Mercedes opens orders for the new Mercedes-Benz Clase E 300 de, the diesel hybrid saloon

The controversy surrounding diesel is generating a negative predisposition towards this type of powertrain, but some brands are still willing to bring them to a negligible level of pollution. Mercedes, a company that is clearly showing a committed attitude towards the environment, has wanted to champion this stance with the arrival of the new Mercedes Clase E 300 de. This designation refers to the variant of the German saloon capable of combining a diesel engine with an electric one, a combination that seeks to minimise emissions and offer lower consumption.

Following the recent arrival of the Clase S 560 e, Mercedes has added a second third-generation plug-in hybrid vehicle to its model range. In this way, the star brand shows its clear intention to keep offering more sustainable alternatives to traditional combustion engines, something it also confirms with the new EQ family, headed by the EQC.

This new variant of the Clase E is aimed at customers who still seek a high level of comfort but, at the same time, combined with much lower consumption. To achieve this combination, the engineers at Mercedes have used two powertrains to bring the E 300 de to life: diesel and electric, a combination that is innovative not only within the German house but also in the automotive sector.

The first engine features a four-cylinder mechanical layout with a turbocharging system, and it delivers 194 CV and 400 Nm of torque. This power is complemented by the electric heart, which provides 122 CV and 440 Nm. Once both motors work together, the Clase E 300 de is capable of delivering a total output of 306 CV and 700 Nm of torque, figures sent directly to the rear axle.

In this way, the new Clase E 300 de also offers its customers very sporty performance, reflected in a 0 to 100 km/h acceleration that takes just 5.9 seconds. To manage all this power, the German engineers have turned to the well-known nine-speed automatic gearbox 9G-TRONIC, which aims to balance comfort and driving enjoyment behind the wheel of the new hybrid saloon from Mercedes.

The star brand has also improved its battery capabilities, as it now offers 13.5 kWh compared with the 6.4 kWh of the previous generation. Thanks to the 7.4 kW charger, it will be possible to charge the battery of our Mercedes Clase E 300 de from 10 to 100% in just 1.5 hours, though only via a Wallbox connection. If using a standard power socket, we will need around five hours to reach the battery’s full capacity. Once that level is reached, it will be possible to cover 54 kilometres in electric mode with the Clase E 300 de saloon, a figure that drops to 52 kilometres with the Estate bodywork.

Without a doubt, this new technology is here to stay and will coexist with 100% electric vehicles, a type of powertrain that is establishing itself with increasing force. However, these automotive innovations come at a cost, so the new Mercedes Clase E 300 de will have a starting price of 66,400 euros in our country, a figure that rises to 69,050 euros if the Estate variant is chosen.