4 keys to the Ebro s400: a new sales champion in sight for under 23,500 euros? These are our first impressions

It has taken Ebro less than a year to fill the streets with its models again. “Made in Spain” and with a historic legacy, it is making headlines. With two large SUVs in its range, such as the s700 and the s800, it was now time to bring something more “daily”, smaller. We go over the 4 keys that will help you get to know the Ebro s400.

Hybrid engine

It is the first in its range, since the s700 and the s800 were sold as pure petrol (C label) or plug-in hybrid (0 label). With this hybrid engine for the s400, the ECO label arrives. It is a 1.5 DHE engine with four cylinders and 95 CV, combined with an electric motor with 204 CV. The result is a car with a maximum power of 211 CV. To be fully honest, in this type of car you never really feel that much power or thrust. It has an automatic gearbox and claims a 0 to 100 km/h time of 8.7 seconds, which is not bad.

In the image we can see that the gear selector lever has been changed (compared with the s700 and s800) for a more refined and simpler one. For me, a total success. In addition, they have included physical buttons to adjust the air conditioning, for example, so that everything is not on the screen.

However, the fact that cars with this type of hybrid engine are recharging at many points during the journey makes them somewhat noisy inside the cabin. And this is not something specific to this brand; it is a general issue that even Toyota, the best-selling brand in our country, suffers from. As a positive point, though, there is consumption, which during my test of just over an hour on secondary roads, villages, etc., came in at 6.2 litres.

Quality

Talking about quality is all very nice. But what is quality? This s400 is not a premium car, but its interior does give that impression. It uses soft materials and few plastics. Depending on the trim, the seats are either fabric or synthetic leather. In addition, the rear seats offer generous space, despite the car being 4.32 metres long. The boot, meanwhile, measures 430 litres (measured to the roof), which in reality would be about 380 litres of usable space, typical for the segment.

But what makes this car stand out from its competitors is the large number of driver assistance systems it offers, specifically 24. Some highlights include: door opening warning, lane departure assist, and front and rear collision alert. In addition, it includes 7 airbags.

Design to appeal to the masses

In a world where innovation prevails and whoever becomes the “crazier” creating something takes the spotlight, Ebro has opted for a discreet and conservative design, at least in my view. It is the way to win over a broader audience, or so the brand believes. However, since this model is smaller, it seeks to attract a younger audience, and for that reason they have incorporated subtle changes compared with the s700 and s800. It has new front lights as well as a black grille, among other things.

It is on this s400 that a new colour in the range has been introduced: Blood Stone red (could that be because they now sponsor “La Roja”?). For me, the most beautiful of all, which joins the existing grey, black and white.

Price

Ebro’s trim levels are simple to understand, so nobody gets lost in the configurator. Just two: the Premium (you could say it is the base) and the Excellence. The price difference between the two is only 1,500 euros, so I would certainly recommend the top of the range, although the Premium is already very well equipped. With commercial and launch discounts, the Ebro s400 HEV could cost 23,490 euros. And certainly, when we look at its rivals, it comes out ahead on price.

But price is not everything if it is not accompanied by warranty and after-sales service. This model comes with 7 years of warranty and 8 years or 150,000 km for the battery. In addition, the Spanish brand already has an extensive sales network of more than 60 dealerships and a parts warehouse that will be located in Azuqueca de Henares to guarantee the rapid arrival of parts throughout the national territory.

Technical specifications of this car

CrossoverEBRO s4002 versions · from 27,490 €