Carshowroom has just spent the day behind the wheel of the impressive Mercedes-Benz E300 Bluetec Hybrid. Mercedes-Benz has delivered a car that delivers green world credentials without comprising on luxury, performance or safety.
The Mercedes-Benz E300 Hybrid is the most fuel efficient large car in Australia. With a fuel consumption figure of 4.3litres per 100kms you could drive from Melbourne to Rockhampton on a single tank, or Melbourne to Sydney return with fuel left over – wow.
The newest Hybrid on the block is powered a 150kW/500Nm 2.2-litre four-cylinder diesel engine and a 20kW/250Nm electric machine for a combined 170kw @ 4200 and 590Nm @ 1800.
Driving the Mercedes-Benz E300 Hybrid for the first time is a little strange, when you fire up the engine you're meet with silence. After selecting Drive from the steering wheel mounted lever and under gentle acceleration (up to 35km/h) you are powered by the lithium-ion battery electric machine (electric machine is the official name) before the 2.2 litre diesel kicks in and the normal aural sensations are restored.
Stomp your right foot to the floor and both the diesel engine and electric machine combine to give phenomenal acceleration launching the E300 Hybrid from 0 to 100km/h in 7.5 seconds the same as the E250 which it is based on.
The Mercedes-Benz E300 Hybrid weighs in 100 kilos heavy than the E250, the weight coming from the battery, electric machine and extra wiring required for a hybrid car. Mercedes-Benz claim that the weight distribution is 60 percent upfront and 40 percent at the rear. The extra weight is only really noticeable when pushing hard through corners.
The lithium-ion battery that powers the electric machine is recharged via RBS – Regenerative Braking System. The system recharges the battery under braking and when the car is sailing mode. Sailing mode is where the car is go down hill or a along a flat road and very little acceleration is need – most other companies call it coasting.
Unlike some other Hybrids on the market the E300 Bluetec Hybrid doesn’t comprise on the interior space. All changes to the car are housed under the bonnet. Everything from the engine bay back is the same as the E250. Buyers still have access to a full size boot and can, can fold the seats down like any non-hybrid car.
There are no gimmicks to be found inside the E300 Bluetec Hybrid. Besides replacing the temperature gauge with a battery gauge the dashboard is the same as found in other E-class's.
Mercedes-Benz E300 Hybrid in't short changed on style and luxury. You'll find a long list of standard features like:
19” Alloy wheels
sports package
LED headlights
active park assist
leather upholstery
Steering Assist
Adaptive Cruise Control
Keyless go
Memory seats front driver and passenger.
auto dim (folding mirrors)
Outside the Mercedes-Benz E300 Hybrid is visually as stunning as the rest of the E-Class range. You wont find any silly looking futuristic cartoon styling here, the only way to tell this is a Hybrid is by name plate on the right hand side of the boot.
Just like the rest of the range the Mercedes-Benz E-class range the E300 Bluetec Hybrid has the three-pointed-star mounted in the large centre-grille. The standard sports pack sets the E-class apart with- side sills, 19-inch alloy wheels, a feature line for the rear three-quarter panels and sports suspension.
Mercedes-Benz say the lithium-ion battery is good for ten years, so this wont affect the current generations of buyers, but we are assuming that the battery wont be cheap to replace.
If you are after a large luxury hybrid car it is almost impossible to look past the E-class. You should all so test the Infiniti M35 comes in just under six figures at $99,900. Lexus also have the GS 450 Hybrid priced at $111,900 uses more fuel and
The real challenger would have to be the BMW ActiveHybrid5 price at $122,900, the BMW has the edge in performance it sprints from 0 to 100km/h in 5.9 seconds but uses over 2 litres per 100kms more in petrol.
With 60 of the 100 Mercedes-Benz E300 Hybrid already sold Mercedes-Benz have once again proved they know their market well.
