The Middle Kingdom
When Mercedes launched their third generation E-Class (W211) to much fanfare in 2002, its accompanying slogan was “Everything we know in one car.” In those pre-SUV days the evergreen mid-range saloon was the marque’s best-seller, its engineering robustness and excellent packaging and making it the stalwart of customers from taxi drivers to diplomats.
To date Mercedes has sold over 16 million upper mid-range cars, starting with the Model 170V (W136) from 1936, which re-started production in 1947 after a hiatus during the war years. The E-Class moniker arrived in mid-1993 with the facelifted W124 model, and has been applied to the mid-range saloon, Coupe, Estate and Convertible models ever since. This summer Mercedes will roll out the sixth-generation model to bear the E-Class name.
Elegance in a three-box design starts with the classically balanced proportions, and in this respect the new E-Class (W214) debuts as the best-looking car in the current four-door Mercedes range.
It is always easier to style longer cars as there is more surface area available to fully develop flowing design lines and incorporate sculpted details with room to spare. And length is also helpful for aerodynamics.
On that note, cars in general have been getting progressively larger over the years, and the march of time finds the latest E-Class with a 22mm longer wheelbase than its (W213) predecessor for improved cabin room.
Interestingly, the length, width and height of the new E-Class all marginally exceed the S-Class (W126) flagship from the 1980s. The relative dimensions for the new E-Class and old S-Class are as follows - Length: 4,949 / 4,995mm, Width: 1,880mm / 1,820mm, Height: 1,468 / 1,430mm.
At 2,961mm the wheelbase of the new E-Class is actually 26mm longer than that of the ‘80s S-Class, albeit still shorter than the long wheelbase S-Class (V126) limousine, which featured a 3,075mm wheelbase within its 5,019mm overall length.
And where you can pack 510 litres of luggage into the boot of the ‘80s S-Class, the boot of the new E-Class swallows an impressive 540 litres, with the added advantage of a split-folding rear seat backrest arrangement to maximise load space versatility. That said, the battery pack in the Plug-In Hybrid versions of the E-Class significantly reduces boot capacity to just 370 litres.
Mercedes engineers recognised as far back as the 1930s that good aerodynamics is a critical component for efficiency. A streamlined car requires less power and fuel to achieve and maintain a given speed, and the W124 E-Class of 1984 already boasted a Cd of just 0.29 despite its quite upright and regal shape.
With a drag coefficient value starting from 0.23 with the base E 200 on 17-inch wheels, the new middle-class Mercedes saloon is a leader in this segment even if its frontal area of 2.36 sq. m is slightly greater than that of its predecessor due to slightly increased exterior dimensions.
Modern cars have significantly greater engineering density in terms of active and passive safety systems and comfort features. So despite the use of lightweight materials like aluminium and composites for certain components the kerb weight of modern cars has also gone in the wrong direction.
On that score the entry-level four-cylinder E 200 tips the scales at a whopping 1,825kg, compared to a mere 1,520kg for the base six-cylinder 280S of 1981 and 1,820kg for the flagship V8-powered 560SEL from 1987. The battery pack and electric motor add a whopping 385kg to the kerb weight of the Plug-In Hybrid models. The 4Matic 4WD system, which is an option with the petrol, diesel and Hybrid versions, adds a further 55kg.
The suspension is a development of the outgoing E-Class system with four-links in front, complemented by a five-link independent rear. Coil-over gas damper struts are used all round with an anti-roll bar on each axle. AirMatic self-levelling air suspension with ADS+ continuously adjustable damping is part of the Technology package option, along with a more direct steering ratio. This package also includes the rear-axle steering system.
For the first time on an E-Class, rear-axle steering is being offered as an option. The maximum rear steering angle of 4.5 degrees in the same direction as the front wheels at low speeds up to 60km/h virtually shortens the wheelbase to improve parking manoeuvrability, and reducing the turning circle by 90cm. At higher speeds the rear wheels turn in the opposite direction to the fronts by up to 2.5 degrees, virtually lengthening the wheelbase to enhance high-speed stability.
On the engine front half of the new E-Class models will be fourth-generation Plug-in Hybrids at launch this summer, with six variants combining the advantages of a combustion engine car with those of an electric vehicle. With a purely electric range of up to over 100 kilometres (WLTP)5, many of these cars will be able to drive short distances under purely electric power.
In addition to turbocharging, both diesel and petrol versions are mild hybrids whose engines gain intelligent support from an integrated starter-generator (ISG). The improved battery in this latest package has boosted the power of the electric motor from 15 to 17 kW, enabling a significant torque boost of 205 Nm on tap when the driver demands full throttle.
The base petrol model is the E 200, whose 1,999cc four-cylinder engine develops 204hp and 320Nm of torque. The nine closely stacked ratios of the standard 9G-Tronic automatic transmission optimise both acceleration and fuel economy, and the 0-100km/h sprint takes a brisk 7.5 sec on the way to 240km/h, with combined fuel consumption of 7.3-6.4 l/100km.
