New Mercedes-Benz E-class first drive

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Monday, 15 February 2010 18:00

The new Mercedes-Benz E-Class Saloon, its load lugging new stablemate the E-Class Estate and the new classically styled E-Class Coupe have never been so cultured and received so much praise from motoring pundits like myself.

The E-Class Saloons and Estates, for those not familiar with them, are probably best known around the world as the taxis you see first at overseas airports or lined-up outside hotels. The E-Class in whatever forms are durable, distinctively Mercedes, comfortable and roomy hence their popularity – not just as taxis but as premium brand executive cars.

In the UK the latest E-Class models come with a wide range of petrol and diesel engines and BlueEFFICIENCY low CO2, lower tax versions which company car and business user-choosers will appreciate, as will retail buyers. BlueEFFICIENCY versions have distinct advantages with lower Benefit-in-Kind tax levels and retail customers will benefit from the lower road tax or Vehicle Excise Duty.

Remember as from April a new first year VED rate applies, dubbed the ‘showroom tax’, where more powerful, higher CO2 emitting models such as executive saloons, estates, SUVs, MPVs, sports and high performance cars are penalised with a much more costly level of road tax in the first year of registration.

Any manufacturer’s models emitting more than 151g/km will see an increase in road tax with the higher levels ranging from £155 to £950. Models up to 130g/km will be road tax free in the first year, models from 131-140g/km will go down from £120 to £110 and cars from 141 to 150g/km will stay the same at £125.

The new E-Class BlueEFFICIENCY Saloons are particularly attractive tax wise with up to a 23% saving in fuel consumption with the most frugal version showing an official 54.3mpg in the Combined Cycle. Take the turbodiesel E200/E220/E250 CDI versions. Their CO2 emission range from a super-low 137g/km up to139g/km meaning a first year road tax cost of just £110 - £10 less than today’s price. Business users will also enjoy the very attractive 18% Benefit-in-Kind tax costs.

The new E-Class saloon is the successor to a Mercedes model that has been successful throughout the world, and of which more than 1.3 million examples have been sold since 2002 (over 70,000 in the UK). Since 1947, when the Model 170 V was introduced as the direct ancestor to the E-Class, Mercedes-Benz has produced more than 10 million saloons belonging to this series. This makes the E-Class easily the world’s most successful business saloon.

With a choice of nine direct injection engines (petrol and diesel) the new E-Class four-door Saloon prices range from £27,570 for the E200 CDI 136bhp BlueEFFICIENCY SE, interestingly cheaper than the lowest priced E200 CGI 184bhp BlueEFFICIENCY petrol SE model which costs £28,035. The E63 AMG V8, 525bhp super-sports petrol version tops out the saloon range at £71,355.The range has the options of SE, Avantgarde, Sport and AMG levels of specification depending on the engine choice.

The main competitors for the new premium brand E-Class Saloon remain the current, and shortly the new, BMW 5 Series, the Audi A6 and the Jaguar XF.

Because purchase and running costs are important to the majority of new car buyers, even in this premium large saloon sector and price and CO2 based Benefit-in-Kind tax is just as important for company car and business user-chooser customers, my first drive of the new E-Class Saloon was in the least costly model, the £27,570, E200 BlueEFFICIENCY CDI Saloon SE which uses one of the three new four cylinder turbodiesel engines in the new range. For a car of this status, size, quality and refinement the price is ultra competitive.

Standard SE specification includes 16-inch light-alloy wheels in a five-spoke design, aluminium trim, Artico artificial leather upholstery, heated front seats and a four-spoke multifunction steering wheel lined in with nappa leather with chrome inserts. Also included in the standard equipment is the stereo radio system with a twin receiver, CD-player, eight speakers and a Bluetooth interface for a mobile phone. The clearly laid out 5.8-inch information screen in the centre of the dashboard can be operated by the driver or front passenger, using the controller on the centre console. Advanced Parking Guidance is also standard as are a host of other technologies. These include adaptive suspension which constantly changes the damper settings depending on driving conditions to a host of safety measures such as driver drowsiness detection, pre-safe accident protection, nine airbags and an active bonnet system where springs raise the bonnet from the rear in a front end impact helping to soften the blow.

