Mercedes-Benz adds PHEV variants to A-Class: A250e hatch and sedan

• EQ Power variants of A250e goes on sale in Europe – Hatchback, Sedan
• Drops 12V battery, runs solely on 15.6 kWh lithium-ion hybrid battery
• 1.33-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder paired to 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
• Total system output of 218 hp/450 Nm

For the first time ever, Mercedes-Benz’s compact car family now offers EQ Power plug-in hybrid variants. Specifically, it’s the A-Class and B-Class models. The former will go on sale in Europe today, with prices starting from 36,943 Euros for the A250e hatchback and 37,300 Euros for the A250e Sedan. Sales of the the B250e in Europe will follow later this year.

From the outside, apart from the EQ Power and A250e badges, the most obvious difference between a PHEV A-Class and a regular combustion engine variant is the omission of exhaust muffler tips in the former. The standard A-Class has faux tail pipes built in to the rear bumper’s diffuser. The A250e’s exhaust pipe ends in the front-half of the car, within the transmission tunnel. From the outside, (or even peering underneath the car), you can't see any exhaust muffler.

Despite the 250 designation, the A250e is actually based on the A200’s engine, sharing the same Renault-sourced 1.33-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine. However, the A200’s 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission has been dropped in favour of an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic (8F-DCT), driving the front wheels.

The engine alone makes 160 hp at 5,500 rpm, 3 hp less than the A200. However, its overall performance is boosted by a 75 kW/300 Nm electric motor (housed within the transmission), thus bringing the total system output to 218 hp and 450 Nm.

The A250e hatchback accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 6.6 seconds while the sedan takes 0.1 second longer to complete the same century sprint.

The hatchback has an electric-only driving range of between 74 – 76 km while the sedan’s slightly lower aero drag allows it to reach between 75 – 77 km (NEDC figures, 60-68 km and 61 – 69 km respectively when tested under the newer WLTP cycle).

Both models can reach up to 140 km/h in electric power alone, before reaching a top speed of 235 km/h and 240 km/h respectively.

Unlike most plug-in hybrid models that use passive-cooling batteries, the A250e’s 15.6 kWh hybrid battery (supplied by Daimler’s subsidiary Accumotive) uses active water cooling, and weighs approximately 150 kg.

Also, the A250e no longer require a 12V battery, as the vehicle’s electrical network will be powered exclusively by the 15.6 kWh hybrid battery.

Also different from previous plug-in hybrid Mercedes-Benz models is the A250e’s charging socket, which is now easier to reach, and opens like a fuel filler lid. The older C350e and E350e requires customers to reach down to the lower section of the rear bumper.

There’s also paddles behind the steering wheel that allows the driver to select vary the strength of energy recuperation:
D AUTO, D+, D, D- and D--.