2020 Mercedes-Benz S-Class plug-in hybrid vs gas: is the plug-in worth it?
S 560e RWD vs S 450 RWD
No. Does not pay back in 6 years.
41.9years to pay back
- Plug-in: $15,500 more. Saves $370 a year.
- Break-even: 502,600 miles.
- No gas trim with the same name. Cheapest gas 2WD trim used.
- 12,000 miles a year. Gas $3.20. Electricity 17 cents a kWh. Plug-ins: 50% of miles on electricity.
Every plug-in pair
| Pair | MSRP | Rating | Energy a year | Price gap | Saves a year | Payback | Ahead after 6 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S 560e RWD S 450 RWD | $109,750 $94,250 | 23 mpg, 53 kWh/100 mi 22 mpg | $1,375 $1,745 | $15,500 | $370 | 41.9 years | Gas, $13,280 |
What changes the answer
- Gas price for a 6-year payback: $10.98.
- Miles a year for a 6-year payback: 83,800.
What you give up
| Measure | Plug-in | Gas | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Horsepower | 469 hp | 362 hp | +107 hp |
| Torque | 516 lb-ft | 369 lb-ft | +147 lb-ft |
| Cargo, seats up | 12.3 cu ft | 12.3 cu ft | about the same |
| Cargo, seats down | 16.3 cu ft | 16.3 cu ft | about the same |
| Curb weight | 4,885 lb | 4,553 lb | +332 lb |
What this cannot tell you
Incentives, insurance, upkeep and resale are not included.
Your own mpg will differ.
- 2 or more sources
- 1 source
- Model-level, rule or estimate
- Sources disagree