as an underpinning for most Mercedes electrics like the EQS SUV and EQE. The lithium-ion pack with low cobalt cathodes delivers 108kWh of energy. The total power from the two motors is 516 horsepower and 631 pd-ft of torque. This is moving 5888 pounds.
Mercedes-Benz S 580 e
The Mercedes-Benz S 580 e is set out to be the most powerful S class outside of the AMG models. However, the regular S580 and the S580 e are quite similar in look. The regular S 580. comes with a four-liter turbocharged V8 engine with a 48-volt mild hybrid system.
However, the S 580 e uses the turbo 3 liter 6 cylinder engine similar to the S500. This 6-cylinder engine is paired with a 21.5 kWh battery pack and an electric motor for a total system output of 510 horsepower and 553 pd-ft of torque. To give you some context, the V8 580 puts out 496 horsepower and 516 pd-ft of torque. The new plug-in hybrid produces more power than the V8 S class, but the V8 model does 0 to 60 in 4.4 seconds. With the plug-in hybrid, there is a slight drag making a fall at around 5.1.
Mercedes has assured that the S 580 e is more agile thanks to the electric motor’s instantly available peak torque of 369 pd-ft. This feature adds an advantage to the car in executing day-to-day driving. In addition, the S 580 e makes use of the E active body control air suspension. This prevents the sedan’s weight from shifting around. It controls the mass and the body lean.
Mercedes-Benz E 400 e 4MATIC Hybrid
Unveiling a new iteration of the beloved Mercedes-Benz E Class in April of this year was an exciting moment for automotive enthusiasts. Marking the 10th generation of this iconic vehicle, the W 214 Generation E Class flaunted a three-box sedan silhouette, boasting larger dimensions that greatly enhanced its interior accommodation.
Among the noticeable improvements in the new model was the expansion of luggage capacity, now offering a generous 540 liters of space. Additionally, the wheelbase grew by 20 millimeters compared to its W 213 generation predecessor, measuring an impressive 2961 millimeters in total. Recently, Mercedes-Benz treated the public with new images showcasing the E400 e in various variants.
The range of offerings includes 2 mild hybrids. Both powertrain types are represented by 1 diesel and one petrol variant. One is equipped with a 1993 CC inline 4-cylinder turbo diesel engine capable of producing 197 horsepower and 440 Newton meters of torque. This model powers the rear wheels while Europe also enjoys a 4 MATIC. version and can accelerate from zero to 100 kilometers per hour in just 7.6 seconds, achieving a top speed of 238 kilometers per hour.
On the other hand, the petrol mild hybrid unit showcased by the E 400 4MATIC packs a 6-cylinder petrol engine that delivers 381 horsepower along with 500 Newton meters of torque. The power is distributed to all four wheels, enabling the E 400 4MATIC to reach zero to 100 kilometers per hour in an impressive 4.5 seconds with a top speed of 250 kilometers per hour. One of the highlights of the interior is the active ambient lighting, a feature that coordinates lighting sequences with the music played through the audio system.
