Is ‘masterpiece of intelligence’ really a masterpiece?
The current generation Mercedes-Benz E-Class was launched in 2016 and updated four years later. Mercedes test drivers have been on the road with the new model for a while now. Which points about the E-Class are good and what should the new model really do better? Twenty owners give the answer.
At the introduction of the new E, Mercedes-Benz blew high from the tower. The newcomer was referred to as a Masterpiece of Intelligence, with particular attention to the large number of autonomous driver assistance systems. With this, Mercedes was the first to offer a real counterbalance to Tesla’s Autopilot.
Autonomous driving, getting out rested
The intelligent systems on board do not miss their effect, many drivers praise their operation. “Semi-autonomous driving is brilliant. I had to step over a threshold to surrender to the car, but it is truly divine.” This owner wholeheartedly agrees: “The most important option for me is the autopilot. A great addition that provides peace of mind in traffic jams and over long distances.” He finds the function with which the driven speed is adjusted on the basis of speed signs less pleasant. “Automatically adjusting the speed is a nasty option in the Netherlands. Just turn this one off.”
As with the A-Class, the lane assistant is perceived as not very subtle. The emergency brake assist, which should help prevent collisions, does not get all hands together either. “The car intervenes for a fraction of a second as if a pedestrian suddenly jumps in front of your car, but there is really nothing to see.” On the other hand, there are drivers for whom the system was actually able to prevent an accident. You win some, you lose some.
Comfortable on the road
Not only the autonomous systems provide a pleasant driving experience, summarizes this E 350 e-driver. “Quiet! Delicious. But also so comfortable because of the good seats, the air suspension and the great air conditioning system. I float to work.” Mercedes has also taken a step here compared to its predecessor. “What stands out compared to the W212 I drove before is the suspension comfort,” notes an owner, “a lot has been gained here. The car has a wonderfully neutral, comfortable handling without becoming jiggly.”
Rear seat passengers in the E-Class are not as comfortable as some owners expect. This owner of a four-wheel drive E-Class All Terrain describes it as follows: “The legroom in the back is a bit disappointing for this ‘taxi model’, while every review only screens with those trunk liters. I would rather have a little less trunk space and a little more space for my fellow passengers.” Perhaps unnecessarily: the trunk of the E-Class Estate swallows up a gigantic 670 litres.
The E-Class is always equipped with an automatic transmission with no fewer than 9 gears. “The Mercedes is a wonderful mileage eater. Long journeys are no problem. The automatic transmission shifts wonderfully, almost imperceptibly. Due to the low speed it is also very quiet on board.
Infotainment and controls
Mercedes’ stilted “Masterpiece of Intelligence” meant no shocking infotainment changes. The E-Class still got the ‘old’ Comand system. The new MBUX, which was first seen in the new A-Class, only made its way to the E-Class in 2020. Not a superfluous luxury, according to owners from the very beginning. “The navigation is extremely slow and unintuitive,” writes one driver, “it has cumbersome menu structures, slow response and requires far too much work to perform your desired function.” The owner of an E 350 e Lease Edition agrees: “I am now more used to the car and the controls, but the feeling that it is less intuitive than with my previous BMW 5 Series remains.” The system does not appear to be completely fault-free, although it becomes stable after a few software updates.
Engine and drive Mercedes E-Class
The E-Class comes with a multitude of engines. In the review section we mainly find the E 200 d, 220 d, E 200 and E 350 e plug-in hybrid. The E 200 d and 220 d, in addition to being pleasant in the mgang, also prove to be economy champions. Owners regularly drive 1 in 20 or better. This also applies to the E 350 e plug-in, although the driver of this car also drives quite a few fully electric kilometers with it.
The Mercedes-Benz E-Class lives up to its creator’s title of ‘Masterpiece of Intelligence’, as long as you look at the driver assistance systems. These actually contribute to a restful driving experience for most owners. As far as infotainment is concerned, this has only been the case since 2020, which seems to have resolved the main point of attention. We close with the words of this owner: “The only downside is that almost every other car you’re in feels a bit spartan.”
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– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl