Sparing is caring
These plug-in hybrid execs promise luxury without the high running costs
Price today
£28,500*
Mercedes-Benz E300e AMG Line Premium List price when new £52,540 Available from 2016-present
The plug-in hybrid E-Class is cheaper to buy than its BMW 5 Series rival and has a glitzier interior – so, is it a better choice?
1 Rotary controller remains the easiest and safest way of interacting with the class-leading infotainment system
2 The knobs and switches for the air-con and sound system are easy to use and operate with pleasing precision
3 All of the materials feel high in quality – even the plastic on the lower parts of the doors – and the interior is solidly built
1 Expanses of wood trim look flash, but this panel creaks and flexes if you miss a switch and prod it by accident
2 Lidded cubby is plenty big enough for the contents of your pockets and also contains a couple of cupholders
3 Touch-sensitive steering wheel controls can be fiddly to use. They attract fingerprints incredibly quickly, too
*Price today is based on a 2020 model with average mileage and full service history,correct at time of writing
Price today
£31,000*
BMW 530e M Sport (Pro Pack) List price when new £54,820
Available from 2017-present
Our reigning Used Car of the Year is classy and good to drive; it’ll be tough to beat
THE TROUBLE WITH those car programmes that tell you to buy an old Bentley for the price of a new Nissan Qashqai is that they seldom go on to mention that the former will cost you far more to run than the latter, and more even than a new Bentley. It’s an idea akin to buying a derelict mansion in Scotland for the price of a semi in suburbia but not then having the reserves left over to fix the roof and put in any windows.
However, here we have two executive saloons that are not only luxurious inside but also have the potential to keep running costs low. The BMW 530e and Mercedes-Benz E300e are both plug-in hybrids and can officially run on electric power alone for distances of more than 30 miles. Added to that, buy them at three years old, as we’re testing them here, and they can be picked up for well under half the price of the equivalent new model today. So, can you have your cake and eat it?