Plug-in hybrid member of A-Class family gains faster charging but loses hatchback option
If you want a Mercedes-Benz A-Class that you can plug in, then you’ll now have to plump for the Saloon bodystyle. As part of a mid-life refresh, the hatchback version of the A250e plug-in hybrid has been dropped, which seems an odd decision – until you look in the back.One compromise of the A250e hatch was that the relocation of the fuel tank and the packaging of the battery system significantly reduced the size of the boot. That’s less of a problem with the saloon because it has more space in the back on the standard model, so even with all that plug-in gubbins you can still cram in 332 litres of stuff. And even with the fixed roof and notable boot lip of the Saloon bodystyle, it’s still quite easy to get even big objects into the storage area.When the A-Class A250e was first introduced, it helped give the firm something of an edge over rivals BMW and Audi, since they didn’t have similar compact plug-in hybrid models. But with the push to full electric gathering pace, is there still such appeal to a posh pliug-in hatchback? After all, that head start didn’t move it to the head of its class, even by default. And with an increasing number of EVs on the market, PHEV models no longer enjoy such an edge in company car tax that the A250e’s electrified powertrain afforded when launched. The A-Class line-up at a glanceThe Mercedes-Benz A-Class range is as broad as you would expect for a high-volume compact model – broader, perhaps, due to the presence of the AMG-developed A35 and Mercedes-AMG A 45, which exist in stark contrast to the A250e tested here.One thing the range does lack, however, is an all-electric offering, and while Mercedes has produced an electric B-Class in the past, there’s no sign that a zero-emissions A-Class EV will appear soon.
