What’s it like to drive?
What’s it like inside? As the middle point in the Mercedes saloon car line-up – sitting between the smaller C-Class and the larger S-Class – the E-Class has always had to deliver a combination of the two.Think upmarket touches blended with more robust materials that ensured it could be used day-to-day without looking tired.Well, for this latest car, it seems Mercedes has leant far more into the ‘upmarket’ end of the segment. It’s practically like a mini-S-Class in here, with large comfortable chairs and loads of LED lighting allowing you to colour the interior any way you see fit.There’s plenty of adjustability in the driver’s seat, too, while the steering wheel is nicely shaped – though the haptic-style buttons continue to annoy and lack the precision you’d get from physical ‘clicker’ controls which are far easier to use on the move.
You want a large saloon car to be comfortable, refined and easy to drive – and the E-Class definitely ticks this trio of boxes.At a cruise, it’s impressively hushed with low levels of wind and road noise which, in turn, make those longer journeys far more comfortable.The 2.0-litre engine might be small in capacity but it doesn’t make a big deal sound- wise, though heavy bouts of acceleration can cause it to become a touch vocal. Around town, the good visibility that you get in the E-Class means that you’ve always got a good view around you. However, at lower speeds, the ride can feel a bit jagged, though our test car’s 20-inch AMG alloys might have a hand in this.The biggest plus-point of the E-Class, however, is its efficiency – despite a relatively average-sized 73-litre fuel tank, it was showing a range of near-900 miles from a complete fill-up and it struggled to go down during our time with the car.
What’s the spec like?
How does it look?
Prices for the E-Class kick off at £52,290, with entry-level cars getting a vast amount of equipment including adaptive headlights, automatic climate control and a large screen with Apple CarPlay included.This entry price is for an E200 petrol, too; you’ll need to pay £56,925 for this diesel- powered E220d that we’ve looked at today. In entry form, the E-CLass has more than enough bells and whistles for most. Our test car came in at a chunky £68,785 in AMG Line Premium Plus, which adds larger wheels and, most noticeable of all, the new Mercedes Superscreen which brings a 12.3-inch display in front of the passenger. Is it technology for technology’s sake? A little
It’s definitely recognisable as a Mercedes, this new E-Class. The front grille – which is illuminated, as is the current trend – has an impactful design while the three-pronged star appears more purposeful than ever. Sure, in silver, our test car looked a little more under-the-radar, but it’s a more cohesive look overall than something like the electric EQE, which can feel a little understyled at times. At the rear, there’s a classy full-width chrome strip – just like the full-size S-Class – while the LED lights with their triangular design look both futuristic yet well incorporated into the car’s overall look.
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