It has everything it takes to be a bestseller: EBRO's new urban SUV, the S400 hybrid, now available from 23,500 euros

It was one of the stars of the recent Barcelona Motor Show, when it was officially unveiled to the public. And now it announces the arrival of the entry-level Premium version at a price that makes the EBRO S400 one of the best options among urban SUVs. Because the Spanish brand’s third model, which like the S700 and S800 has “Chinese roots” but is assembled at EBRO’s factory in Zona Franca (Barcelona), stands out not only for its competitive price: the S400 has everything it needs to become EBRO’s best-selling model and one of the category’s top sellers: a competitive price with discounts, a comprehensive equipment list, a powerful hybrid engine, a DGT ECO label, and interior space that extends its range well beyond the city.

Compact size, an appealing design and a well-utilised interior

With a length of 4.32 metres, a height of 1.65 metres and a width of 1.83 metres, the S400 will compete with models such as the Renault Captur, the Peugeot 2008, the Nissan Juke, the Toyota Yaris Cross and the Alfa Romeo Junior. As with its bigger siblings, EBRO has opted for a design that is not flashy but pleasant: the S400 is one of those cars that doesn’t turn heads, but that anyone can like. The standard wheels are 17 inches, and body colours available are black, white and red.

From what we have been able to see -and touch-, the S400 makes very good use of space both for passengers and for luggage, and in this respect it sits in the middle of its category, something we will be able to confirm very soon in the first dynamic test drive. Officially, boot capacity is 430 litres, expandable to 1,155 litres when the rear seats are folded down and the available height up to the roof is used.

The interior design repeats the layout of the S700, with two 12.3-inch screens, one for the instrument cluster and another for the multimedia system, placed one after the other. As standard it offers Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, USB connectivity and voice control. The materials used and the feeling you get when you sit behind the wheel and fiddle with the controls are in line with what EBRO offers in its S700 and S800: quality and good taste, and even a certain “premium” air in the top trim, with bucket seats and Eco Skin upholstery. I like the row of physical buttons on the centre console for managing the climate control without going through the screen.

211 CV hybrid engine and DGT ECO label

The EBRO S400’s propulsion system combines a 1.5-litre petrol engine with Atkinson cycle that produces 80 kW (95 CV) and a electric motor of 150 kW (204), for a total system output of 211 CV. It is more powerful than most of its alternatives at this price. It claims an acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.9 seconds and an average WLTP consumption of 5.5 l/100 km.

The system offers two selectable driving modes, Eco and Sport, and can run in fully electric mode for a few kilometres at low speed, with both motors propelling the vehicle simultaneously, or with the combustion engine working as a generator to supply energy to the electric motor while it drives the wheels. On paper, the balance between power, performance and consumption is favourable. The battery, whose capacity has not been announced, is recharged while driving either by the combustion engine or through the energy recovery system.

From 23,500 euros or 149 euros a month with promotion

The EBRO S400 range has two trim levels, Premium and Excellence. The list price for the S400 Premium is 27,490 euros, and 1,500 euros more for the Excellence, which adds heated, electrically adjustable bucket seats upholstered in Eco Skin, a 540-degree camera, ambient interior lighting and tinted rear windows. The entry-level Premium version comes as standard with dual-zone climate control, parking sensors, a four-speaker audio system, keyless entry, LED headlights and a comprehensive set of driver assistance systems, including adaptive cruise control.

With the promotion in force, EBRO announces the S400 Premium from 23,500 euros, and from 24,890 euros for the Excellence, which with EBRO Flex financing allows a monthly instalment of 149 euros, with a deposit of 9,738 euros. At the end of the contract, you can opt to pay a final instalment of 14,900 euros and keep the car, exchange it for another, or return the vehicle. Like the rest of the range, the S400 comes with a 7-year or 150,000 km warranty. The brand already has 50 dealerships and technical service centres in Spain, and the plan is to reach 80 by the end of this year.

EBRO S400 – Image gallery

Technical specifications of this car

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