Skip advert
Advertisement

Mercedes A-Class E-cell

And firm’s premium supermini plugs in, too

Overall Auto Express rating

4.0

How we review cars
Find your Mercedes A-Class
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

We enjoyed our drive in this electric A-Class. Its performance, comfort and prestige feel are very impressive – as we would expect from Mercedes. If this is what the company’s upcoming fully electric small car will be like, the future is looking extremely good. Let’s just hope the eventual cost of showroom models can be made as realistic as possible. Bosses shouldn’t price the car out of buyers’ budgets.

Advertisement - Article continues below

From supercars to superminis, Mercedes is on the charge – and as well as the SLS E-CELL (left), we’ve driven the electric A-Class. The wraps came off the plug-in E-CELL model at October’s Paris Motor Show, and it’s central to the brand’s BlueEfficiency push for zero emissions around town.

Although it’s not officially coming to the UK in this form, chances are a battery-powered version of the all-new A-Class – due in 2013 – will follow. And after a 40-mile drive in a wide range of situations, our first impressions are good. 

Under the skin lie two lithium-ion battery packs supplied by Tesla. These power the single electric motor, which produces 94bhp and 290Nm of torque. The car is great on urban roads – 0-37mph is dispatched in 5.5 seconds – but a little

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

A Class

2021 Mercedes

A Class

42,636 milesAutomaticPetrol1.3L

Cash £20,964
View A Class
A Class

2021 Mercedes

A Class

37,830 milesAutomaticDiesel1.5L

Cash £15,118
View A Class
A Class

2021 Mercedes

A Class

37,327 milesAutomaticDiesel1.5L

Cash £17,915
View A Class
A Class

2021 Mercedes

A Class

27,545 milesManualPetrol1.3L

Cash £17,000
View A Class

bit slower on the open road.

It takes 14 seconds to cover 0-62mph, and the top speed is restricted to 93mph.

The discreet on-board energy use display showed a battery charge of 82 per cent when we got behind the wheel, and 68 per cent once we had completed our 40-mile drive. That’s testament to Mercedes’ claim that the range can extend to 155 miles or even beyond, depending on the way you’re driving and the route you take.

The battery packs add 240kg to the kerbweight, but they sit low in the chassis, so the centre of gravity drops by two inches. As the body is raised by an inch, passenger and boot space are identical to a regular A-Class’s.

The suspension has been adapted to cope with the extra bulk, and the result is a very comfortable ride and composed handling. The only sound you really hear is when coasting downhill, or rolling towards a stop, or at full braking, when the motor and brake system’s energy regenerator function kicks in.

At present, Mercedes plans to produce 500 examples of this plug-in A-Class – and each uses the not-yet-final electric drivetrain that we’ll see firstin the Smart E-Drive in 2012. 

The Tesla batteries are effectively 4,000 laptop cells joined together, and they have a life expectancy of four years and 60,000 miles. So it’s no coincidence that the only way to get your hands on one of these cars is to sign a four-year, £750-per-month lease deal.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Mercedes A Class

Mercedes A Class

RRP £31,300Used from £23,950
Audi A3

Audi A3

RRP £26,295Avg. savings £2,464 off RRP*Used from £10,695
BMW X2

BMW X2

RRP £42,840Avg. savings £3,345 off RRP*Used from £10,495
BMW X1

BMW X1

RRP £36,475Avg. savings £4,718 off RRP*Used from £27,249
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Car Deal of the Day: 10k miles a year in Cupra’s Terramar for under £300 a month
Cupra Terramar - front full width

Car Deal of the Day: 10k miles a year in Cupra’s Terramar for under £300 a month

The Cupra Terramar is an appealing family SUV that looks stylish but offers plenty of practicality. It’s our Deal of the Day for July 5
News
5 Jul 2025
New Volvo XC60 2025 facelift review: big-selling SUV gets a new lease of life
Volvo XC60 facelift - front tracking

New Volvo XC60 2025 facelift review: big-selling SUV gets a new lease of life

This refreshed Swedish SUV focuses on familiar areas of strength to take on BMW and Audi
Road tests
4 Jul 2025
Car Deal of the Day: MG ZS gives a big SUV feel for a miniscule £194 a month
MG ZS - front cornering

Car Deal of the Day: MG ZS gives a big SUV feel for a miniscule £194 a month

The MG ZS is an easy car to like and live with. It’s our Deal of the Day for 3 July
News
3 Jul 2025