By combining a small 1.3-liter four-banger,
co-developed with Renault-Nissan, with an electric motor and a battery pack,
Mercedes-Benz has created plug-in hybrid versions of the new A-Class Hatch,
Sedan and B-Class.
Nothing to get your heart racing so far, but the
powertrain delivers a total output of 218 PS and 450 Nm of torque. That’s almost hot hatch territory, with the Volkswagen Golf
GTI boasting a 245 PS 2.0-liter TSI.
The A250e, which is its official name, is only 0.3
seconds slower to 100 km/h than the GTI needing 6.6 seconds. Give it
enough space and it will max out at 235 km/h using both the ICE and
electric motor, or 140 km/h in near complete silence. The plug-in
hybrid hatchback and MPV max out at 235 km/h, with the Sedan being 5
km/h quicker. What is basically a hot hatch disguised as an environmentally
friendly car has a total driving range of 68 km, in the WLTP test
cycle, with the 15.6 kWh battery fully charged.
On a good day and given you use the electric motor,
Benz claims that it will burn only 1.5 l/100 km (156.8 mpg US / 188 mpg UK) and
emit 34 g/km of CO2. The combined electrical consumption is 15 kWh/100 km. The
equivalent Sedan and B-Class in the same spec return 1.4 and 1.6 l/100 km
(168-147 mpg US / 201.8-176.6 mpg UK), respectively.
Aside from the addition of the plug port on the
right rear quarter panel and 250e badge on the tailgate, the models blend in
with the rest of the family. The carmaker has also updated the MBUX
infotainment system, giving it new functions, like the ability to search for
nearby charging stations.
