• Excellent refinement. • Stunning interior. • Impressive technology.
• Virtually indistinguishable from smaller C-Class, larger S-Class. • Not inspiring to drive. • Entry-level prices still on the high side.
The E-Class is back, stronger than ever.
The E-Class is Mercedes-Benz’s bread-and-butter model, by its own admission. Having always sold every iteration of the E-Class in droves since the emergence of the first real Einspritzmotor in 1984. It continues to be the aspirational car of choice for many a middle-management exec, and in the corporate carpark war, the mid-size Mercedes-Benz almost always dominates the landscape.
The new E-Class is touted as the most advanced Mercedes-Benz yet, and they might be right. With more autonomous driving tech than ever before, an interior that apes the S-Class to an unnerving degree, and almost uncompromised practicality, the E-Class is a very hard proposition to ignore, so ignore it, we shan’t. Facing strong competition from all fronts, has the E-Class got what it takes to remain as one of the segment best? Or has it been bested by fresher, more focused rivals on the market?
Exterior
From the outside, the Mercedes E-Class takes styling inspiration from the larger S-Class, and it ditches its predecessor’s boxy design in favour of the limousine’s more svelte curves. While the design might not be to everyone’s tastes, the higher-spec AMG Line model has lots of kerb appeal. - AutoExpress UK
When Mercedes-Benz showed us their new design language with the new A-Class, we didn’t imagine that it would be adapted almost entirely to the whole range of cars with the three-pointed star. When everyone ooh-ed and aah-ed at the new S-Class, we suspect Mercedes-Benz saw it fit to simply take that design and put it on a photocopier, setting the sizes to 50% and 70%. The former produced the C-Class, and the latter gave us the E-Class.
Make no mistake, the new E isn’t in any way ugly. It’s handsome and restrained, like every E before it. The grille (and the central badge) may be a tad too large for some, but we reckon it looks more organic than the alternative grille that employs the bonnet-mounted ornament that we’ve come to recognise. AMG-Line variants turn the dial up to eleven, with big wheels and a sharp bodykit, which make the new E look like it’s ready to take on even the meanest opponents (although it really isn’t). On the whole, you’ll either hate it, or sit with the majority and adore it.
Engine & Drivetrain
This E-class is a car so complex and so connected that its internal-combustion engine seems like an afterthought. - Car & Driver
The most advanced E-Class yet comes with the newest engines yet from the Stuttgart brand. In Australia, presently, we get a petrol E200, an E220d diesel, and an E350d V6 diesel. The two oil burners offer the best outright fuel economy (4.3l/100km for the E220d, and 5.5l/100km for the E350d), and are both described as refined but strong. The E220d (143kW/400Nm) has more than enough punch for daily use, though the V6 (190kW/620Nm) may prove the better companion for long-distance drivers.
The sole petrol offering (for the time being) is a 2.0-litre inline-4, turbocharged to produce 135kW and 300Nm. This is employed in the E200, and is the best power plant to go for if you and your E-Class will be spending most of your time in town. It’s marginally quieter, and a bit smoother, though fuel consumption will take a bit of a hit, with a claimed consumption figure at 6.3l/100km.
Interior
That such a sizeable, multi-talented sedan matches its accomplished nature with such an inviting interior is testament to the effort that’s been injected into the E. Despite the C-Class-esque interior, the dash also has splashes of S-Class, down to the elegant sweep and quartet of circular air vents in its centre. - WheelsMag
The interior of the E-Class is a real highlight. It improves upon the outgoing model substantially, offering a new sense of drama and style on top of the comfort and ergonomics of the last car. There are very obvious influences from the S-Class and E-Class here (further reinforcing the photocopier theory), but that’s really no bad thing. It’s probably the prettiest interior in the segment, though the G30 BMW 5-Series puts up a pretty good fight.
The seats, trimmed with ARTICO faux-leather as standard, are unbelievably comfortable, though real leather is an option well worth selecting. There’s plenty of room wherever you sit, but the rear middle seat should be considered as a ‘spare,’ as is usually the case with cars like these. The sloping roofline that gives the exterior such a beautiful shape robs rear headroom slightly, but only the tallest passengers will be affected.
