Mercedes-Benz Extends Electrified Range With Diesel PHEV

Paul Myles

TU-Editor

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29th January 2020

Mercedes-Benz has extended its electrified powertrain offering by two PHEV options to its GL class including a diesel enhanced one.

Despite the current squeezing of diesel powertrain sales in response to clean air campaigners waging war against the technology in urban environments, the German automaker is keeping faith ‘oil-burners’ which remain the best well-to-wheel performer in greenhouse gas terms in most countries in the world.

The diesel in question is the GLE 350 de 4Matic, an SUV which uses a 2.0-liter diesel engine which generating 190bhp and 295ft-lbs of torque married to a 31.2 kWh battery claiming an additional 132bhp and 324ft-lbs of torque to the car’s overall output of 322bhp and 610ft-lbs of torque.

Strangely, with all this grunt on tap, Mercedes-Benz has yet to make any performance claims for the big car beyond stating an all-electric range of 66 miles on the old NEDC rating, a claimed 256.8mpg (213mpg US) on the combined cycle and emits just 29g/km of CO2. A 7.4 kW combined on-board charger comes as standard, claiming to allow the battery to charge from 10% to 100% in 3.25 hours.

The more usual gasoline powered GLC 300 e 4Matic uses a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a 13.5 kWh battery. The combustion engine can produce 152bhp and 258ft-lbs, while the electric motor adds an additional 119bhp and a claimed whopping 516ft-lbs of torque. Total power is therefore 279bhp with 776ft-lbs of torque.

Once again, not performance figures are claimed but the automaker says the car will enjoy an all-electric range of 29 miles on NEDC, while delivering up to 117.7mpg (98.01mpg US) and emitting just 54g/km of CO2. The 13.5 kW battery and 7.4kw on-board charger allows the GLC 300 e to claim it can charge via a 7.4 kW wallbox in less than two hours.

— Paul Myles is a seasoned automotive journalist based in London. Follow him on Twitter @Paulmyles_