First Drive: Can the new Mercedes E-Class deliver the classy experience this saloon is known for?
By Jack Evans, PA Motoring Reporter
What is it?
The E-Class has been a longstanding member of the Mercedes family. Large, executive saloons have always been this German brand’s bread and butter, but in more recent times the soaring popularity of SUVs and crossovers has seen it expand its range of high-riding models with more traditional saloons – like the E-Class – sometimes left feeling like something of a relic. But Mercedes remains committed to this layout – at least for the time being – which means that we’ve got a new generation of E-Class to check out. But is it worth considering over one of this company’s SUVs? Let’s take a look.
What’s new?
From the outside at least, we’ve got a tried-and-tested format.There’s a long wheelbase for a roomy interior, understated yet classy looks and a svelte appearance on the road that’ll ensure that the E-Class looks just as good sauntering around town as it will hammering up the M1 on a Tuesday morning.
Inside, Mercedes has thrown all of its bells and whistles at the E-Class to ensure that it can fend off competition from the screen-heavy crowd that it goes up against.
What’s under the bonnet?
Diesel isn’t dead – not for Mercedes just yet, anyway – so underneath the bonnet of this E-Class we’ve got an engine fuelled by the black pump. It’s a 2.0-litre turbocharged unit with 194bhp and 440Nm of torque and while the 0-60mph time of 7.4 seconds is respectable, the real focus here is on efficiency and the ability to stretch out every last litre of fuel in the tank.
So the E220d is equipped with mild-hybrid technology which can take some of the strain away from the diesel engine and, combined, Mercedes says that you should get up to 58.9mpg – though we saw over 60mpg during long motorway stints. Emissions are also impressively low for a car of this type at 136g/km.
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