Mercedes-Benz E220d
Report 3 £38,430/£55,480
On page *+ of this issue my esteemed colleague Ollie Kew delivers his verdict on the four executive saloons featured in his group test! In first place he has the new BMW ,$Series! I’ve yet to drive the , so I can’t comment on that" but I have driven the other three and don’t agree with his decision to sandwich my E$Class in third place between the Volvo V*& and Jaguar XF!
The Volvo has a lot of fans in the TG office" and I overheard a parking warden admiring it outside my house the other day" saying# “Makes a nice change from a Beemer or a Merc" doesn’t it?” But while it is in many ways better thought$out than the Mercedes" at the end of the day" it just doesn’t feel quite as special!
Another colleague" Paul Horrell" seems to agree! Paul is a European Car of the Year judge" and both the Mercedes and the Volvo are on this year’s shortlist! Paul says# “I really enjoy the design of the Volvo" especially the V*&! And its cabin! But I think the Mercedes" in particular the mainstream E--&" is subtly the better car# better$steering" more refined and blessed with a ride that is on most roads slightly miraculous! The E$Class feels like a true Mercedes" and it’s also real value for money if you avoid the fancy options" especially air suspension" huge wheels and semi$ autonomous driving! And actually it’s a better car without!”
As it happens" our E$Class has all those “fancy options”" but I still love it!