2011 BMW ActiveHybrid 750i vs 2010 Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid. The S400 Hybrid is Mercedes-Benz’s first luxury hybrid offering, and slots in below the S550 sedan as the company’s entry-level S-Class. Like the ActiveHybrid 750i, the S400 is considered a “mild” hybrid design, which uses a single electric motor in concert with its gasoline engine to bolster power and increase mileage. As such, it cannot run on electric power alone, but does feature regenerative braking and instantaneous stop/start to improve mileage further. 2011 BMW ActiveHybrid 750i vs 2010 Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid.
Otherwise, Mercedes’ approach to the hybrid design differs significantly from BMW’s, however, emphasizing fuel efficiency over performance. The main indicator of that difference is the S400 Hybrid’s gasoline powerplant, a 3.5-liter, Atkinson-cycle V-6 rated at 295 horsepower. Designed primarily for fuel efficiency, Atkinson-cycle engines extend intake-valve timing to produce higher mileage, but the approach also reduces low-end torque. The S400 Hybrid then bolsters the low-end performance with a 120-volt electric motor sandwiched between the engine and 7-speed automatic transmission. Total system horsepower checks in at 295 horsepower, with 284 lb-ft. of torque – both figures well below BMW’s. Mercedes claims V-6 economy and V-8 performance, but a 7.2-second 0-60 time places the S400 well off the 5.4-second acceleration of the S550, and 2.5 seconds behind the ActiveHybrid 750i’s 4.7-second figure. Mercedes-Benz achieves 19 city / 26 highway, yet the 750i’s preliminary figures, even with its additional horsepower and torque, are nearly identical: 17 city / 26 highway.
As the entry-level S-Class, the $88,825 S400 includes a long list of standard features, including Nappa leather interior, 14-way power front seats, navigation with 40GB hard drive, and Airmatic suspension. An optional “Split-View” polarized COMAND display allows driver and passenger to view two different programs on the same 8-inch screen. Other options include active, heated and ventilated front and rear seats, plus a wide range of technology features, including Night View, Adaptive high beams, rear-view camera, Distronic active cruise control, plus Lane Keeping and Blind Spot Assist. In addition, the available Parktronic also can scan an available parking space and notify the driver if the car will fit.
