In the shadow of the ever increasing popularity of SUVs, Mercedes-Benz is working hard to ensure the survival of the large sedan. To this end, the E-class is technically at the forefront. How successful was the recent update session?
In the showrooms, EVs and SUVs (and increasingly also combinations thereof) jostle each other for the front seats. The bigger, the nicer and if possible with a plug. Nevertheless, there is still room for the traditional, conventionally powered full-size sedan. Mercedes-Benz underlines this by giving the E-class an interim update. Judging by the subtlety of the changes, Das Haus is still quite satisfied with these large sedans. Most eye-catching are the new rear lights and the smaller (rather: less large) grille of the E-class.
Mild hybrid
The real news is hidden. The technology has been updated and the electronics upgraded. The four-cylinder petrol engine from Mercedes is part of a large, modular engine family, of which we have come to know more and more members over the years, with both four and six cylinders, as petrol and as diesel and as a mild hybrid and as a plug-in hybrid. . The petrol version in the E200 performs well as a basic engine. Partly thanks to an exemplary vibration-free running, the motor internally designated as M254 shows its civilized character. At the most, he makes himself heard when pressing the accelerator deeper, but otherwise there is no question of any discord. Whether this is due to the integrated starter generator (15 kW and 180 Nm) or the combustion engine itself is difficult to determine, but the Mercedes engine generally reacts briskly to the accelerator. With the interim refinement, the tuning between engine and transmission does not seem to be forgotten. When accelerating, there is sometimes a rapid and almost unnoticeable shift from one gear to the other, while it often turns out to be sufficient to make optimal use of the flexibility in the traction development without shifting. Very comfortable. Engine and gearbox are two units in the E-class. And with the long ninth gear, the Mercedes engine barely needs to rev up to maintain cruising speed. The latter also has an influence on fuel consumption. In practice, the Benz uses a neat 1 in 11.8.
Comfort
Entirely in line with the drive technology, the sedan has a stable chassis that is more geared towards comfort than dynamics. Comfort prevails. Even so, you never have the feeling that the car is letting you down when you dive into a corner a little faster. The Mercedes feels well balanced. When it comes to safety and driving assistance, Mercedes has been at the forefront for a number of years. Take, for example, the tightly calibrated systems that keep a neat distance from the car in front of you and that keep the car in the heart of the roadway without a whoop. It is true that you have to pay extra for the Mercedes driving assistance package. If necessary, the cruise control system can independently adjust the pace based on navigation data, so that you can negotiate the corner at a safe speed. It is an attractive option that requires additional payment. Regardless of your stature, it takes no effort at all to position yourself behind the wheel. Seats and steering wheel are widely adjustable and you have plenty of space in all directions.
Corporate identity
Mercedes always follows its own striking corporate identity for the interior design. We do see some subtle adjustments. For example, the analogue clock on the center console has disappeared, as has the rotary knob to operate the infotainment system. The latter certainly does not mean that the operation has deteriorated. There is still a touchpad on the center tunnel and it can also be done by touching the screen, using your voice (“Hello Mercedes”) or via the steering wheel. The latter was also possible before the facelift. You had two minimal touchpads available for that purpose and that worked fine. Now Mercedes comes with a new steering wheel and on that the loose touchpads of the past have been replaced by one seamlessly smooth whole, which works just a bit less accurately. Not every progress is an improvement. Anyway, it is a small thing in a larger whole that is not much to criticize. For example, Mercedes is holding on to a set of physical buttons to operate the air conditioning and there are physical shortcuts to go directly to the main menus of the multimedia system.
The basic price of the E 200 is € 60,291. In principle, Mercedes works with one basic version, but also has so-called Business Solution variants plus a number of ‘lines’ that can be completely personalized on the basis of a long list of extras, whether or not in package form. In this area, Mercedes offers even more scope for individualisation than other brands.