For high mileage users, diesel is still the best option. With 197hp and a lusty 440Nm of torque for a 7.6 sec 0-100km/h time, the E 220d sips heavy oil at the miserly rate of 5.5-4.8 l/100km.
The entry-level Plug-In Hybrid model is the E 300e, which supplements the power and torque of the E 200 motor with an electric motor rated at 95 kW (the equivalent of 127hp), and 440Nm of torque. These numbers are not directly additive since the e-motor works on a different speed range from the ICE power unit, so the actual system power is 308.4hp and 550Nm of torque for 0-100km/h in 6.4 sec. With up to 100km of pure electric driving possible, overall fuel consumption is claimed to be 0.8-0.5 l/100km.
At launch the most potent four-cylinder model is the E 400e, which is only offered with 4WD. Its petrol motor makes 252hp and 400Nm of torque, and system power is 375.4hp with a lusty 650Nm of torque. The perfect traction of the 4Matic system delivers a rapid 5.3 sec sprint to 100km/h, with top speed electronically pegged at 250km/h. Combined fuel consumption is 0.9-0.6 l/100km.
Completing the gradual transition from analogue instruments, buttons and knobs that began with the last generation in 2016, the latest E-Class now offers a complete digital experience in its cabin. The cabin design combines the best of the previous generation E-Class while taking a leaf from the design book of the EQS electric flagship model. Notably absent is the angled tablet shaped infotainment screen that sits on the centre console of the current S-Class and SL models. Looking like an afterthought, this has not been popular with traditional Mercedes owners, so it is good to see the return to a coherent dashboard and centre console design here.
When you tick the box for the optional front passenger screen, the large glass surface of the MBUX Superscreen extends to the central display. Visually detached from this is the high-resolution driver display in the driver's field of vision. The main icons on the central and optional passenger displays are now simpler, and also colour-coded to match smartphone tiles.
The latest generation of electronics architecture is now more software and less hardware-driven. All the computing functions of previously separate domains are now carried out by a single processor.
With the screens and the MBUX infotainment system now sharing one very powerful central onboard computer network, the performance and speed of the data streams is significantly improved. Options here are a selfie and video camera on top of the dashboard that allow you to create photos and videos when the car is at a standstill, or run a video conference from the car that can be saved to a USB flash drive.
In Europe and elsewhere the front passenger can watch dynamic content such as TV or video streaming on the display during a journey, subject to the requirement that the driver is screened from distraction. The camera-based system uses a next generation filtering to block the driver from seeing dynamic content on the passenger screen whilst driving.
This blocking function of the passenger screen operates in two stages, with the first registering whether the seat next to the driver is occupied. If it is, the touch surface of the display can be used from the front passenger seat via MBUX, but if it is not then the screen becomes a digital decorative feature.
While air-conditioning is standard, Thermotronic automatic climate control is an optional extra. This system uses Digital Vent Control to enhance the comfort experience, automatically adjusting the front air vents even for the occupant of each seat via the user profile. Of course the nozzles can also be set by hand.
The standard audio system offers 125 Watts pumped into seven speakers with a bass woofer in the passenger footwell, a mid-range driver in each door and tweeters in the mirror triangle of the front doors. Audiophiles will appreciate the Burmester 4D surround sound system. This spreads 730 Watts of amplifier power across 15 channels and 21 speakers, including a pair of 3D drivers in the front headlining. The system also features Dolby Atmos and Spatial Audio capability for a truly immersive 360-degree audio experience.
A new feature is the Digital Vehicle Key, with which the car can be opened, started and locked with a compatible iPhone or Apple Watch2 carried by the driver. Key sharing is also possible, with various digital channels available to allow family members or friends use of the car.
The system is flexible and lets the main user of the Mercedes me account assign different rights to different people, granting only access to the vehicle or also allowing it to be driven. The vehicle can also recognise several users at once, and the Digital Vehicle Key can be shared by up to 16 people. In markets where Mercedes me connect services are available pre-installation for the Digital Vehicle Key forms part of the KEYLESS-GO Comfort Package3 available from the Premium Package level upwards.
The standard Active Parking Assist can now be enabled intuitively via the touchscreen. Automated parking and exiting is now much faster as the latest upgrades allow precise manoeuvring at up to 4 km/h. There are other new optional comfort features too numerous to mention here.
Classic Mercedes enthusiasts will tell you that the E-Class (W124) produced from 1984 to 1995 is probably the best car ever to wear the three-pointed star. Mechanically straightforward and well rust-proofed, this model was conceived and built in an era when the over-engineering of its cars was a Mercedes badge of honour. The fact that thousands of this robust model are still in service around the world with caring owners who consider them a ‘forever car’ is a tribute to its design, engineering, and driving dynamics, which are still good even by today’s standards.
In parenthesis, the all-new E-Class is very much a car of the second decade of the 21st Century, and a technical tour de force incorporating many technologies and comfort features most owners don’t even know they need. It will be most interesting to see how this sixth generation of E-Class fares in the hearts and minds of car enthusiasts when they look back on it in 40-years-time.