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New Mercedes E300e vs BMW 530e
Serious opulence meets low running costs in this battle of the plug-in hybrid luxury saloons.
But which is best?...
by What Car team
The contendersBMW 5 Series 530e M Sport Pro Pack
List price £54,820
Target Price £48,507
Our reigning Luxury Car of the Year combines a classy interior with low CO2 and a decent electric-only range
NEW Mercedes E-Class E300e AMG Line Premium
List price £52,540
Target Price £49,306
The 5 Series’ oldest foe has been revised for 2021 with fresh looks and upgraded infotainment
There’s no doubt history has a habit of repeating itself. Take plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), for instance: we’d argue that they have more in common with increasingly unfashionable diesel-powered cars than you might think.
Company cars that drank from the black pump were once a rather offbeat option, appealing only to those more interested in saving fuel than in driving dynamics and refinement.
But as the years passed and Technology improved, they became the default choice for those looking to save on company car bills. Now all you have to do is swap ‘black pump’ for ‘charging cable’ to see what we mean, because the same thing has happened more recently with PHEVs.
New Mercedes E300e vs BMW 530e
Indeed, separately from the plug-in hybrid category, PHEVs picked up the gongs for best executive car, best luxury SUV and best luxury car at our 2021 Car of the Year Awards. And that brings us neatly to the BMW 530e, winner of the last category in that list.
This plug-in 5 Series was refreshed for 2020 after a few years on sale, gaining a larger front grille, along with a few other styling tweaks. But the big news lay under the skin with the introduction of a larger battery (for an official electric-only range of up to 34 miles) and a bit more power, combined with CO2 emissions of just 33g/km.
Of course, its arch rival, the Mercedes E-Class, wasn’t going to take that lying down. As predictably as a politician ‘bending’ the truth, the E-Class has been updated with fresh looks, an updated infotainment system and new safety equipment. Is that enough for the plug-in version, the E300e, to topple the 530e? Its electric range and CO2 output are quite similar, so this ought to be a close fight.
DrivingPerformance, ride, handling, refinement
Both cars follow a similar recipe, with a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine coupled to an automatic gearbox and a sizeable electric motor sandwiched between the two. However, the E300e has the upper hand on paper, with a combined power output of 316bhp to the 530e’s 288bhp.
That extra power helps the E300e to sprint from 0-60mph marginally quicker, with a time of 5.3sec to the 530e’s 5.4sec. It’s unlikely you’ll be trying to tear the tread from your tyres on a regular basis, though; a more useful barometer of real-world pace is the 30-70mph sprint that’s representative of a B-road overtake or getting up to motorway speed on a slip road. And here, there’s nothing to separate them in terms of times. You’ll need to plan a little farther ahead in the E300e, though; its gearbox is more hesitant to respond, and if you’re running solely on electric power at the time, the petrol engine takes a moment longer to fire up.
Their swift acceleration may be welcome, but it’s these cars’ ability to run on electric power alone that is one of the biggest draws. On a crisp winter’s day, neither could match its official range, but the 530e came out on top, covering 22.5 miles before the battery was depleted, with the E300e not far behind on 21.3 miles.
When it comes to ride comfort, our test cars couldn’t be much more disparate. Unlike the majority of AMG Line E-Classes, the E300e doesn’t get lower, stiffer adaptive suspension that you can firm up or soften off at will. Instead, you get non-adaptive suspension that brings to mind a 1970s Cadillac.
Seriously soft springs make the E300e feel suitably wafty on the motorway, but even on relatively small (18in) wheels it gets easily upset by craggy road surfaces and expansion joints, causing the car to bobble around.
Things get worse when you turn onto an undulating country road; loose body control means the car wallows and pitches in a way that might make your passengers quite queasy. It doesn’t even deal with sharp-edged potholes particularly well, with thumps and thuds being both heard and felt.
Although the 530e is much firmer, partly because of its standard 20in wheels (which you can swap for 19s for no cost), you’ll find it a much less irritating companion, thanks in part to the adaptive suspension that comes with the M Sport Pro Pack. It follows the road more closely, transferring more bumps to your posterior, yet there’s far more control and consistency. On balance, the 530e is the more pleasant car to be in – especially if you’re a passenger.
That firmer set-up also means the 530e handles far more sharply. True, it isn’t quite as agile as conventionally powered versions of the 5 Series, but you’d have to be pushing pretty hard to feel the additional weight of the battery. Most of the time you’ll just appreciate the natural-feeling, precise steering and abundance of grip, which make it the more appealing car to drive along a winding road.
In comparison, the E300e’s inconsistent steering, ship-like body lean and lower grip levels really put you off hustling it along your favourite road.
