► CAR drives the W214 Mercedes E-Class hybrid
► PHEV with 71-mile e-range tested in the UK
► An absolutely brilliant long-distance cruiser
Mercedes‑Benz’s E‑Class has always packed tech and luxury, and the PHEV variant is no different. If you want a hybrid that really goes the distance, the E300e delivers. It builds on the strengths of its predecessors while pushing forward tech at quite some pace, putting more pressure on its rivals. Video calls, gaming while parked? Sorted. In‑car tech that even outshines the S‑Class? Oh yes.
Looking for a purely petrol or diesel model? See our conventional E-Class review…
Should you buy a Mercedes-Benz E‑Class plug‑in hybrid? Yes, as it fuses long electric range with relaxed executive‑class cruising and a raft of cutting‑edge tech.
Here’s how we test cars, and why you should trust us.
At a glance
Pros: impressive EV range, top‑tier interior tech, serene long‑distance cruiser
Cons: twitchy throttle, no air suspension in UK spec, raspy four‑cylinder under load
What’s new?
This PHEV is part of Mercedes’s strategy to embed tech leadership deeper into the mid‑range lineup. The latest E‑Class (sixth‑generation W214) debuted in May 2023, bringing a fresh platform and efficient powertrains.
The plug‑in hybrid E300e arrives with tech-rich features – ambient lighting, Dolby Atmos audio, integrated video‑calling, rear‑seat gaming – rivalled only by the very top of Mercedes’s range. It also includes the latest MB.OS operating system and can be had with Mercedes-Benz’ Superscreen – predictably a smaller version of the Hyperscreen that first launched on the EQS electric car.
Since launch, BMW and Audi updated their executive hybrids too, with the BMW 5 Series G60 PHEV offering close competition.
What are the specs?
Underpinning the E300e is Mercedes-Benz’s 2.0-litre petrol engine paired with a 25.4 kWh battery and electric motor. The claimed electric‑only driving range is up to 71 miles WLTP, and real‑world use tends to see it hover around 60 miles in moderate temperatures. Expect lower in British winters, but all electric cars suffer winter driving range issues.
With CCS fast charging up to 55kW, the E‑Class sets itself apart from most PHEVs, although the opposition is catching up. Emissions sit well in the executive segment, and CO2 credits will benefit company‑car buyers.
How does it drive?
Well, let’s talk about the powertrain first. In a likely effort to neuter the usually-savage performance offered by PHEVs in favour of efficiency, the E300e is quick enough. It accelerates reasonably well without the engine turning on, and gives you just the right amount of combined shove if you press the throttle hard enough to wake up the combustion engine.
It’s not exactly accompanied by a charismatic engine noise – the four cylinder sounds raspy and strained – but the performance you get is reasonable enough, and its certainly a useful step up from the regular E200 model, which uses the same 201bhp four-cylinder turbo petrol engine, just without the 127bhp electric motor bolted on.
Refinement inside remains impressive regardless of what speed you’re doing (when the engine’s not at high revs, anyway), meaning the latest E remains an impressive long-distance cruise missile.
Even so, some of the E-Class hybrid’s controls are on the twitchy side. The accelerator, for example, is rather alert for the uninitiated, with small pushes meaning large reactions from the powertrain (even to the point of downshifting a few gears in the combustion engine) or almost wheelspinning the tyres while parking on gravel.
UK buyers shouldn’t worry about the lack of rear-wheel steering availability – we found this twitchy and annoying – but the absence of air suspension is more of a pain. The European examples of the E300e we drove initially felt planted and comfy in a way the steel-sprung variable-rate damping offered to UK customers just can’t match.
However, plug-in hybrid buyers should take solace from the fact that the E300e’s weight (it’s some 400kg heavier than the E200) and rejection of the 15mm lowered suspension offered elsewhere in the UK range do at least manage to deliver a dignified degree of comfort and suppleness that’s sadly absent in the non-PHEV variant. As such it’s generally pleasantly wafty rather than overly floaty and uncontrolled, and rarely troubled too much by poor surfaces.
What about the interior?
You can very much tell this is still at the upper end of Mercedes-Benz’s offerings inside, as the material quality is impressive, with very few low-grade plastics (and, more crucially, much fewer creaks from the panels unlike the previous generation) in obvious places. The door pulls feel solid, and there’s a thunk to the indicators and centre console cubby actions you wouldn’t get in lower models.
Unfortunately, though, some of the E-Class hybrid’s massive list of kit isn’t coming to the UK – namely Airmatic air suspension (which was the only available suspension system on the cars we tested in Austria) or rear-wheel steering (which is reportedly tied to an option pack with… you guessed it, Airmatic suspension). Sigh.
As for the powertrain options, there are two plug-in hybrid variants: the E300e and the E400e. The UK gets the former, which we’ve driven both in Europe and in the UK.
Before you buy
The E-Class E300e plug-in hybrid is offered in Executive and Exclusive Edition trims, and both come generously equipped. From the high-end infotainment detailed above to heated seats and advanced driver assistance systems, you won’t feel short-changed on kit – even in the entry model.
The E300e goes head-to-head with its most obvious rival: the BMW 530e. The BMW also pairs a 2.0-litre petrol engine with plug-in hybrid tech, but its electric-only range (up to 62 miles WLTP) falls slightly short of the Mercedes’ claimed 71 miles. Where the BMW claws back ground is in its handling: it feels lighter on its feet, with more direct steering and a sportier edge when hustled along a back road.
You’ll also want to keep an eye on Audi’s offering. A new Audi A6 Sportback saloon is inbound, and will arrive with a full suite of next-gen PHEV options – but until then, the E-Class still holds the tech crown in this sector.
Verdict
The Mercedes-Benz E300e is a deeply accomplished plug-in hybrid that plays to the E-Class’s traditional strengths: comfort, refinement and a sense of occasion. It doesn’t chase outright performance or enjoyable handling in the way a BMW 530e does, but instead focuses on creating an effortless, luxurious driving experience that makes sense whether you’re city driving in EV mode or piling on the motorway miles.
Add to that the genuinely usable electric range, high-quality cabin materials and a user interface that finally feels intuitive and special, and it’s hard not to be impressed. It’s not flawless – the throttle response can be overly sensitive at low speeds, and UK buyers miss out on the superb Airmatic suspension and rear-wheel steering offered elsewhere.
But these omissions don’t ruin the package. In fact, the steel-sprung setup still rides with surprising aplomb given the E300e’s mass, and refinement remains a strong suit. If your priority is executive-level luxury with genuine zero-emissions commuting capability, this is one of the most complete plug-in hybrids on sale today.