Mercedes E-Class Hybrid Review

Electrifying.com score

8/10

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Want a diesel PHEV? Then the E-Class is the only one on sale. There’s a petrol version too, and both are posh, plush and pretty impressive.


  • Battery size: 13.5 kWh
  • Company car tax: 11%
  • Emissions: 41-46 g/km
  • Range: 31-34 miles
  • Fuel economy: 134.5 MPG
  • Battery size: 13.5 kWh
  • Company car tax: 11%
  • Emissions: 41-46 g/km
  • Range: 31-34 miles
  • Fuel economy: 134.5 MPG
  • Mercedes E320
  • White Mercedes E300de right side parked

Ginny Says

“A diesel hybrid seems like a weird combination but it actually makes a lot of sense for drivers who want the ultimate economy. But I'd choose the petrol just for the refinement and future-proofing. I'd have the estate too, for better resale values and practicality.”

Nicki Says

“In reality, this car is all about the tax for company car drivers. It's super efficient if you remember to plug it in, but the benefit-in-kind is 11%. That's better than many cars, but there are other PHEVs which will be even cheaper.”

A flap in the rear bumper opens to reveal a Type 2 connection, which means you can charge at home and at a public charger but you can’t rapid charge it.

  • Range:31-34 miles
  • Battery:13.5kWh
  • Charging time: 3-pin - 4-5 hours
  • Home wallbox (7kW):1h 45m
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Range

There are small differences in electric-only range between the petrol E300e and diesel 300de Saloons and the E300de Estate, but broadly speaking you should get between 30 and 34 miles of pure electric running from the 13.5kWh battery pack. For the diesel that’s class-leading as there’s nothing similar on the market, while for the petrol that type of range is about the same you’d get from a BMW 530e or a Volvo S90 Recharge T8. Switching into Eco mode can really improve the range too, as the car takes into account sat-nav data and speed limits to adjust the brake regeneration, helping to claw back some electric range.

Battery

Both the E300e petrol and the diesel E300de carry 13.5kWh battery packs. This is slightly larger than the batteries in the BMW 530 and the Volvo S90 Recharge T8, and it gives a healthy 30 to 34 miles of pure electric range. Unfortunately, it’s clear to see the Mercedes E-Class platform wasn’t designed to neatly carry the battery pack as it sits behind the rear seats. That means it encroaches into the boot and reduces the space quite considerably – something that rivals are able to solve. And it doesn’t matter if you go for the Saloon or the Estate as both have the same problem. 

Charging 

You’ll find the charging port in the rear bumper of both the E300e and the E300de, which means you’ll have to reverse into parking bays when charging. Flick it open and you’ll find a Type 2 socket and, just like the BMW 530e and the Volvo S90 Recharge T8, there’s no CCS connector so you can’t rapid charge it. Generously, Mercedes gives you two eight-metre charging cables – one with a three-pin plug, the other for use with a wallbox home-charger or a public charger. Charging via a three-pin socket takes between four and five hours while a top-up from a 7.4kW home wallbox or public charger takes 1hr 45 minutes.   

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