What We Like
Stylish exterior
High-tech, luxurious and comfortable cabin
Lots of torque from the hybrid powertrain
Delivers the full E-Class experience
What We Dislike
Small battery capacity translates to limited all-electric range
Ah, yet another manufacturer getting into the electrification game. To be fair, this isn't the first electrified Mercedes-Benz. Back in 2013, Mercedes-Benz produced the SLS AMG Electric Drive, a limited edition electric version of the SLS AMG.
However, the brand recently launched its EQ electric mobility brand, signalling that it is driving right ahead in the direction of electrification.
The Mercedes-Benz E350e is a plug-in hybrid that augments the comfort and serenity of the regular E-ClassThis car, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Saloon Plug-in Hybrid E350e, is an inevitable development, yet one that has important ramifications moving forward.
The important numbers
Here are the important numbers you need to know - the battery in the E350e has a capacity of 6.2kWh. The listed all-electric range is 33km. The electric motor combines with the turbocharged 2.0-litre engine to produce a combined 282bhp and 550Nm of torque. Charging the battery from 20% to 100% takes 3.5 hours on a domestic socket, or 1.5 hours on a wall box.
Charging the battery to 100% takes 3.5 hours on a domestic socket, or 1.5 hours on a wall boxSo what do these numbers mean? Well, it means that this is a perfectly sensible and familiar E-Class with moderate electrification.
What do we mean? The 6.2kWh battery is relatively small compared to some other manufacturers. The battery in the BMW 530e has a 9.2kWh capacity, while the battery in a Panamera E-Hybrid is rated at 14.1kWh. Even the Volkswagen Golf GTE has a 8.7kWh battery.
In Hybrid mode, the car seamlessly toggles between the electric motor and combustion engineThis translates to modest real-world all-electric driving range. Even driving conservatively, we can only eke out about 21km of all-electric range from the car on a full charge.
And of course, the big question here is efficiency. Mercedes quotes a figure of 40km/L, but that's likely only achievable if you regularly charge the battery and minimise using the combustion engine. Without recharging the battery at all, we spent a day driving the car and returned about 12.3km/L, which isn't too shabby at all.
However, the brand recently launched its EQ electric mobility brand, signalling that it is driving right ahead in the direction of electrification.
The important numbers
Here are the important numbers you need to know - the battery in the E350e has a capacity of 6.2kWh. The listed all-electric range is 33km. The electric motor combines with the turbocharged 2.0-litre engine to produce a combined 282bhp and 550Nm of torque. Charging the battery from 20% to 100% takes 3.5 hours on a domestic socket, or 1.5 hours on a wall box.
What do we mean? The 6.2kWh battery is relatively small compared to some other manufacturers. The battery in the BMW 530e has a 9.2kWh capacity, while the battery in a Panamera E-Hybrid is rated at 14.1kWh. Even the Volkswagen Golf GTE has a 8.7kWh battery.
And of course, the big question here is efficiency. Mercedes quotes a figure of 40km/L, but that's likely only achievable if you regularly charge the battery and minimise using the combustion engine. Without recharging the battery at all, we spent a day driving the car and returned about 12.3km/L, which isn't too shabby at all.
Delivering serenity
So why even bother? Think of it as a way to augment the comfort, utility and serenity of the E-Class. The extra weight in the car does mean that it doesn't feel exactly as nimble as the standard model, but it's still a very comfortable and pliant ride. And of course, there's plenty of torque thanks to the electric motor, so this car is a lot more brisk moving off from a standstill. And yet, when you drive in E-mode, the car is spookily quiet.
The cabin is quiet, comfortable and luxuriousThe rest of the car is a straight up E-Class. The handsome exterior is matched by a high-tech and immaculately put-together cabin, delivering all of the space, comfort and luxury you expect from the executive sedan.
The one exception is the extra button on the centre console that allows you to toggle between four drive modes - Hybrid, E-Mode, E-Save and Charge. Hybrid automatically toggles between using the electric and combustion motors, E-mode is the all-electric mode, E-save maintains charge at a specified level, and Charge uses the petrol engine to charge the battery (even while parked).
The 2.0-litre engine and electric motor produce a combined 282bhp and 550Nm of torque
Looking to the future
The Mercedes E350e is the first in what will likely be a slew of plug-in hybrid models from the brand. The GLE-Class Plug-in Hybrid has already been announced, which promises 100km of electric range. The brand has also already announced its upcoming all-electric EQC sport utility vehicle, with production slated to begin next year.
Expect to see more electrified models like the Mercedes E350e as the brand embraces electrification and a greener futureThis car is the beginning of a wave of change sweeping over the Mercedes brand (and most other brands, too). As a starting point, it certainly points in the right direction. As the brand continues to embrace electrification and its EQ strategy, highlighted by its EQ Concept, a car like the E350e is the start of a long but important process in getting drivers to embrace electrification.
So why even bother? Think of it as a way to augment the comfort, utility and serenity of the E-Class. The extra weight in the car does mean that it doesn't feel exactly as nimble as the standard model, but it's still a very comfortable and pliant ride. And of course, there's plenty of torque thanks to the electric motor, so this car is a lot more brisk moving off from a standstill. And yet, when you drive in E-mode, the car is spookily quiet.
The one exception is the extra button on the centre console that allows you to toggle between four drive modes - Hybrid, E-Mode, E-Save and Charge. Hybrid automatically toggles between using the electric and combustion motors, E-mode is the all-electric mode, E-save maintains charge at a specified level, and Charge uses the petrol engine to charge the battery (even while parked).
Looking to the future
The Mercedes E350e is the first in what will likely be a slew of plug-in hybrid models from the brand. The GLE-Class Plug-in Hybrid has already been announced, which promises 100km of electric range. The brand has also already announced its upcoming all-electric EQC sport utility vehicle, with production slated to begin next year.
