The Mercedes-Benz E300 BlueTEC Hybrid.
Before hybrid luxury cars became fashionable, Mercedes-Benz was already an early advocate of green motoring. Take, for instance, the W211 E200 NGT from 2006 – it was the first bi-fuel (CNG and petrol) continental saloon available in Singapore.
Fast forward to 2012. The German automaker has since diverted its attention to advanced hybrid technology for sustainable mobility, and the initial result is the E300 BlueTEC – the world’s first diesel-electric hybrid car in the premium sector.
At the heart of the Mercedes newcomer is the same 2.1-litre 4-cylinder turbo-diesel engine from the E250 CDI that puts out a solid 500Nm of torque, but coupled to the smooth-shifting 7G-Tronic autobox is a small 20kW electric motor churning out an additional 250Nm.
Mercedes-Benz E300 BlueTec Hybrid’s instrument panel looks the same as the one on any regular E-Class model, with the addition of hybrid specific displays that keep the driver in the eco-loop.
The electric motor alone is adequate for gentle starts or traffic jam crawls, allowing zero fuel to be consumed. At higher speeds and over longer distances, the torquey combustion engine will dominate, while delivering the low fuel consumption typical of a diesel. Further increasing the car’s fuel efficiency are Eco start/stop, regenerative-energy braking and even engine-off coasting at speeds below 160km/h.
Mercedes-Benz claims that the E300 BlueTEC Hybrid is the most fuel-efficient (nearly 24 kilometres per litre) and lowest carbon-emitting (109g per kilometre) model in its class.
All that hybrid hardware does add 100kg to the kerb weight, but performance isn’t blunted the slightest thanks to the “dual power” boost. At low to medium speeds, acceleration is brisk and never found wanting. In fact, the car feels livelier than the lighter, petrol-powered E250 CGI.
The Mercedes-Benz E300 BlueTEC Hybrid lets eco-conscious drivers track their consumption here.
Acceleration is eerily quiet when the electric motor is at work. But once the engine cuts in, there is an ever-present diesel thrum. Fortunately, it is a muted note that does not get any louder, even at higher speeds. More annoying is the start-stop shudder whenever the engine is rebooted. This quirk, however, afflicts most cars with such an energy-saving device. In any case, you can deactivate the start-stop function with the press of a button.
The car looks identical to any other in the W212 E-Class range – distinctive and stately, in classic Mercedes fashion. Only the “Hybrid” badging on the boot lid and dashboard centre console sets it apart.
Mercedes-Benz E300 Hybrid’s integral hybrid module helps to dampen some of the vibration from the 2.1-litre inline-4 turbo-diesel.
Driving the car is not too different, either. Expect nothing less than a comfortable ride around town, and rock-stable composure when the roads open up. Sure, it may not set your heart racing, but the current E-Class still sets a benchmark for relaxed cruising.
And so you don’t get lulled off to slumberland, Attention Assist comes as standard. A chime will sound and a symbol of a coffee cup will appear within the speedo dial (between 80 and 180km/h) each time the car detects that you may be dozing off. Other safety options include Lane Tracking (which vibrates the steering gently whenever you veer across white lines), Blind Spot Assist (with visual and audio warnings whenever objects are within your blind spots) and Distronic Plus (which ensures the car never gets within tailgating distance from the vehicle in front).
Cabin materials are of the highest grade and should last well beyond the 10-year validity of that new COE. However, the dash layout looks a little dated and its details are busy – with lots of buttons, switches and read-outs to get familiar with. Next year’s mid-life update should definitely include some form of “housekeeping”.
Mercedes-Benz E300 BlueTEC Hybrid claims it averages up to 4.2 litres of diesel per 100km, or 23.8km per litre.
The interior continues to be one of the roomiest in the segment. Unlike in a Japanese hybrid, there is no sacrifice in boot capacity because the compact lithium-ion battery is tucked away behind the engine. Even more space is available in the estate variant, with its best-in-class 695 litres of cargo room.
During our drive between Stuttgart and Constance, the best fuel consumption achieved by our group of testers was 19.6km per litre. This is some way off the manufacturer’s claimed figure, but it is still impressive by real-world standards.
The E300 Hybrid will see a summer launch in Europe, with the right-hand drive version reaching Singapore early next year – just in time for the LTA’s more diesel-friendly road tax regime and new Carbon Emissions-based Vehicle Scheme. The latter will go some way to offset the inevitably higher cost of the clever E-Class BlueTEC hybrid.
The Mercedes-Benz E300 BlueTEC Hybrid badge.
Mercedes-Benz E300 BlueTEC Hybrid 2.1 (A)
ENGINE 2143cc, 16-valves, inline-4, turbo-diesel hybrid
MAX POWER 204bhp at 4200rpm
MAX TORQUE 500Nm 1600-1800rpm
GEARBOX 7-speed automatic with manual select
0-100KM/H 7.5 seconds
TOP SPEED 242km/h
CONSUMPTION 23.8km/L (combined)
Check out the 2018 Mercedes-Benz E-Class here
