What is the real consumption of a plug-in hybrid vehicle?

We always see manufacturers get a very low consumption in WLTP approval cycles, something that is not the reality at all. That is why today we are going to carry out a test to find out what the real consumption of a plug-in hybrid vehicle is.

The vehicle with which we have done this test is a Mercedes-Class A250e, the plug-in hybrid version of the Class A. It has an approved autonomy that is between 60 and 68 km in combined use while its consumption is only 1l/100km. I can already tell you that these figures are not very realistic, but here we go.

Real autonomy in 100% electric mode in urban use

In this test we are going to do a mainly urban use, which is what the vast majority of users would buy this car for. We start the test with 100% battery, we will circulate efficiently, without much acceleration and anticipating the circumstances in order to, for example, make good use of regenerative braking at traffic lights. This will help us to improve the electrical consumption of the car and, in this way, increase its autonomy.

after go driving around the city center for a few hours, average consumption that it was possible to obtain was only 16,4kWh/100km, a very acceptable figure considering the traffic conditions. There have really been moments in which we have had to walk the streets, others in which we found ourselves with a lot of traffic and, also, areas in which we could circulate freely at 50 km/h.

With this average consumption of 16,4 kWh/100 km, the Mercedes Class A250e would be able to drive 64 km in 100% electric mode, a very good autonomy if we take into account that it is a compact and we compare it with its most direct rivals such as the Audi A3 45TFSIe.

Real consumption of a plug-in hybrid vehicle without electric autonomy in the city

We have to start testing fuel consumption without electric range in urban use circulating efficiently, that is, having tact with the right pedal and anticipating once again the state of traffic. The A250e, even without electric autonomy, can be driving at certain times in 100% electric mode, as if it were a self-recharging hybrid.

In these situations, the German compact is capable of obtaining averages that remain located around the 7 liters per 100 km, nothing bad. We have been strolling through the city center, driving at 50 km/h with little traffic and other times when we have had a greater volume of cars with all that that entails.

Another detail is that despite the fact that it marks zero kilometers of autonomy, It continues to maintain its 218 HP of power and 450 Nm of torque. This is because it always has a surplus capacity to be able to offer us its maximum benefits when we require it, which will not be the case in the city.

Ring road, the most efficient environment

This is where this Mercedes A-Class 250e demonstrates its maximum efficiency, something that is common in all cars. In this situation, the maximum speed that we have been finding in our journey is 80 and 100 km/h. Yes, we have had a bridge with a limit of 50 in which we have had some withholdings, but nothing very important.

After traveling more than 15 km along this route, the average consumption obtained was 4,9 liters per 100km, a very good number. If we had driven in 100% electric mode, the German compact would also have had a really low consumption. In the end we are driving at a very constant speed and without great acceleration or braking. In addition, the low aerodynamic resistance and a gear ratio that allowed the vehicle's engine to maintain very low revs.

Very acceptable expense on motorway journeys at legal speeds

The German compact maintains a very acceptable fuel consumption when driving on the highway at 120km/hThis is also due to an 8-speed gearbox that allows you to go very low revs at certain times. The test that I have been able to carry out has been a single person circulating and with the air conditioning on, as in the rest of the situations.

Here, the A250e achieved an average that stayed around 6,4 liters per 100km. It does not seem to me a disproportionate figure or anything like that, in fact it seems very good to me for the negative points that they entail, such as weight, being an electrified version.

Mechanics Mercedes Class A250e

The A250e Class mounts two engines, one is conventional gasoline and the other electric. The combustion engine is made up of a block of 1.3 liter displacement, has four cylinders and offers 160 CV. The electrical part offers 102 CV and is fed by a 15.6 kWh battery of gross capacity, although its net capacity is 10,7 kWh.

Really the joint power provided by both engines is 218 hp and 450 Nm of torque, making it capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h this Class A in just 6,6 seconds. On the other hand, the gearbox is automatic with eight relationships and double clutch type. Another aspect to take into account is its weight, standing on the scale at 1.680 kg.

On the other hand, the battery is capable of be charged from 0 to 100% of its capacity in some two hours approximately with a charging power in alternating current of 7,4 kW. Also we have the option of equipping it with fast charging in direct current, thus recharging in just 25 minutes thanks to a power of 24 kW.

Conclusions of the Mercedes Class A250e

As can be seen, in the end we have stayed a little far from that liter per 100 km that the manufacturer approves according to the WLTP cycle. In any case, it does not seem like an exorbitant expense to me. In fact, I think that its consumption will not be very far if we compare it with the A200 gasoline version.

El The most positive point that this A250e takes is its reasonable cost together with a very good electrical autonomy. Without a doubt, I think it is one of the best options if we are considering buying a compact PHEV. In addition, this is a Mercedes, so its materials, finishes and quality are really good.