E-Class W213 Mercedes-Benz E-Class W213 Test Drives

[Centurion]

I saw the car in that exact colour and rim combo this past weekend. If you like the C-Class, which IMO is a gorgeous design, the E-Class will win you over. Unless you are a hardcore petrol head or a Mercedes fan, you will think they are the same car. I cannot recall any two models from the same car manufacturer that are so close in design.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

I just handed the W213 back, reluctantly I must say. Forget the negatives I said after seeing it at the showroom introduction some weeks ago; what a car... Full review later this week.

I've been checking for your review daily Mick!

 

[domleo999]

I saw the car in that exact colour and rim combo this past weekend. If you like the C-Class, which IMO is a gorgeous design, the E-Class will win you over. Unless you are a hardcore petrol head or a Mercedes fan, you will think they are the same car. I cannot recall any two models from the same car manufacturer that are so close in design.

No no, they don't look anything alike! The E has a different shoulder line

 

[DjordjeC63]

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[Mick Briesgau]

E350d: only had it for a day and drove approx. 350 km in it. The new airsuspension is very, very good. Much better than the one I had in my 2012 CLS and it comes very near the one of the W222. That with 20" wheels...! A few weeks ago I drove the new 7er and the E is on par with it's airsuspension, if not better. In sportsmodus the E makes really fun on a countryroad. Very crisp, precise and "talkative" steering.
The tft screens deliver sharpness and brightness and the hud was very beautiful with some nice new colours (like blue, which my current hud doesn't offer). The materials used are highquality, at some points below the W222, but again very much like the 7er I drove. I don't want to make this a Mercedes-Benz vs BMW thing, but more than once the G11 came to my mind whilst driving the W213. I didn't really pay attention to fueleconomy. What I did notice was that the 9G automatic kept the engine at about 200 r/pm lower than my 7G automatic. At speed 120 km/h mine is at circa 1.400 r/pm where the E350 was at circa 1.200 r/pm. My first impression is that W213 is a very good car with everything you need and want; it has the looks, the quality, the safety and the engine. If you want to have an idea what this car is all about, I'd recommand a longer drive to savour it: you'll like it.

 

[Mick Briesgau]

 

[Rolf]

Thanks so much @Mick Briesgau for the great write up. The E350d you drove looks fantastic. Would you say the new 9G-tronic is smoother and quicker shifting than the 7G-tronic in your S-class? A noticeable improvement? How does it compare with the 8speed ZF in the 7-series?

 

[SKY]

I appreciate your review @Mick Briesgau, but, since I know you are not exactly the biggest BMW fan in the world, are you really sure the W213 can compete with the G11 7er in terms of ride comfort and interior quality?

 

[Rolf]

I appreciate your review @Mick Briesgau, but, since I know you are not exactly the biggest BMW fan in the world, are you really sure the W213 can compete with the G11 7er in terms of ride comfort and interior quality?

LOL you will be causing WWIII here if he says the E-class has a better ride and interior quality with the 7-series

 

[SKY]

Well, I am asking in a friendly way, I hope Mick understands that. But I would say, based on the G11s I have seen, that the car has a really good interior, so comparing it with the W213 instead of the W222 seems a bit suprissing.

 

[Zafiro]

I saw another E-class today but once again I mistook it for C-class. I really have to start pay attention more closely next time before I say C-class. Grrr..

 

[JLBM]

LOL you will be causing WWIII here if he says the E-class has a better ride and interior quality with the 7-series

But it does..

 

[sucu123]

In case of the W213, it totally depends on the lines and options. The entry level cars are really cheap looking but the fully loaded cars are exceptional in terms of quality perception and can easily compete with the G11 imho.

I have ordered a 220d with AMG Line Int. + Ext. with Brown Nappa Leather which really looks upmarket imo. My wife was initially very sceptical, but after the test drive she loved the car. We have ordered the full drivers assistance package which is a huge improvement over the W222. That was the most impressive difference between the two cars which we could recognize during the test drive.

 

[SKY]

But it does..

It is not my intention to gurn this into an internal combustion thread, but until someone gives a more detailed explanation lf these kind lf claims, I will find them hard to believe.

 

[montana]

I saw another E-class today but once again I mistook it for C-class. I really have to start pay attention more closely next time before I say C-class. Grrr..

Initially, those were actually my thoughts too. The first W213 I saw was white with Avantgarde exterior. Mistook it for a W205. But since then I've seen some 213s with AMG-package, and they are far easier to distinguish from the C.
My opinion is that the E class needed a clean, non-messy design, which is exactly what they've accomplished. I feel like this is Mercedes' "F10".

 

[Mick Briesgau]

I appreciate your review @Mick Briesgau, but, since I know you are not exactly the biggest BMW fan in the world, are you really sure the W213 can compete with the G11 7er in terms of ride comfort and interior quality?

First of all, it are all personal impressions. Second, I'm not "not exactly the biggest BMW fan in the world". I like BMW and what it traditionally stands for very much. Yes, imo the ride comfort can most certainly compete with the G11. Just as it competes with the W222 as well. Some negatives of the interiorquality of the 7er (see my review and the pictures that followed) can be found in the W213 as well and in the A8 too for that matter. As I wrote, some aspects reminded me directly of the 7er. As a whole the 7 er interior, used materials around the airco -unit and for the buttons, the seats and the middle console for instance, the G11 is better executed.

 

[Mick Briesgau]

Thanks so much @Mick Briesgau for the great write up. The E350d you drove looks fantastic. Would you say the new 9G-tronic is smoother and quicker shifting than the 7G-tronic in your S-class? A noticeable improvement? How does it compare with the 8speed ZF in the 7-series?

I can't say it was smoother, quicker yes. Imo the MB auto and the 8 ZF auto are both masterpieces. Not surprisingly, the 7/9G focusses on comfort, the 8ZF of the 7er I drove felt a bit more sporty.

 

[JLBM]

I can't say it was smoother, quicker yes. Imo the MB auto and the 8 ZF auto are both masterpieces. Not surprisingly, the 7/9G focusses on comfort, the 8ZF of the 7er I drove felt a bit more sporty.

Sorry, but MB are not masterpieces at transmissions. They are ok, but not world class. Not by a long shot. Never have been..

 

[Merc1]

Sorry, but MB are not masterpieces at transmissions. They are ok, but not world class. Not by a long shot. Never have been..

We can say that they aren't the best, but they aren't world class, that is just total BS. Never have been is BS, not by a long shot is also BS. Only the ZF gearbox is better and that is because it is sportier. The problem here is that Benz isn't going for that, it doesn't suite the character of the car. The ZF in my 650i would feel out of place in the S550 with the shift logic employed by BMW.

M

 

[Rolf]

Well in many magazine tests from days gone by, Mercedes auto boxes were constantly mentioned as been the best in the world. Of course as time goes on and ZF are bringing out great gearboxes then they will constantly bringing out a gearbox better than the Mercedes box, but some of the german car mags lately have rated the 9G-tronic as been better than the 8 ZF in latest AMS tests. (see below under Schaltung/Getriebabstufeng they rated it 10/10 while ZF in BMW 9/10)