EBRO S400 test drive: a surprisingly solid SUV, hybrid, affordable and with room for the whole family

Óscar Sanz 17 November 2025 6 min.

EBRO S400 test drive: a surprisingly solid SUV, hybrid, affordable and with room for the whole family

We get behind the wheel of the first hybrid model from the reborn EBRO brand, which drives effortlessly, uses less fuel than most and comes loaded with standard technology

EBRO’s rebirth is no longer an industrial footnote or a sentimental memory. It is a real project taking shape on the street, in dealerships and at the former Nissan factory in Zona Franca, which is filling with activity again after years of silence. After the S700 and S800 —both available with plug-in hybrid technology— comes the key model for the general public: the EBRO S400 HEV, a compact SUV that relies solely on full hybrid technology and aims to become one of the most relevant cars on the Spanish market in the coming months.

For decades EBRO was a familiar name on our roads, associated with robust and reliable commercial vehicles. The brand disappeared in the 1980s, but its return is no simple nostalgic exercise. There is a solid infrastructure behind it, a first-class technology alliance, a distribution network that already exceeds sixty points of sale, and a very clear vision: to offer modern, efficient and accessible cars, manufactured in Spain and aimed at the mainstream market. The S400 is the first step of this plan.

The S400 measures 4.32 metres, sitting on that interesting border between large B-SUVs and compact C-SUVs. That position lets it offer a presence greater than an urban SUV without ballooning in size. Its design conveys solidity at first glance, with a high, bold front end, a clean and well-proportioned silhouette and a very contemporary rear dominated by a horizontal light bar. It is not a car that seeks attention through extravagance, but one that convinces through balance and good execution, and it achieves this with skill.

Technology, space and surprisingly mature execution

The moment you step inside, the S400 breaks one of the usual expectations for cars from revived brands: its interior does not feel like an early-stage project, but like a mature product. The two 12.3-inch screens, with good resolution and modern graphics, dominate the dashboard. The digital instrument cluster is clear and the central screen responds with ease. Wireless Apple CarPlay compatibility, the voice assistant and the dual-zone climate control provide a level of technology that puts it on a par with — and sometimes above — more expensive models.

Ergonomics are well resolved, with physical controls for the climate system that make it easy to use without taking your eyes off the road. The driving position is comfortable and visibility is good. The materials combine soft-touch surfaces where they matter most with reasonably good-quality plastics in secondary areas, all well fitted. In the Excellence trim, the level of refinement rises several notches, with Eco Skin upholstery, ambient lighting, heated electric seats and a 540º camera with panoramic view, one of the best on the market in terms of fluidity and quality.

But perhaps the greatest argument of the interior lies behind: the rear seats are surprisingly spacious for an SUV of this size, with legroom that rivals models in the segment above. The sense of openness and space is clear, both for adults and for child seats. The boot, with 430 litres, offers a more than adequate volume for family trips and is used well thanks to its regular shape.

The S400 also stands out for including as standard a driver-assistance package that is genuinely comprehensive and has everything necessary. It features lane keeping and centring, adaptive cruise control, driver monitoring, automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot detection, traffic jam assist and a long list of functions that make it a modern and well-protected car. The integration of these systems is coherent and unobtrusive, which adds to the overall sense of solidity.

A hybrid designed to work effortlessly

Mechanically, the S400 uses a hybrid system made up of a 1.5 four-cylinder petrol engine and a 150 kW electric motor, which together produce 211 CV. The highly efficient DHT transmission ensures the car moves smoothly both in town and on the open road. The system switches between pure electric driving, series hybrid mode and parallel hybrid mode depending on battery charge and power demand, and it does so without abruptness — apart from the sound.

In daily driving, the S400 feels especially comfortable in urban environments, where the electric motor takes centre stage and smoothness becomes one of its most distinctive and notable traits. On the motorway, it offers enough power to overtake safely and maintain cruising speeds effortlessly. Consumption is one of its strong points: it is easy to stay between 5 and 6 litres per 100 km on the road, figures that place it among the most efficient hybrids in the segment, since in town it can drop below 5 L/100 km.

Feel and dynamics

After driving through town, secondary roads and mountain areas, it is clear that the S400 prioritises comfort and ease. It is a friendly car that requires no adaptation whatsoever and conveys a relaxed driving experience. The steering could offer more precision and feel, and the rear suspension tends to feel somewhat firm when the tarmac is badly deteriorated, although in most situations it maintains an adequate level of comfort.

Behind the wheel, the S400 presents itself as a hybrid that is simple, economical and reasonably well equipped. Its driving position is slightly elevated, as in a classic SUV, but the steering has been criticised for feeling rather uncommunicative or somewhat imprecise.

What shines:
- Restrained, efficient consumption (“economical”) thanks to its hybrid layout.
- DGT ECO environmental label, which brings advantages in town.
- Very complete standard equipment even in the base version: multimedia screen, climate control, wireless Apple CarPlay, 24 ADAS features, etc.
- 7-year vehicle warranty, which gives buyers peace of mind regarding the hybrid system.
What falls short:
- The automatic gearbox and the combustion engine generate considerable noise when we ask for more power, especially when accelerating under combustion power.
- The vague steering does not offer a good sense of connection with the road.
- Although it is efficient, its approach is not sporty: it is not an agile car on tight bends.

Compared with other affordable hybrid SUVs, the S400 stands out for offering a very balanced package for its price, high combined power, good equipment and low consumption. It is a more interesting alternative than other models at a similar price that lack a hybrid system and therefore do not qualify for the ECO label.