The E300e is slightly quieter at 70mph, according to our decibel meter, although we found the wind whistle from around its standard panoramic roof to be more annoying than the 530e’s tyre roar. The E300e’s engine is a little coarser when you rev it hard, too.
What are they like inside ?
Behind the wheel
Driving position, visibility, build quality
You’ll find plenty of adjustment in both cars’ part-electric driver’s seats, including for lumbar support to stave off lower back pain, but the 530e’s steering wheel, seat and pedals line up more neatly for a superior driving position. You can add full electric seat adjustment in the 530e as part of a £1495 Comfort Pack, but you’ll have to jump up to the £2500 more expensive AMG Line Night Edition Premium Plus to get it on the E300e.
Forward visibility can’t be faulted in either car, but seeing behind you isn’t as easy in the E300e, because its rear pillars are thicker. Both get front and rear parking sensors plus LED headlights as standard, with the 530e adding a rear-view camera. The E300e goes a couple of steps further with a 360deg camera and adaptive headlights that allow you to keep main beam on without dazzling other drivers.
Both cars come with digital instrument panels, with the E300e’s being able to show a far greater array of information than the 530e’s. Both have sharp graphics that make them easy enough to read.
The E300e’s interior, with its conjoined 12.3in instrument and infotainment displays, fancy metal air vents and swooping wood-covered dashboard, holds more immediate showroom appeal than the comparatively sober and conventional 530e’s. However, while there are lots of squishy plastics, glitzy trims and a glossy black finish to the steering wheel spokes, the E300e just isn’t as well constructed. Its switches don’t work with the same precision and some of the trim panels tend to creak if you prod them.
Infotainment systems
BMW 5 Series
This, frankly, is the finest infotainment system available. The large, 12.3in screen is crisp and highly legible, while the menus are easy to wrap your head around. You can operate the system as a touchscreen – handy for punching in navigation instructions when you’re stationary – or you can twiddle a dial controller between the seats. That’s a much safer, easier and more precise method when you’re on the move. It’s packed full of features, too.
Mercedes E-Class
A 12.3in touchscreen is standard, and there are touchpads between the seats and on the steering wheel to provide an alternative means of control. They’re not as easy to use as the dial in the 530e, but if you can master the one on the wheel, you can operate the system while keeping both hands on the wheel. The system is as feature-packed as the 530e’s and the graphics are sharp, but the menus are slightly trickier to fathom.
How practical are they?
530e: practicality
Space and practicalityFront space, rear space, seating flexibility, boot
The standard panoramic glass roof that we mentioned earlier is great for letting light into the E300e’s interior, but it also robs front seat occupants of head room. You’d need to be at least six feet tall before your hair met the headlining, though. With nothing but a metal roof overhead, there’s far more air between scalp and ceiling in the 530e.
It’s nip and tuck when it comes to front leg room and width, while both have broad armrests and a good spread of cubbies. That includes somewhere to stash your mobile phone and keys between the seats, two cupholders big enough for the largest of lattes and decent door pockets on both. And regardless of which car you choose, there’s another giant cubby beneath the wide centre armrest – just what you need for life on the road.
E300e: practicality
Separating our two contenders is much easier when it comes to rear seat space; the 530e has more leg room, while the E300e’s panoramic roof once again cuts into head room. Space for feet beneath the E300e’s front seats is rather tight, too. Neither is great for three adults sitting side by side, with big central floor humps to straddle and raised middle seats that reduce head room.
Despite advances in battery technology, you’ll still find boot space is reduced compared with conventional versions of the 5 Series and E-Class. In the 530e, the boot floor is at least usefully flat, albeit a bit higher than in regular models. The E300e, on the other hand, has a large hump beneath the carpet towards the back; this makes for an uneven cargo bay that can be awkward to load.
Despite its impractical shape, the E300e can actually swallow one more carry-on suitcase than the 530e (six versus five), and you get handy 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats as standard. You have to pay an extra £395 for folding rear seats in the 530e; they, too, split in a 40/20/40 arrangement.
Boot space
BMW 5 Series
Boot 410 litres Suitcases 5
Mercedes E-Class
Boot 370 litres Suitcases 6
How much will they cost to run?
Buying and owningCosts, equipment, reliability, safety and security
Both cars come with a Type 2 charging cable for home wallboxes and another that plugs into a three-pin domestic socket. It’ll take just over three and a half hours to charge the 530e at its maximum charging rate: a rather disappointing 3.7kW. The E300e is capable of charging at a faster 7.4kW, dropping the time down to less than two hours, even though it has a slightly larger battery. You can’t rapid charge either car using a CCS charger.
Official fuel economy figures of 188.3mpg for the 530e and 176.6mpg for the E300e show what’s possible if you top up the batteries regularly and do mostly short journeys.
