Mercedes E class Review

DESIGN

The latest E-class is quite a sweeping departure from the rounded and softer lines of the car it replaces. The swell over the rear wheel arch stretching into the wings is a throwback to Mercedes models of the 1950s, while the four-headlamp front, a feature of the past two generations of the E-class, has been given a new twist. What looks great are the standard daylight running lights next to the fog lights.

CABIN

Step inside the new E-class and the instant feeling is of unfussy excellence. It has specific switchgear and lots of soft-touch plastics, even though some materials and texture don't feel very extraordinary. The beige interiors have a shade of brown which is not to our liking; we feel the E-class looks best and classiest with black interiors, which is also an option. The 'waterfall' lighting effect which splits the dashboard and the downlighting on the door switchgear looks simply fantastic at night.

The dashboard is vertical with angles and straight lines instead of the flowing shape of the earlier E-class.  Taking pride of place is the high-mounted screen housed in its own binnacle. A single knob lets you scroll through the on-screen menus to run most functions.

The best news is that Mercedes has at long last agreed to give the E-class fully-powered seats. The sound system is beefed up, parking sensors are standard and so are cornering lights. And, of course, safety too is improved with more airbags than before and a unique Attention Assist system which detects sleepiness and gives a warning!

ENGINE

The E-class is powered by a silken smooth four-valve per cylinder, twin-cam 3498cc V6, the same which powers the current S-class. This 272bhp provides more than enough rumble for the E-class, which is significantly lighter than the S-class (by 145kg). The throttle response is sharp has an urgency that will delight owners.

Accelerate and the big E lunges forward, increase in speed is always strong and linear. It's deceivingly quick as well and wafts you to 160kph in under 20 seconds before going on to a claimed top speed of an amazing 250kph. The engine is super quiet and even at max revs, there's just a buzz from under the bonnet. 

Even more remarkable is the seven-speed, 7G-Tronic 'box. Equipped with paddleshifts, plus-minusing is a joy and the surprise of this gearbox is the aggressive way in which it downshifts. The Merc's seven-speeder drops a gear more willingly and you feel the effect of 'engine braking' just like in a predictable manual. 

RIDE AND HANDLING

At the heart of the new E-class's dazzling handling is Mercedes' variable ratio Direct Steer system. It is a brilliant combination of being flawlessly weighted (not too heavy and not too light) precise and blessed with good feel. The new E darts into corners with lots of eagerness and little body roll. The harder you go, the tauter the handling gets which allows you to place this big saloon exactly and directional changes are dealt with poise.

FACT FILE  Wheelbase 4868 mm Fuel Petrol Type 6 cylinders in-vee, 3498cc Installation Front, longitudinal Power 272bhp Torque 35.6kgm