Mercedes-Benz C350e, GLE500e, S500e plug-in hybrids on sale in Australia

Following the debut of the S500 Plug-in Hybrid nearly three years ago and the C350 Plug-in Hybrid’s Detroit motor show reveal in January 2015, the three PHEV models are available to order now in Mercedes-Benz dealerships.

The new models will take the fight to the already available BMW 330e, X5 xDrive40e, and the 740e iPerformance newly detailed for global markets just this week.

C350e

Starting at $75,300 plus on-road costs for the sedan and $77,800 plus on-roads for the estate, the C350e combines the C250’s 155kW/350Nm 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine with a 60kW electric motor.

Maximum output is rated at 205kW of power and 600Nm of torque, while sipping fuel at a claimed rate of 2.4L/100km for the sedan and 2.6L/100km for the estate. Mercedes-Benz claims the C350e has a pure-electric range of up to 31 kilometres.

While the C350e can’t match the BMW 330e in price ($71,990 plus on-roads), all-electric range (37km) or fuel-consumption (2.1L/100km), the Mercedes-Benz produces 20kW and 180Nm more than its Bavarian rival, and claims to be 0.2 seconds quicker from 0-100km/h.

Mercedes-Benz says the C350e will come standard with air suspension and pre-entry climate-control - which keeps your car at a comfortable temperature while you’re away.

GLE500e

Next up is the GLE500e SUV, priced from $124,900 before on-road costs - exactly $6000 more than the BMW X5 xDrive40e ($118,900).

While a significant price gap, the GLE500e employs a 245kW/480Nm twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 from the GLE400 coupled to an 85kW electric motor, with a combined output of 325kW of power and 650Nm of torque.

By comparison, the X5 xDrive40e uses a 2.0-litre turbo petrol with a transmission-integrated electric motor which claims a combined output of 230kW of power and 450Nm of torque - 95kW and 200Nm less than the GLE500e.

That extra power helps the GLE500e to be 1.5 seconds quicker from 0-100km/h than the equivalent X5, claiming a 5.3-second sprint, and is capable of reaching 130km/h in EV mode.

Despite the extra performance, the GLE 500e matches the X5 xDrive40e’s claimed fuel consumption of 3.3L/100km.

S500e

The third plug-in Mercedes-Benz is the S500e, which starts at $319,715 plus on-road costs.

Using the same powertrain as the GLE500e, the S500e produces a combined 325kW of power and 650Nm of torque from its twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 coupled to an 85kW electric motor.

Sipping just 2.8L/100km (claimed) on the combined cycle, the long-wheelbase S500e is capable of a 5.2-second 0-100km/h sprint and can rely on all-electric power for up to 33 kilometers.

These figures make the S500e 85kW and 150Nm more powerful than the yet-to-be-released 740e iPerformance, 0.3 seconds quicker to 100km/h than the long-wheelbase 740e, but 0.5L/100km thirstier.

Like its C350e and GLE500e stablemates, the S500e comes fitted with a pre-entry climate control system as standard. All three plug-in hybrids claim a top speed of 210km/h.

Available to order now, these three new variants will make their official debut later this month. Watch for more details to come then.

Pricing (before on-road costs): 

C350e sedan - $75,300
C350e Estate wagon - $77,800
GLE500e - $124,900
S500e - $319,715

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