Getting a test drive of this car has proven to be more tricky than I thought, but I have finally driven one after the 3rd visit to my dealer.
First Impression:
The new key is very slippery, especially with the gloss black buttons.
Plenty have been said about the exterior and interior styling. I agree with the common consensus that the new E-class looks a bit too similar to the C-class, especially from the front end, you really need to take a closer look to spot the double LED eyebrows and the wider, single lower air intake.
The side profile is flawless, the rear section is much more balanced than the C-class, and more athletic than the S-class.
I think the back of the car is distinctive enough with the horizontally cropped tail lights and the star dust illumination effect.
The designers have done a fantastic job disguising the size of the car, I only realize how much the E class has grown when parked next to our W211.
Test drive:
I drove in a range of conditions, from quiet back streets, to roads with some incline, and a short drive on the high way. I didn't really drive the car in an "enthusiastic" manner because the E class has always been about refined travelling in comfort and luxury. Overall it feels and drives like how a E-class should drive.
Engine and Performance:
The E 200 is the only demo car the dealer has at the moment. On paper, the 2.0L turbo 4 petrol engine, 135 kw and 300 Nm, doesn't look adequate to propel a 1600 kg sedan, make that 1750 kg with myself and the sales person sitting inside. It isn't as bad as I expected, with the help of the silky smooth 9 speed gearbox, and a responsive engine, the real world performance is acceptable. Smooth, relaxing progress can be made in stop start traffic. However, the performance isn't entirely convincing, especially when I have to drive over the hill, or merge onto the highway. I have to request more from the engine, which resulted in some not coarse engine note being transmitted into the cabin.
Gearbox:
MB's brand new 9 speed auto felt about the same as the 7G gearbox. The shifts are smooth and seamless during the test drive, no jerky gear shifts from 1st to 2nd or from 2nd to 3rd.
Steering:
Now this is interesting. It felt a bit lighter than the C-class, but it also felt more "connected" to the front wheels somehow. As expected. the ratio isn't as quick as the C class, but it is still very responsive and accurate. I would say the steering response is entirely in keeping with the character of the car, in fact the weighting and response felt very similar to the W211 but sharpen up a little bit. Of course it doesn't load up like the traditional hydraulic system.
Ride and Handling:
The ride with the standard suspension and 19 inch wheels is excellent. The car glides over different surfaces and the dampers absorbed them all without a hint of floatiness. I didn't get a chance to explore the limits of the car's handling ability, all I can say is the car felt very easy to drive.
NVH:
Here is the surprising part. During normal driving, the interior is extremely quiet, road noise and suspension noise are well suppressed. The engine idle smoothly and it is barely audible, even the air condition unit is whisper quiet. However, once I got onto the highway, cruising at around 90 to 100km/h, I can hear a lot more of everything, road noise, wind noise. I have no idea how the contrast be so significant, and it is something I find very surprising.
Interior:
The E-class continues on Mercedes's latest effort in creating class leading interiors. Perceived quality of materials and the fit and finish are set at a very high standard. I have to say aside from the stunning and slightly overwhelming dual screen display and the wood trim spanning across the dashboard, the rest of the interior looks and feels rather too similar to the C class. It isn't a bad thing of course, but when you are paying an extra $50k AUD over the C class, I will expect a little more. Mercedes has to do something about that gloss black panel on the lower dash board. It just doesn't feel right.
Both front and rear seats are generously cushioned, and they are contoured/shape in a way to provide excellent support all round.
Infotainment Systems:
I will do a separate review of the infotainment system in part 2 of the review.
First Impression:
The new key is very slippery, especially with the gloss black buttons.
Plenty have been said about the exterior and interior styling. I agree with the common consensus that the new E-class looks a bit too similar to the C-class, especially from the front end, you really need to take a closer look to spot the double LED eyebrows and the wider, single lower air intake.
The side profile is flawless, the rear section is much more balanced than the C-class, and more athletic than the S-class.
I think the back of the car is distinctive enough with the horizontally cropped tail lights and the star dust illumination effect.
The designers have done a fantastic job disguising the size of the car, I only realize how much the E class has grown when parked next to our W211.
Test drive:
I drove in a range of conditions, from quiet back streets, to roads with some incline, and a short drive on the high way. I didn't really drive the car in an "enthusiastic" manner because the E class has always been about refined travelling in comfort and luxury. Overall it feels and drives like how a E-class should drive.
Engine and Performance:
The E 200 is the only demo car the dealer has at the moment. On paper, the 2.0L turbo 4 petrol engine, 135 kw and 300 Nm, doesn't look adequate to propel a 1600 kg sedan, make that 1750 kg with myself and the sales person sitting inside. It isn't as bad as I expected, with the help of the silky smooth 9 speed gearbox, and a responsive engine, the real world performance is acceptable. Smooth, relaxing progress can be made in stop start traffic. However, the performance isn't entirely convincing, especially when I have to drive over the hill, or merge onto the highway. I have to request more from the engine, which resulted in some not coarse engine note being transmitted into the cabin.
Gearbox:
MB's brand new 9 speed auto felt about the same as the 7G gearbox. The shifts are smooth and seamless during the test drive, no jerky gear shifts from 1st to 2nd or from 2nd to 3rd.
Steering:
Now this is interesting. It felt a bit lighter than the C-class, but it also felt more "connected" to the front wheels somehow. As expected. the ratio isn't as quick as the C class, but it is still very responsive and accurate. I would say the steering response is entirely in keeping with the character of the car, in fact the weighting and response felt very similar to the W211 but sharpen up a little bit. Of course it doesn't load up like the traditional hydraulic system.
Ride and Handling:
The ride with the standard suspension and 19 inch wheels is excellent. The car glides over different surfaces and the dampers absorbed them all without a hint of floatiness. I didn't get a chance to explore the limits of the car's handling ability, all I can say is the car felt very easy to drive.
NVH:
Here is the surprising part. During normal driving, the interior is extremely quiet, road noise and suspension noise are well suppressed. The engine idle smoothly and it is barely audible, even the air condition unit is whisper quiet. However, once I got onto the highway, cruising at around 90 to 100km/h, I can hear a lot more of everything, road noise, wind noise. I have no idea how the contrast be so significant, and it is something I find very surprising.
Interior:
The E-class continues on Mercedes's latest effort in creating class leading interiors. Perceived quality of materials and the fit and finish are set at a very high standard. I have to say aside from the stunning and slightly overwhelming dual screen display and the wood trim spanning across the dashboard, the rest of the interior looks and feels rather too similar to the C class. It isn't a bad thing of course, but when you are paying an extra $50k AUD over the C class, I will expect a little more. Mercedes has to do something about that gloss black panel on the lower dash board. It just doesn't feel right.
Both front and rear seats are generously cushioned, and they are contoured/shape in a way to provide excellent support all round.
Infotainment Systems:
I will do a separate review of the infotainment system in part 2 of the review.