Which is more economical: Mercedes GLE 350 e 4Matic or GLE 350 de 4Matic?

German magazine auto motor und sport has tested the Mercedes GLE 350 e 4Matic PHEV SUV and tells us how much it consumes with empty and full battery battery and what real electric range it has. Fuel consumption comparison with Mercedes GLE 350 de 4Matic.

Photo: Auto motor und sport 

Almost 1 year ago, we tested the Mercedes GLE 350 4Matic and managed to achieve a record electric range for a PHEV of 100 km. The consumption in electric mode was 26.5 kWh/100 km. Now, the German auto motor und sport magazine has tested the petrol PHEV version Mercedes GLE 350 e 4Matic which offers the same huge 700 Nm of torque as the diesel PHEV version.

A 211 HP/350 Nm 2-litre petrol engine mated to a 136 HP/440 Nm electric motor delivers a combined 333 HP and 700 Nm. By comparison, the diesel PHEV combines the 194 HP/400 Nm 2-litre diesel engine with the same 136 HP/440 Nm electric motor for a total of 320 HP and 700 Nm.

The PHEV petrol version consumes more in electric mode and does not reach the record electric range of its PHEV diesel sibling which was a surprise. Thus, in electric mode, the consumption recorded by the Mercedes GLE 350 e 4Matic was 29.1 kWh/100 km which corresponds to an electric range of 90 km.

With an empty battery, the consumption of the PHEV petrol version was 10.9 l/100 km compared to 8.9 l/100 km for the PHEV diesel. And this was not a surprise. So, the PHEV diesel is more efficient both with an empty battery and with the full battery.

Although the petrol PHEV is 61 kg lighter (2596 kg vs. 2657 kg) and has 13 more HP (333 HP vs. 320 HP for the diesel PHEV), it is not faster than the diesel PHEV: 0-80/0-100 km/h in 4.8/6.9 seconds vs. 4.7/6.9 seconds for the diesel PHEV.

Like Mercedes GLE 350 de 4matic, the petrol version impresses with its comfortable Airmatic air suspension, available as an option, and its comfortable interior but the steering has not enough feedback.
The turbocharged 2-litre petrol engine works tense, is noisy under load and it begins to show its limits from 3000 rpm upwards. The petrol PHEV is not as economical as the diesel PHEV and the difference of 2 l/100 km is significant. So, the diesel PHEV seems to be a better choice at least from the efficiency point of view.