The Mercedes-Benz E-Class has been a yardstick for luxury sedan buyers as supremely tough, powerful and well built cars. But it did not ever cut the mustard in terms of looks. Frankly none of them captured the eye after the ‘over engineered’ W124 model. Often regarded as the best of them all, the W124’s lifespan ended in 1996. In 1996 the W124 was replaced by the W210 models and ever since that the four eyed sedan lacked that certain character which the W124 had. And now for the year 2013, Mercedes-Benz has had a rethink and they went back to the drawing board.
EXTERIOR
It gives a warm and happy feeling to report that that spark is back. The 2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class has bought back the charm that only the W124 possessed. The maximum focus has been made on the design of the vehicle. Gone is the executive and serious appeal. The new E-Class looks more classy, elegant and sporty. The front grille now gets the imposing three-pointed star in the middle, which looks absolutely beautiful. Pull up on a junction and the audience around give it more than just a glance.
The four headlamp setup has been ditched to make way for the new twin headlight system. And it is not just the design. These headlamps are intelligent full LEDs and for the first time feature Daytime Running Lights. The side profile strikes the perfect balance between smooth surfacing and proportions, be it the sloping roof line or the angry protruding nose with the emblem or even the gorgeous 17-inch 5 spoke alloy wheels. At the rear you get two fantastic exhausts finished in chrome.
INTERIOR
Again the interior of the new E-Class is a blend of leather, brushed aluminium and high quality plastics. Mercedes will also be offering ‘open pore ash wood trim’ and Artico leather to customers who are ready to pay a premium for finesse. The steering shifts from being a four spoke unit to a sporty three spoke wheel. The seats are electrically adjustable and score very high on comfort. Somehow the seats in a Mercedes-Benz feel a bit more premium and comfortable than the rest of the competition.
A 17.8cm screen sits in the middle of the dash which controls navigation, multimedia and the updated COMAND system. The navigation is quiet accurate in big towns and cities, and points out various points of interest. You also get 10GB hard drive for storing your favourite and frequent media assets. If you wish to be chauffeured, the rear seats are ample comfortable and cozy to relax. However reserve the fifth seat only for short trips as it could get snug all around.
POWER AND PERFORMANCE
The vehicle we drove had a four pot diesel engine displacing 2.1 litres producing 204bhp of maximum power and 500Nm of peak torque. It is not exactly a performance engine, but it is best at what it is supposed to do. The mid-range torque delivery makes the car incredibly tractable. From a standstill the ton mark is achievable in 7.9seconds and the top speed is 242kmph. The 7G Tronic gets Economy and Sport modes for relaxed slow shifting and sustained shifting respectively. The paddles behind the steering wheel give you some control over the automatic gearbox, but the response from them is slow. Also you get a host of Mercedes safety technologies like stability program, attention assist, adaptive and many more to keep you out of troublesome situations.
Atop this Mercedes claims that the E250 CDI could do 1380km on a single fill, which we think might be achievable if you are hell bound on setting a record. On the move the E250 CDI is unfathomed by road imperfections. The ride is very composed and you feel isolated from the noisy world outside sinking in opulence. The steering feels analog and delivery real-time information to your fingertips. You can actually have fun with this car, which needless to say the E-Class lacked previously.
There is a change happening in the Mercedes-Benz product portfolio. They just keep getting better and better. The GL-Class, the A-Class and now the E-Class are all truly fantastic vehicles. I confess I was never a fan of the E-Class, for me the W124 was the best despite it being confined to the history books. It had that gravity and presence which all others lacked. Now Mercedes has put the flair back in the E-Class again stomping their authority in the segment, and more!
NEW MERCEDES-BENZ E250 CDI SPECIFICATIONS
Engine
Transmission
Max Power
Max Torque
Kerb Weight
2,143cc,
4-Cylinder
7G Tronic Plus,
7-speed automatic
204bhp@4200rpm
500Nm@1600-1800rpm
1,800 kgs
Suspension
Brake: Front/ Rear
Fuel Tank Capacity
Tyres: Front/ Rear
Price
Direct Control (with selective damping)
Ventilated Disc/Solid Disc
59 litres
245/45 R17
Rs.44,48,000
(ex-showroom, Delhi)
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