MERIDA Espresso City 400 EQ

Whether your commute takes in forest trails and gravel tracks or you just want the freedom to explore at weekends, the eSPRESSO CC 400 EQ delivers all the convenience of a city e-bike with added off-road ability. That’s because our low step-through ENERGY CRADLE frame is stiff enough to cope with dirt tracks while also housing an internal 630 Wh battery and the trekking dedicated Shimano E6100 drive unit. While the suspension fork and seat post help keep you comfortable when it gets bumpy, we’ve fitted it with a host of kit to make city life easier and safer, with mudguards, rack, lights, lock and a kickstand as standard. A smooth-shifting Shimano 10-speed drivetrain and strong, low-maintenance hydraulic disc brakes add fuss-free control.

The eSPRESSO CC range is the rugged sibling of the regular eSPRESSO CITY, with wider and grippier high-volume tyres on 650b wheels. While it’s happy working hard in the urban jungle thanks to standard-fit mudguards, lights, lock, rack and kickstand, it’s also capable of taking trips along forest trails and gravel tracks for fun. Models with the low step-through ENERGY CRADLE frame design come with either 630 Wh or 750 Wh fully-integrated batteries, while a more economical semi-integrated frame comes with a 504 Wh battery. All come with a refined but powerful Shimano STEPS pedal-assist motor, including the sporty EP8 unit on some models. Smooth and comfortable progress is assured with suspension forks on all models, while powerful hydraulic disc brakes allow effortless and controlled stopping. All have a high system weight of 150 kg which means plenty of capacity for rider and luggage.