Behind the Wheel
Given the E-class’s size, you might be forgiven for imagining it to be a bit of a hefty thing to helm. The good news is that couldn’t be further from the truth; in fact, it’s delightfully easy. - TelegraphCars, UK
The E-Class has never prided itself on being the most agile mid-size saloon, and it makes no pretensions about such things here, either. The new E does wax lyrical about comfort and refinement, and that, it delivers in spades. No matter which engine you go for, the E-Class provides a truly serene driving experience, with adaptive suspension coming as standard (and air suspension available as an upgrade). The very biggest wheels on offer will hamper outright comfort and refinement slightly, so we suggest you think twice if you’re considering an optional upgrade.
Of particular note are the controls themselves: The steering wheel is light and effortless to use, and the pedals allow for smooth progression whether you’re getting on or slowing down. Good grip levels will leave all but the most demanding drivers feeling suitably planted on the road, and it’ll eat up motorway miles with ease.
Safety & Technology
The Driver Assistance Package PLUS package comprises of a whole host of Mercedes-Benz’s latest safety technologies that is designed to aid the driver and take the stress off driving. - CarsGuide
Safety for the E-Class is nothing to scoff at, no matter where you find yourself in the range. All cars come as standard with nine airbags, Attention Assist driver drowsiness software, and an Active Bonnet for added pedestrian safety.
Also available is a Driver Assistance Package PLUS, which offers the latest and greatest active safety tech from Mercedes-Benz. This includes things like Drive Pilot, Steering Pilot (semi-autonomous driving), and Distance Pilot DISTRONIC active cruise control. It also throws in Active Brake Assist, Evasive Steering Assist, Active Blind Spot Assist, Active Lane Keep Assist, Pre-Safe PLUS, and Pre-Safe Impulse Side pre-crash preparation system.
Verdict
The new E-Class is a properly attractive proposition, now more than ever before. Its sharp new suit makes it unmistakably Mercedes-Benz, without running the risk of being offensive. The more you look at it, the more you like it. The interior ambiance is second to none in this segment, and on the whole, it offers more value than its competitors hand-over-fist, even if base prices put it a hair dearer above the rest.
Our recommendation stands with the E220d four-pot diesel. We feel that the new diesel engine, which is more refined than we ever imagined, will provide enough poke for most drivers, and its breadth of abilities will never leave it out of place, be it in town or on the motorway. The excellent fuel consumption is always a boon too, though we suggest opting for the Driver Assistance Package PLUS to make the whole experience that little bit more effortless.
CarAdvice - 85/100 - The E-Class has always been synonymous with style, luxury and class. These days, it manages to do all of those things, but introduces a new feat — it’s one of the most technologically advanced cars ever created by Mercedes-Benz.
AutoExpress UK - 100/100 - The Mercedes-Benz E-Class is a stylish executive saloon that features an interior which sets new standards for quality and design. Refinement is also top notch, while the S-Class-inspired technology makes it safer and easier to live with. It’s not quite as fun to drive as a Jaguar XF, but it’s close enough in a class where comfort and composure count.
Telegraph Cars UK - 90/100 - The E-class is not a sporty car, and for that it makes no apologies. Good, we say; leave the handling to the sports cars and let big saloons be about comfort and tranquility. Make sure you specify the air suspension if you want to get the best out of the E-class, but do so, and you’ll end up with a beautifully-made car that soothes the senses whenever you drive it.
Car & Driver - 90/100 - Of course, Mercedes hopes you’ll think of the E-class’s ability to nearly drive itself as the ultimate luxury. Whether or not buyers embrace that, the new E-class is proof that we’ve arrived at the time when everything and anything can be a smart object—including the story you’re reading. Check your email: It’s time to get back to work.
TopGear UK - 80/100 - Mercedes-Benz has thrown everything it knows at the new E-Class. You can tell.
Motoring - 83/100 - The new E-Class is more than cabin space and equipment inclusions. Any car can claim to have the latest luxury features, but few can pull it off with the same style and panache as Mercedes’ latest offering.
CarsGuide - 90/100 - This is autonomous driving in its infancy. It’s the first few less-than-perfect steps towards what we’ll take for granted in the future. As for the cars themselves, while we haven’t driven the E350d, the E200 and E220d with their extensive list of standard features including the self-driving tech along with the high level of refinement and safety make them excellent value for money at this price.
Drive - 90/100 - All in all, the tenth-generation E-Class is a smart car, on every front. It fast forwards the future of some technologies into today and improves on the technology of yesterday in others. It might still be too conservative to be cool, but it is automotive geek chic.
WheelsMag - 90/100 - It’s still more about the driver than the technology, but the latest E-Class is a well-rounded luxury car with an impressive safety artillery.
