Mercedes-Benz E 300 Bluetec Hybrid

By adding a 20 kW electric motor, the E-Class 250 platform has evolved into a 300 Hybrid. This means that we still have the 204 hp, but working in a different way and with a considerable reduction in polluting emissions, such as CO2 (- 17%). As for consumption and taxes, these are almost always in favor of the hybrid, with which we did 300 kilometers to discover the differences.

The other 300

For the three stages of 100 kilometers each, we hit the road with the E 300 BlueTec Hybrid Avantgarde. At first glance, it may seem paradoxical to combine a hybrid car with the sportiness associated with the Avantgardel. In other words, having the suspension “direct control”, the automatic throttle “speedtronic” or the steering “agility control” may not be in line with the 27 HP electric motor, the catalytic converter, the particle filter and the recirculation of the gases. exhaust, since these elements are essentially intended to make this E-Class more efficient in environmental terms, a chapter in which it obtained the A + rating.
On the other hand, the technology applied here allows you to enjoy a car with almost five meters (4,879 mm), comfort for four adults and consuming little, especially if we take into account that on four 225/55 R 17 tires, it rolls the equivalent to 2,000 kg of tropical fruits.

A model on two fronts

In terms of active safety, the E-Class uses many of the elements of the S-Class

The renewal of the E-Class brought some novelties, such as the two front. On the Elegance, we find the traditional three-pointed star on the hood, while the Avantgarde has the huge star in the center of the grille. In common, some of the active safety systems (of the current S-Class) are now available as standard in the E-Class. The anti-collision system is one of them, associated with the “pre-safe” that acts up to 50 km / h as a preventive system to avoid collisions with pedestrians, also protected by the active hood. In the chapter on passive safety, it is worth highlighting the presence of airbags on the knees of the steering wheel, front, side and curtain for the driver and passenger.
The engine is quieter and its vibrations have been reduced thanks to the application of two dynamic balance shafts and counterweights inside the block.

To reach 300

Driving this hybrid is multifaceted, combining fuel economy with dynamic demands.

As we have already mentioned, we divided our trip into three parts: a first in which we drove in interurban traffic; a second carried out entirely in the city; a third in which we choose the expressways and the motorway to evaluate the E 300.
From the very first trip, we came to the conclusion that this hybrid reflects the many facets of what this car can be. You can drive in Eco mode and give moderate fuel consumption, without losing the dynamic qualities for which the E-Class is known. It is also possible to use the M mode and, using the paddles on the steering wheel, use the seven-speed transmission as manual. However, in this case we do not think it is practical. The paddle shift system is designed for racing, and on the track, with just over half a turn of the wheel, you can turn the wheels up and down. The steering wheel, in this case, is larger (380 mm) than those used in competition and it takes almost three turns to turn the wheels up and down. It may be interesting for some drivers, but in our opinion it is not practical, because it is possible to turn the steering wheel – half a turn is enough – and pressing the tab is not. However, it should be noted that the turning diameter of this E of almost five meters is about 11.5 meters (11.28 m), which is very good, both for driving and for parking maneuvers.

A touch of S

On the third leg, we chose the fastest of the three solutions and went on to discover a car whose steering stiffens as speed increases. The suspension is firm without losing the comfort level we consider good, even when going through a series of tight corners. The good dynamic support of the E Avantgarde is accompanied by a good level of rolling comfort, achieved in the bucket seats. The accelerations and revs are exciting and, using the automatic transmission, we liked the smoothness of the gear and the way to scale this 7G-Tronic, which can be activated manually, via the paddles located behind the steering wheel. So depending on whether you brake or accelerate, the transmission goes into automatic mode.

Eco, S o M

For a car of this weight and dimensions, fuel economy is one of the characteristics indicated

In our opinion, the manual mode is the least interesting, which brings us to the previously mentioned S or the Eco. In this driving mode, however, there is a difference from the E 250 CDI. When decelerating, the conventional consumes 0 (zero) as it happens in the Hybrid but the rotation also goes to 0 (zero) which means that the effect of the engine brake is slightly lost. In dynamic terms, you feel that the car is doing better, without compromising safety or any other sense of stability.
Another option in Eco has to do with driving at low speeds. It is interesting to maneuver. For example, in a garage, it is possible to maneuver with the electric motor and it is curious to maneuver without noise and without any smell, even if it is a class A +.
Regarding the average values, we recorded 5.0 liters of consumption on the first trip, made at an average speed of 57 km / h. In the second, we did 6.9 liters / 100 km at 23km / h reflecting urban traffic, while in the third (with S mode) we did 8.6 liters / 100 km at 81km / h.

What we liked the most

• Rolling comfort
• Driving dynamics in 3 modes
• Fuel savings
• Standard / safety equipment
• Dynamic driving

What we liked the least

• Reduction of the braking effect of the motor
• Manual override position (+/-)

Model / Version: Mercedes-Benz E 300 Bluetec Hybrid Power: 150 kW (204 hp) /4,300 rpm + 20 kW / 1,800 rpm Binário: 500 Nm (49.0 kgm) /1,600-1,800 rpm Consumption Urb: 4.2; Ext-Urb: 4.2; Combined: 4.2 l / 100 km CO2: 109 g / km Average: 6.8 l / 100 km at average of 53.7 km / h

Base Price: € 47,690.61 ISV: € 2,792.40 VAT: € 11,616.99 Ecotax: € 4.80 Documentation: € 900.00 € Turnkey: € 63,004.80 IUC: € 194.30