Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Everything evolves out of necessity to stay one step ahead of the game. Sometimes too much specialisation makes one king of the hill, but a sudden shift in the environment can mean extinction. Mercedes is a master at choosing the middle road when it comes to large executive saloons, and the the new E-Class furthers this philosophy by giving everyone what they always offered while drawing in new customers with new features.

This is where the E-Class has taken a noticeable step forward. Just like the C-Class facelift, the only unsubtle changes are to the headlamp and tail-lamp clusters, but it is enough to give the E a fresh look. The twin-pod headlamps have now fused to a more angular version of the CLS headlamps. However, on the inside they’re still very much twin-pod, divided by two LED-DRLs that now ape the “eyebrows” of the A and B rather than the plain-jane horizontal strips on the bumper of the outgoing model.

Our test car has the Avantgarde grille rather than the traditional logo-on-the-hood that one could see from the cabin. The front bumper has many cuts and creases, and twin horizontal strips of chrome accent the erstwhile foglamp housings. Switch to the front three-quarter angle, and you’ll see the familiar silhouette of the outgoing model, but with a few changes: the nose juts out like the SLS AMG’s does.

There are also a fair number of horizontal lines on the sides, but somehow Mercedes manages to let the E stay elegant rather than busy. The large, split-spoke, almost Alfa-Romeo-like black alloys and roof were the only overt nods to sportiness on the outside. From the side, the E now looks more like a BMW – long bonnet, stubby boot – than before, where the overhangs at both ends were comparable.

The rear and rear three-quarter angles are some of the best angles to view the new E Class from – the shortening of the rear overhang and the integration of the tailpipes contributing to a more modern, neater derriere. At night, the tail-lamps with their light guides certainly make the E look special.

Gone are the pleasant wood inserts and the fussy-looking centre console – the new E-Class has sporty indications on the inside as well. Our test car was a very good looking mix of beige leather and brushed aluminium inserts.

Of course, there were a lot of familiar bits like the steering wheel, column-mounted shift lever, and the buttons on the centre console. However, there certainly was evolution to small details like the brushed-aluminium buttons for seat adjustment, the rich colours of the multi-function display in the instrument cluster, and the square analog clock that somehow is modern and classic all at the same time.

The seating position is a comfortable one, mainly due to the sheer range of adjustment offered by the electric motors. Even the passenger is spoiled for choice with all-electric adjustment and three memory settings. As always, though, one of the best places to be in the E is the rear seat. There is ample legroom and shoulder room, and the bolstering both for the back and thigh is just right.

Unlike most of today’s sporty-looking sedans, the E doesn’t feel confined at the rear because the windows are large. Back to the driver’s seat, though: the steering adjusts for reach and rake, and with the seat adjustment on offer, it is a cinch to get into a comfortable driving position. The shifter remains column-mounted, like the previous generation, only this time the paddle shifts are standard.

The center console retains the many buttons from the outgoing generation, but with small changes it is quite improved. The most noticeable improvement is the retro-modern square timepiece at the top. It has replaced the round unit.

The screen is now of improved quality and includes a navigation option. A big leap forward is the ability to not just connect your iPod, but to stream music via your phone Bluetooth as well. The other big change is in the instrument cluster – the dials are now three large units rather than the five of the previous car. The floating needle of the central speedometer now moves around a colour display that shows the same set of information as before.

Boot space stands at 540 litres, which is enough to hold four people’s luggage for a weekend trip and then some.

The E Class is available with either a petrol or diesel engine with four cylinders and turbocharging. Our test car was a C250 CDI, the diesel, and it is currently available only in Avantgarde trim. The engine displaces 2143cc and generates 275PS and a very useful 500Nm.

Power is transmitted to the rear wheels via a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. It seems like a potent combination, but somehow the E doesn’t feel very quick, and it isn’t the great sound insulation that gives that impression.

The gearbox prefers smoothness to speed, the engine prefers mid-range grunt to a top-end rush, and the adjustable suspension is more suited to better ride than aggressive handling.

Make no mistake – the E isn’t a slouch. The new electric steering is accurate and the car goes where you want it to with ze famed German precision. It’s just that you’ll get a more satisfactory result if you aim to flow through a set of corners rather than hustle the car through them.

Body roll is present, but is kept well in check. Push to the limit and you’re met with understeer, but the limits are pretty high – besides the ESP works overtime to keep things under control. Gears shift quickly, but only if asked to manually or with a leaden right foot. The 5-series remains the sedan of choice for the enthusiast, but overall the E has good balance between ride and handling, and favours the former. The damping isn’t electronic on the E250CDI – it has a similar two-stage mechanical adjustment to that of the C-Class and it works well.

People who drop Rs 50 lakh on a car know exactly what they want out of it. In the current class, the Jag XF provides the style. Enthusiasts drool over the BMW 5-series. Technological converts hanker after the Audi A6. Even the bargain hunters have their choice in the Volvo S80. The E-Class sticks to what it does best – give the impression of being a tank. It is a throwback to its glory days of the W123/4 when the E really was indestructible. If you want a comfortable executive saloon that you might drive occasionally and that has impeccable engineering, put your hard-earned Rs 45 lakh down on the E250 CDI.