Mercedes E-Class Coupe E300d 2.0 265hp Aln Ned Prm+Au 4 Mtc

Only Mercedes sold a diesel-powered plug-in hybrid powertrain in this century's second and third decades - and only the E-Class offered it in the full-Executive segment, in the form of this E300 de EQ Power model, examined here in the facelifted post-'20-era version of the fifth generation W213-series model. You might have an aversion to diesel engines, and/or plug-in hybrid power. But if you haven't and you're browsing in this segment amongst models from the 2020-2023 period for an efficient, prestigious saloon or estate premium brand PHEV contender, it's hard to escape the conclusion that this one offers something really rather interesting.

The first thing that'll probably strike you with an E300 de EQ Power is how refined it is. Actually, there's virtually no sound at all from start off because, providing there's sufficient charge in the 13.5kWh battery, initial forward motion will always be battery-powered. And providing the lithium-ion cells are fully charged up, it'll stay that way for between 31 to 34 miles, depending on the body style you choose. But it's when the battery charge runs out that the advantages of this model's rather unique diesel installation start to shine through. Every other non-Mercedes plug-in hybrid model on the market reverts to a thirsty petrol engine at this point, tasked with lugging around a substantial PHEV powertrain. And it is substantial; this Merc tips the scales at around 1.9-tonnes as a result. In this case though, combustion power is metered out by a far more frugal 2.0-litre diesel (with 194hp and 400Nm of pulling power, borrowed from the ordinary E220d). When you combine this with an electric motor generating 122hp and 440Nm of torque, the result is not only more frugal economy but a far more impressive slug of pulling power than a petrol PHEV could ever manage; this E300 de makes 62mph from rest in just 5.9s.