MODEL TESTED: Mercedes E 300 e AMG Line Premium Plus PRICE: £76,610 POWERTRAIN: 2.0-litre 4cyl PHEV, 309bhp
THE E 300 e we’re testing is in high-ranking AMG Line Premium Plus trim. At £76,610, it’s pricier than the BMW, but there are very few options to add to that, although this car’s Driving Assistance Package Plus lifts the cost to £78,305.
Tech highlights
ON paper, these two cars have very similar PHEV powertrains. As with the 530e, the E 300 e uses a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine boosted by a single electric motor to drive the rear wheels.
There are differences in output, though; while the 201bhp petrol engine in the Mercedes makes similar figures to the BMW’s (14bhp and 10Nm more), its 127bhp e-motor is 54bhp down, but compensates with a hefty 440Nm of torque – 190Nm more than in its rival. The combined result is a modest 14bhp power increase over the 5 Series, but 100Nm more torque. That last figure is important, because the 2,190kg Mercedes is 110kg heavier than the BMW.
At 19.5kWh, the usable capacity is pretty much identical to its rival’s, too, and the E 300 e’s gearbox has one extra ratio – nine versus eight. The E-Class comes with adaptive dampers on passive springs, while both test cars were fitted with the same Michelin E Primacy tyres in identical sizes.
Mercedes has pushed for aerodynamic efficiency in the E-Class’s development, and its drag coefficient of 0.23Cd is a match for the BMW’s. Side seals on the bonnet, a smooth underbody including suspension cladding, and retractable door handles that fit flush with the body when the car is moving (or locked) all aid the slippery shape.
SAFETY: The E-Class hasn’t been tested by Euro NCAP yet, but its standard blind-spot and lane-keep systems should help contribute to a high score when the new Mercedes is evaluated.
On road
COMFORT is the E 300 e’s strong point, with excellent ride and refinement at all speeds.
AROUND TOWN: The first thing that strikes you about the E-Class is just how well it rides – even on the huge 20-inch wheels of our test car. It glides over many bumps that cause a little fidget in the BMW, which means that, regardless of speed, the E-Class is the more comfortable car of this pair.
A & B-ROADS: Find a more challenging section of road and the E-Class has a neutral balance, but there’s more roll through the corners than in the 5 Series, less overall grip, and a general feeling that it’s a little less agile. The very fast and light steering