The only issue during my week long test was the ‘take-a-break’ warning diagram was permanently displayed even on start-up from cold so I know it wasn’t me and there appeared no way to reset it after consulting the comprehensive handbook.

The new E-Class interior is classy yet remains classic Mercedes-Benz and just because it is the base SE level of equipment it offers most things that most people will want. The seating is supportive and relatively firm but comfortable. The head and legroom is impressive front and rear and there is a large easy to load 540-litre luggage boot.

As for exterior styling: conservative but with the famous three-pointed star mounted on the bonnet means it can only be a Mercedes. The side sculptured styling lines accentuate the car’s length with deeply sculptured panels and wide rear wheel arches. At the front the classic Mercedes face with swept back grille and twin headlights have gone and now we have an upright grille flanked by twin rectangular lights. I prefer the previous style which looked classier and elegant. But we are told that upright grilles are safer for pedestrians who will not be scooped up onto the bonnet!

But the most relevant improvements in this CO2 obsessed motoring world are the lower running costs with improved fuel economy and lower emissions which minimise road tax and company car tax. BlueEFFICIENCY versions, whether petrol or diesel, make up most of the new E-Class line-up. This system is similar to EfficientDynamics from BMW and uses new engine and transmission designs and technologies, Stop/Start functions, energy capture during braking, lightweight construction, detailed aerodynamic changes to ‘flow’ the air around and under the car and low rolling resistance tyres.

These result in massive improvements in fuel economy and CO2 emissions. The 2.1-litre, four cylinder CDI 136bhp might not look anything special on paper and the ‘runt’ of the Mercedes powerhouse family. But this new high pressure turbocharged diesel unit is so responsive thanks to its 360Nm of torque from just 1,600rpm and its quiet and refined as well. Around town, in stop and start traffic or on the open road it is all the engine most E-Class private and company cars drivers need if they are wanting to reduce their tax bills and with the new ‘first year’ higher road tax charges for the higher CO2 emitting cars becoming law in April. My test car returned 52.2mpg on average, remarkable for a luxury saloon of this size. The official combined cycle figure is 54.3mpg so fact and fiction are very close. What is more with CO2 emissions of 137g/km, with the six-speed manual gearbox, the new first year road tax bill will be only £110 and it stays at that figure for subsequent years as well. If this E-Class is for company use then the Benefit-in-Kind tax is a low 18%. There are no downsides in performance terms. Top speed is 130mph and 0-62mph takes 9.7 seconds.

In short this new E-Class Saloon is fuel and tax efficient, it looks good, performs well, is a relaxed cruiser, it offers a comfortable and compliant ride, the SE specification is comprehensive so there is really nothing much not to like about the car.

MILESTONES. Mercedes-Benz E-Class E200 BlueEFFICIENCY CDI Saloon SE. Price: £27,570. Price with options: (telephone pre-wiring kit, sat-nav, metallic paint, auto dimming mirror and folding door mirrors) is £30,145. Engine/transmission: 2.1-litre, 4-cylinder, high pressure, direct injection, common-rail turbodiesel, 136bhp, 360Nm (266lb ft) of torque from 1,600rpm, 6-speed manual. Performance: 130mph, 0-62mph 9.7 seconds, 54.3mpg (52.2mpg actual), CO2 137g/km, VED now £120 (£110 from April), BIK tax 18%. Insurance group: 29E. Retained value over 3-years: 47%. For: Comfort, refinement, safety, massive improvements in fuel economy, low CO2 emissions means low running costs and low tax bills, high residual value, Mercedes-Benz executive car status. Against: Conservative looks, personally I’m not keen on the upright grille design, faulty ‘take-a-break’ warning indicator. Miles Better News Agency www.girlracer.co.uk