Australian PHEV battle heating up with new premium contender a peg above BYD Sealion 6 and Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV

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Mercedes-Benz Australia has expanded its Australian plug-in range with the introduction of the new GLA250e, which joins the ranks alongside the C350e medium sedan. 

Priced from $78,000, the GLA250e sits in the middle of the combustion-only GLA model range – above the $63,600 base model GLA200 and below the $80,500 GLA250, which boasts ‘4Motion’ all-wheel drive. All prices shown are before on road costs.

Premium small plug-in hybrid SUVs are few and far between in Australia, with the new GLA plug-in facing rivals in larger segments. BMW’s smallest PHEV, for example, is 300mm longer than the GLA. The $104,800 (RRP) BMW X3 30e xDrive, features all-wheel drive, an EV driving range of 91km (WLTP) and combined output of 220kW/450Nm.  

Exclusively front-wheel drive, the GLA plug-in system combines a 120kW 1.3-litre turbo petrol engine with a single 80kW electric motor, which is integrated into the eight-speed dual clutch automatic.

Standout features for the GLA250e include:

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Panoramic sunroof
• 360° camera
• Electronically adjustable heated front seats
• Dark-tinted glass
• Six-speaker sound system
• Dual 10.25-inch digital screens (multimedia and driver cluster)
• 2-zone climate control and rear centre vents
• Wireless charging system for mobile devices in the front
• Metallic paintwork

Despite its recent facelift, the Australian market GLA250e’s mechanical underpinnings are strikingly similar to the system which debuted in the UK over five years ago – both have a combined output of 160kW/450Nm.

The largest difference between the two plug-in systems is battery size: Speaking to Mercedes-Benz, it was confirmed that the UK receives a 15.6kWh lithium-ion unit where the Australian size is quoted as being 11.5kWh; the difference being chalked up to two separate model years. 

Both vehicles claim a 10-80 percent DC charge time of 22 minutes, peaking at 22kW. Range figures are varied slightly, with Australia seeing 65km (WLTP) of electric-only driving range, while the UK version manages 72km. 

Standard peak AC charge rate is limited to 3.7kW. Mercedes-Benz offers an $800 (list price) charging upgrade package which brings peak AC to 11kW.  

Mercedes-Benz provided no comment on plans to introduce its GLC plug-in to the Australian midsize market – a much hotter segment led by best-sellers BYD Sealion 6 and Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, with premium competitors including the Audi Q5 TFSIe, Lexus NX 450h+, aforementioned X3 and Volvo XC60 Recharge.