If you let the batteries go flat and you’re relying solely on petrol power to get you around, the 530e remains the more efficient car, managing a reasonable 35.5mpg in our test. That compares with 34.0mpg for the E300e.
As a result, you’ll save around £440 in combined petrol and electricity bills over three years by driving the 530e, assuming regular journeys of 40 miles and always starting with a fully charged battery.
The 530e is also cheaper to service and insure, plus you’ll get a bigger Target Price discount on it. Tot everything up and the 530e will save a private buyer nearly £5000 over three years.
If you’re buying on PCP finance, the 530e will cost you £77 a month less on a three-year deal with a £5400 deposit and a limit of 10,000 miles per year. It’s slightly cheaper to lease, too. The 530e has to give best to the E300e when it comes to benefit-in-kind tax for company car drivers, but the difference is only £9 a month.
The E300e gets more standard kit, including an extra climate control zone for rear passengers (the 530e makes do with separate ones for the front occupants), along with keyless entry, an electric bootlid and the other goodies we’ve mentioned already.
Although BMW as a brand was found to be more reliable than Mercedes in the 2020 What Car? Reliability Survey, things were closer between the 5 Series and E-Class. The former topped the luxury car category, with the latter in second place.
Neither car has been specifically tested for safety by the experts at Euro NCAP, but the regular 5 Series and E-Class received five-star ratings. However, you’re less likely to be injured in a crash in the E300e, whether you’re an adult up front or a child in the back. Automatic emergency braking is standard on both.
Our verdict
As you’ve probably guessed already, it’s the E300e that picks up the silver medal here. Its longer standard equipment list is welcome, while many will appreciate the interior’s wow factor. However, not even the monthly BIK tax saving can make up for the lacklustre way it drives.
So, that leaves the 530e as the winner of this test and still our favourite luxury car. Not only is it great to drive (provided you go for the M Sport Pro Pack version) and plenty quick enough for most drivers, but it also benefits from a higher-quality interior with more user-friendly controls and more room in the back. All in all, it’s a far more rounded package that’s well worth the tiny extra monthly outlay for company car users.
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1st – BMW 5 series
For Great ride and handling balance; higher-quality interior; class-leading infotainment; more rear seat space; cheaper to buy and run privately
Against Pricey option packs; slower battery charging
Recommended options None
2nd – Mercedes E-Class
For Better equipped; more flexible rear seats as standard; slightly cheaper on PCP finance and monthly BIK tax payments
Against Wallowy ride and handling; less polished hybrid system; less robust build quality; awkwardly shaped boot Recommended options None
Read our full Mercedes E-Class review
Specifications: BMW 5 Series 530e M Sport Pro Pack
Engine 4cyl, 1998cc, turbo, petrol, plus electric motor
Peak power 288bhp (combined)
Peak torque 310Ib ft (combined)
Gearbox 8-spd automatic
0-60mph 5.4sec
30-70mph 5.0sec
Top speed 146mph
30-0mph 8.5m
70-0mph 45.8m
Noise @ 30mph 60.3dB
Noise @ 70mph 67.6dB
Kerb weight 1910kg
Wheels/tyres (std) 245/35 R20 (f), 275/30 R20 (r) (19s no-cost option)
Fuel tank 46 litres
Official economy 188.3mpg
Test economy 35.5mpg (with battery fully depleted)
Official electric range 36 miles
Test electric range 22.5 miles
Battery capacity 11kWh (usable)
Peak charging rate 3.7kW
Charging time 3hr 36min (0-100%)
CO2 emissions 33g/km
Specifications: Mercedes E-Class E300e AMG Line Premium
Engine 4cyl, 1991cc, turbo, petrol, plus electric motor
Peak power 316bhp (combined)
Peak torque 516Ib ft (combined)
Gearbox 9-spd automatic
0-60mph 5.3sec
30-70mph 5.0sec
Top speed 155mph
30-0mph 8.5m
70-0mph 46.3m
Noise @ 30mph 59.2dB
Noise @ 70mph 66.6dB
Kerb weight 1990kg
Wheels/tyres (std) 245/45 R18 (f), 275/40 R18 (r)
Fuel tank 50 litres
Official economy 176.6mpg
Test economy 34.0mpg (with battery fully depleted)
Official electric range 34 miles
Test electric range 21.3 miles
Battery capacity 13.5kWh (usable)
Peak charging rate 7.4kW
Charging time 1hr 45min (est, 0-100%)
CO2 emissions 37g/km
Weather conditions Dry
Cars pictured
BMW 530e M Sport Pro Pack with Bluestone metallic paint, Technology Pack (£2495), Parking Assistant Plus (£650 and split-folding rear seats (£395)
Mercedes E300e AMG Line Night Edition Premium Plus with Diamond White metallic paint (£895) and Driving Assistance Package (£1695)
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