Replacing the E-Class is a huge milestone for Mercedes-Benz, it being a car that benchmarks the luxury sedan segment. With combative rivalry in this segment, an update isn’t just any update. Expect manufacturers to go all-out when refining on this level.

As with any upcoming development, the rough edges disappear in later iterations. And so is the case with Mercedes’ latest plug-in hybrids. The second generation, if you like. The new CLA 250 e that we drove in the form of a Shooting Brake is one of those finely ground hybrids.

Plug-in Hybrids are everywhere these days and so this creates some fierce competition. In the lowest tier of their product line, BMW and Volvo both deliver a car that looks very similar at first. But are they?