The Goodwood Test – Mercedes‑Benz E‑Class

Heritage

This E-class has been the heart of Mercedes-Benz for far longer than the name has been in use. Indeed you could argue that the line leading to today’s brand new E-class is over 60 years and 11 generations old. The first car to be known as the E-class was the W124 which adopted the name late in its life in 1993, but it was arguably with its predecessor, the W123, that first set the template for what might be described at the modern E-class some 40 years ago.

In that time the E-class has expanded into all areas from nutty AMG versions to the ubiquitous pale yellow taxis parked outside every airport in German. There have been saloons, estates, coupes and cabriolets while the brand new platform of the current car will even spawn genuine E-class-based off-roaders. It might not be the most glamorous car of the E-class range, but to Mercedes-Benz none is more important.

Design

Mercedes’ decision to apply the same design language to the E-class as it has already to the C and S-classes that sit either side of it can be viewed two ways. Those who like the approach will say the design is harmonious, easily recognised and of an idiom that has already been widely praised and successful. Detractors will call it unimaginative and derivative. What fewer will be able to criticise with any credibility is Mercedes’ achievement in creating a car bigger in every significant dimension than that it replaces, yet thanks to aluminium intensive architecture and very clever use of extremely high tech steels, up to 100kg lighter, model for model.

Part of the weight saving comes from an all new 2-litre diesel powertrain allied to a nine speed automatic gearbox. A six cylinder diesel and a four cylinder petrol hybrid will be added to the range in the autumn (and a 600bhp AMG in early 2017) but the small diesel is guaranteed to outsell all other put together.

The E-class also marks the next big step in autonomous driving. Not only does it have the radar controlled cruise control you’d naturally expect but also, where legal, the ability to overtake the car in front and pull back into the original lane with no more effort than that required to operate the indicator stalk. It literally steers itself from start to finish after naturally checking all around the make sure the manoevre is safe to complete. The interior is a compelling blend of traditional materials and space age technology including a massive navigation screen and full TFT instrument display.

Performance

The numbers are extraordinary. Here is an enormous saloon car, offering sprawling space for an entire family and all its luggage powered by a tiny 2-litre diesel engine. It should barely be able to get out of its own way. In the event however not only will it reach 62mph in 7.3 second, it will continue to accelerate all the way to a single mph short of 150mph. And yet it comes with a claimed fuel consumption of up to 72.4mpg and C02 emissions of just 102g/km, the same as claimed by Fiat for the diesel-powered variant of the Panda. True, in both cases these figures are unlikely to be repeatable in real world driving, but both are calculated in exactly the same way, so are directly comparable. The new powertrain offers oodles of mid range punch too and gearshifts most easily noticed by the repositioning of the rev-counter’s virtual needle. Only its voice is a little disappointing: refinement is now competitive with Jaguar’s new Ingenium motor, but still behind Audi’s equivalent offering.

Passion

You’re not going to fall in love with a 2-litre diesel E-class on first acquaintance. The car handles beautifully insofar as its steering is accurate, linear and well weighted, its chassis poised and consistent in its responses. But it’s not a riot to drive and if it’s pure driving pleasure you value above all in this category, we’d commend the Jaguar XF without hesitation.

But that has never been core to the E-class’s appeal. These are cars that take their time to get under your skin, but once they do there they tend to stay. While others might focus on style or dynamic prowess, the E-class is content just to be the best to live day in, day out. It’s been that way for this series of cars long before they got the name by which they are known today, and we hope that is the way it remains for many generations to come.

Price tag of our car £36,000 (E220d AMG Line £38,430)