Our writer, Lee Pang Seng, drove and wrote about the Mercedes-Benz E 350 e plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) recently. His take on the Stuttgart sedan is here. George Wong also had a go in the E 350 e on a separate occasion. Below are his thoughts on the subject matter.
With Euro NCAP declaring the Mercedes-Benz E-Class the safest car in 2024, this comes as reassuring news that buffs up the appeal of the W214 model going into the new year.
It’s an executive luxury ride that gets even better with time, tapping into the available technologies of the day to stay in touch with the needs of the market.
At a little over RM400,000, the latest Mercedes-Benz E 350 e AMG Line PHEV brings together luxury, performance and efficiency in a refined package.
Locally assembled, this plug-in hybrid offers a mix of electric driving and traditional power.
Powering the car is a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine that works alongside a 25.4kWh lithium-ion battery, delivering smooth acceleration and an all-electric range of up to 118 km (WLTP).
You get five driving modes to play with – Electric, Hybrid, Battery Hold, Sport, and Individual – each catering to different driving needs.
The steering is light and precise, making it easy to maneouvre in various driving conditions.
In Sport mode, the E 350 e delivers effortless power — minus the crackle of a full blown AMG — but with technical precision and plenty of reserves for high-speed cruising.
Ride quality is high befitting a luxury executive sedan in this class, with steel-sprung Agility Control suspension tuned to effectively absorb road imperfections.
Charging is straightforward. A Type 2 portable car charger with a 3-pin plug is included. As tested, home charging to full level took about 14.5 hours – slow but appropriate if you are not in a rush to go anywhere.
The E 350 e is one of the few PHEVs that can do DC fast charging.
It supports up to 55kW charging, enabling the battery to be topped up from 10%-80% in just 20 minutes.
The 20-inch Michelin tyres fill the wheel arches nicely, complementing the E 350 e’s stately presence.
Inside, the cabin exudes comfort with AMG Line touches such as studded aluminum pedals and dark leather seats.
Noise insulation is excellent even at high speeds as one would expect of a luxury carriage.
Its tech-laden cabin features a digital driver display and a widescreen infotainment panel extending to the front passenger while supporting YouTube, web browsing, and Zoom calls via a dash-mounted camera.
The MBUX system is now smarter, responding to natural voice commands without the need for “Hey Mercedes.”
Dig into the centre screen and discover the new “Routines” feature that is actually quite useful as it automates tasks based on location, such as pre-setting climate control, searching for parking or winding down the window automatically when reaching a particular toll point.
The advanced Parking Assist system works flawlessly and even helps the driver exit tight spaces.
Overall, the E 350 e ups the game and stays a strong contender in the fight for the affection of those who seek a blend of luxury, efficiency and advanced technology.
