Mercedes-Benz introduced its new E-Class saloon at the end of last year in good time for the January 2024 registration period. Since then, some 239 units of the new model have been purchased here in Ireland, a 37pc increase from the 174 in 2023.
For over 75 years, E-Class has been the mainstay of the Mercedes-Benz model range and the premier German car maker has made sure not to rock the boat too much with this new model so as not to put off traditional and conservative buyers while at the same time reaching out to a new generation of customers whose choice is determined, or influenced, by modern trends and technology.
Some subtle changes to the exterior move the model even further up the luxury executive ladder keeping it competitive against rivals like BMW and Audi in terms of visual appeal, along with passenger comforts and interior appointments. They include a more sporty exterior style, new front end and grille, slimmer LED headlights, elegant character lines, an elongated bonnet that in my car featured the three-pointed star logo instead of in the grille that now features three louvres, the car’s well-proportioned rear, and more interior space courtesy of the slightly longer wheelbase which provides more comfort for occupants, with increased headroom, more rear leg and knee space as well an increase in elbow width. The end result is a dynamic, confident looking car with refinement at its very core.
My E-Class came in a Graphite Grey Metallic colour that showed it off to perfection as did the 19-inch multi-spoke light alloy wheels. The flush chrome door handle pops out to greet you. Open the heavy doors and prepare to be utterly spoilt by the exquisite interior design which, I believe, is the best you’ll find in any premier luxury car in its segment - a lot more S Class than before with huge attention to detail. Very good build quality is also evident.
My car was in the Exclusive Line Plus spec with beautiful beige leather upholstery, an open-pore black ash wood centre console, beige coloured leather steering wheel that can be adjusted via a button on the steering column, and velour beige carpets which in our wet weather were impossible to keep from getting soiled. Black mats would make a big difference. I loved how the constellation of tiny three-pointed stars on the passenger’s side of the dash lights up at night. There are 64 different ambient lighting options, but the huge amount of lighting made me feel ‘on view’ when driving at night. Front seats are comfy and supportive with power adjustments (including lumbar support) and memory settings on each door as well as seat heater and seat ventilation controls - the latter came on a few times by itself! The centre back seat is smaller than the outer two and the person here has a large transmission tunnel to manoeuvre their feet around. Luggage capacity is now at a decent 540 litres. Fold the rear seat backrests to make more space if they are not in use.
The MBUX 14.4-inch touchscreen manages information, communications, entertainment and navigation guidance systems. It is intuitive to use and includes smartphone integration of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. With artificial intelligence, the MBUX system is able to learn and adapt over time to predict your personal habits like navigation for frequently-driven routes or the radio station you like to listen to on your way home from work.
Climate control buttons are at the bottom of the central screen along with Dynamic Select that allows you choose from Comfort, Eco and Sport modes, the Active Parking Assist function, a Car button and volume control. The stand-alone 12.3-inch driver’s instrument screen consists of two large dials with your current speed also shown digitally.
There's a wireless phone charger pad up front and several C-type USB ports.
Petrol versions are E200, E300 e, and E450 4Matic; diesels are the E220 d, E300 de, and E450 d 4Matic. The E220 d diesel outputs 197hp and 440Nm torque but Mild Hybrid technology added 23hp and 205Nm on demand resulting in a 0-100km/h time of 7.6 seconds and a top speed of 238km/h. The engine is matched to an excellent automatic 9G-Tronic gearbox. I appreciated the 1,308km of fuel range available to me which says a lot for this mild hybrid diesel option. A week later, the average fuel return showed at 5.7 L/100kms (50 mpg); the claimed consumption is 4.8 L/100kms and annual road tax €200.
This is a really good car to drive with ample acceleration on tap. Very little noise filters through to the cabin. Steering is quite direct and heavy as I prefer. The car also proved remarkably agile on busy streets. I always appreciate blind spot assist in my cars. The parking package comes with a 360-degree camera. The big reversing screen also shows the car from above but you can select the view that you require.
E-Class was awarded maximum 5 stars for safety from Euro NCAP.
E-Class 220 D and E200 are priced from €80,525 and €82,130 respectively. An estate version is from €85,875.
