Hybrid technology is nothing new to Mercedes-Benz, the German automobile giant under the parentage of Daimler AG, which has long been considered one of the pioneers in the field of energy efficiency and hybrid vehicles. Now, with their latest offering, Mercedes has married advanced plug-in hybrid technology with its legendary elegance, performance, and style, all in an impressive E-Class package that’s assembled right here in Malaysia.

Sitting atop its class, the new E 350 e brings along all the refinements you expect from luxury carmarker Mercedes-Benz, together with a level of technological advancement and automotive intelligence that must be experienced to be fully appreciated. We spent several days with the new plug-in hybrid and came away impressed.

The E 350 e, with its intelligent plug-in hybrid system, capably showcases both dynamism and efficiency, allowing around 33 kilometres of all-electric operation, and even more impressively, locally emission-free driving.

Its four-cylinder 1991cc petrol engine, in conjunction with a powerful electric motor, gives it a total system output of 210 kW (286 hp) with a system torque of 550 Nm. That performance doesn’t come at the expense of efficiency, however. Despite an impressive 0-to-100 km/h acceleration in just 6.2 seconds, the E 350 e can also boast fuel consumption starting at just 2.1 litres per 100km!

With this advanced hybrid system offering the best of both worlds, the E 350 e achieves the performance of a sports car, yet consumes less fuel than a small, compact-class car. Additionally, the nine-speed automatic 9G-Tronic transmission is just as smooth as butter; the shifting was imperceptible, and should you want to wrest control from the system and shift gears yourself, a pair of steering wheel paddle shifters offer that option seamlessly.

Aesthetically, the E 350 e cuts a similar style to other E-Class models, differentiated primarily by the blue front brake calipers and small badges on the front fenders proclaiming the car to be a Plug-in Hybrid.

Entertainment and information are provided courtesy of a 12.3-inch high-resolution display and a stunning 640-watt Burmester® surround sound system with 13 speakers strategically placed and calibrated. Even the quality of hands-free phone calls is outstanding, and callers usually couldn’t tell they were talking to someone in a car on a speakerphone! You can enjoy music from the radio, a USB drive, or any Bluetooth audio device.

We especially liked that the E 350 e offers integrated wireless charging, so if you have a phone with the Qi standard, such as most Samsung Galaxy S-series phones, you’ll enjoy wireless charging while you drive. Moreover, if your phone is NFC-enabled, you’ll also be able to use it as a digital key to lock, unlock, and start your Mercedes.

Boasting an unprecedented degree of electric intelligence, the E 350 e of course bears all the other hallmarks you expect in a Mercedes. Quality, safety, technological innovation, and outstanding performance – these are all abundant. We loved the ride this car delivered, and the more time we spent with all its features and settings, the more we enjoyed the high-end E-Class experience.

The sheer advanced nature of the E 350 e means there’s a learning curve with this car, and it takes some time to fully appreciate and put to good use the full array of smart engineering and technological wonders on offer. That time is well-spent, however: the Mercedes E 350 e is a sophisticated, luxurious vehicle that truly rewards you, both with style and with substance, every single time you slide behind the wheel.

To learn more about Mercedes-Benz’s Masterpiece of Intelligence, the all-new E 350 e Plug-in Hybrid, click here.