2010 Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid Lockhart TX

2010 Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid By Jon Alain Guzik, Editor-in-Chief

DriverSide Overview
Mercedes-Benz has chosen the S-Class as the first model from the Silver Arrow to boast a hybrid variant. A next-generation lithium-ion battery is coupled to a 20-horsepower, 118 lb-ft of torque electric motor that boosts the S400 Hybrid’s fuel economy to 29 mpg combined while still producing the kind of power and finesse the S-Class is renowned for. The electric drive components in the S400 Hybrid make up a fraction of the tech onboard Mercedes-Benz’s full-size luxury liner. The S-Class comes equipped with an arsenal of safety-based technology, from awareness and lane minders to a futuristic display that alerts the driver to objects on the road ahead in low light. Where the gadgetry manages to differentiate this S from its predecessors, familial traits like muscular styling and a meticulously executed interior define this car as a Mercedes-Benz S-Class. If you’re looking for the next chapter in luxury hybrid sedans, it’s here.
 







What's to Like
Like the rest of the S-Class lineup, the S400 Hybrid benefits from the 2010 face lift. A larger grille, massive arched fenders and attractive LED taillights differentiate this sedan from the rest of the well-dressed crowd. The hybrid drivetrain is smooth and quiet, with a near seamless transition between electric and gasoline power. The next-generation lithium-ion battery is pretty nifty.
 
What's Not to Like
Though the combined output of the S400 Hybrid’s gasoline and electric motors sits at a respectable 295 horsepower, the car has over two tons of German engineering to lug around. The result is a car that’s decidedly less fun to drive than it’s big V-8 and V-12 brothers. Also it’s a ‘mild’ hybrid, meaning that the S-Class can’t scoot around on electric power alone.
 
The Drive:
DriverSide Driving Impressions
After spending some time in the new S400, it is, without a doubt, the nicest hybrid we have ever driven. You are surrounded by all the luxe effects the S-Class has come to represent, which is to say, you feel like the leader of a prosperous eco-friendly country.  That said, you’re still driving a hybrid and not a 12-cylinder, twin-turbo behemoth that goes like schnell when you press on the gas. The hybrid scoots along just fine. It takes its time getting up to speed and brakes like an out of control Radio Flyer, but, if you are person of means and you want to drive a hybrid, this is the Benz for you. 

 
Engine and Drivetrain
Mercedes-Benz has combined its 3.5-liter V-6 engine with a compact electric motor to achieve a total of 295 horsepower and 284 lb-ft of torque. While the electric bits only contribute 20 of those horses, they add a much more respectable 118 lb-ft of torque to the equation that helps to propel this massive sedan along.

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