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Feann Torr14 Sept 2019
REVIEW

Mercedes-Benz A 250e 2020 Review – International

Small German hatchback the first of four Mercedes plug-in hybrids coming to Oz by mid-2020
Review Type
Quick Spin

What’s it all about?

Available in both hatch and sedan form, the Mercedes-Benz A 250e is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, or PHEV as the cool kids say. It has a small combustion engine and an electric motor that can run independently of each other or in tandem.

The electric motor (75kW/300Nm) is powered by a small lithium-ion battery (15.6kWh) with enough juice to power propel the car almost silently for around 70km before the 1.3-litre turbo-petrol (118kW/250Nm) engine kicks in.

Running on pure electricity, we found the Mercedes A 250e reached speeds of up to 145km/h on unlimited German roads, and it accelerates promptly from standstill. Top speed with both motors combined is 235km/h – although we can't vouch for that one!

In theory, you can drive this car on pure electricity for weeks or months if you were only commuting 40km a day. It's a neat system and works very effectively.

When the electric juju runs out, the car's petrol engine chimes in and provides the driving distance of a regular small car -- around 400km depending on your driving style. However, you'll pay a premium for the PHEV privilege.

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Why should/shouldn’t I buy it?

The Mercedes-Benz A 250e is a competent car to drive. It has an impressive MBUX infotainment system with excellent voice commands and a pair of large customisable 12.3-inch screens.

Like its conventionally powered cousins, it feels far more luxurious than the previous A-Class, but the real reason you would buy one of these particular models is for its hybrid powertrain.

The good news is it's a very clever set-up that generally very smooth and seamless in operation. The way its electric motor utilises the same eight-speed dual-clutch as the petrol engine is impressive, providing the car with a good turn of electric-only speed.

Set the car to sport mode and the electric and petrol motors combine to deliver hot-hatch-esque outputs of 160kW/450Nm -- enough to get the front tyres spinning. The 0-100km/h claim of 6.6 seconds is believable.

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Mercedes claims an electric range of 77km but we found it closer to 55km. And it must be said the 1.3-litre turbo-petrol is a bit coarse when it sparks to life after the silent serenity of the electric motor.

The brake pedal is very sensitive as the regenerative function of the brakes makes itself felt, which takes time to get used to.

With the demise of Audi A3 e-tron in this country the A 250e is currently the only plug-in hybrid in its class and is both fun and easy drive.

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How much will it cost?

The pint-size Mercedes-Benz A 250e does not yet have a sticker price in Australia but we have it on good authority it'll cost around $60,000, possibly a bit less.

To get your bearings, the A-Class is the smallest car in the Mercedes-Benz range and the third best-selling model in the German brand’s portfolio. Yep, a lot of people are buying them.

The A 250e marks the first time the A-Class has been given the PHEV treatment and is an alternative for buyers who want to go green but have range anxiety or a lack of funds to commit to a luxury EV, like the $124,100 Jaguar I-PACE or $140,000 Mercedes-Benz EQC.

The Mercedes-Benz A 250e will come with the same three-year, unlimited kilometre warranty as other new Benz cars, while the battery gets a six-year warranty.

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When is it available in Australia?

Mercedes will unleash the high-tech, lean and green power of the A 250e on Aussie buyers in the first quarter of 2020 -- so by around March next year.

Both the hatchback and the sedan will be offered in Australia and from we could tell during the global launch drive around Frankfurt, there's virtually no difference to the way they drive.

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Who will it appeal to?

People looking to reduce their carbon footprint will dig this car and the intuitive in-car systems and tech-laden cabin will pique the interest of tech-heads.

It's a five-seat vehicle but its compact size means more than four adults will make things a little squeezy in the back seat.

The main difference with other A-Class models in terms of package is load space, which has been reduced slightly thanks to the addition of a water-cooled 150kg battery pack.

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Boot space for regular A-Class hatch and sedan is 370 and 420 litres respectively, and Benz says the PHEV versions only see a 'minimal reduction'. By our measure the boot floor has risen an inch or so to accommodate the battery pack. The sedan has more space but the hatch offers more versatility.

Towing is pretty decent at 1600kg, braked.

Where does it fit?

The Mercedes-Benz A 250e doesn't really have any rivals at present, certainly not in the plug-in hybrid compact luxury class. The ageing Lexus CT200h is a hybrid but not a plug-in model, making use of Toyota Prius tech.

The BMW 1 Series and Audi A3 are also rivals, but not in a PHEV sense.

The A 250e is the first of four plug-in hybrid Mercedes models coming to Oz in the first half of 2020, and will be followed by C-Class, E-Class and GLC-Class PHEVs.

Mercedes-Benz reckons more than half of all new cars it sells globally by 2030 will be electrified in some form. Given the brand sold 2.3 million vehicles in 2018, that's a lot of hybrids and EVs!

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So, what do we think?

Apart from a couple of niggles, the new Mercedes-Benz A 250e is a surprisingly charming and effective vehicle.

Cruising around in EV mode – both in the city and on the freeway – has big appeal and with a clever charging set-up (using either AC or DC) the battery pack can be fully charged on a 24kW wallbox in around 25 minutes.

Using a less potent 7.4kW wallbox, it takes a bit less than two hours to charge the battery.

The car's extra weight makes it slightly less engaging in dynamic sense, but its high-tech powertrain doesn’t rob much luggage space and overall this is a very well resolved, economical A-Class.

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How much does the 2020 Mercedes-Benz A 250e cost?
Price: $59,990 (approx)
Engine: 1.3-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 118kW/250Nm
Motor: Permanent magnet synchronous electric
Output: 75kW/300Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel: 1.5L/100km
EV: 15kWh/100km
CO2: 34g/km
Safety rating: Five-star ANCAP (2018)

Share this article
Our team of independent expert car reviewers and journalistsMeet the team
Expert rating
78/100
Engine, Drivetrain & Chassis
16/20
Price, Packaging & Practicality
15/20
Safety & Technology
17/20
Behind The Wheel
15/20
X-Factor
15/20
Pros
  • Easy to drive
  • Infotainment system
  • Punchy electric motor
Cons
  • Coarse petrol engine
  • Touchy brake pedal
  • Reduced boot space
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