Coupe excels in luxe performance
The 2018 Mercedes-Benz E 400 4Matic emerges from a major revamp with a new body on a new platform, hoping to put questions about its pedigree finally to rest.
After an absence of several years, Mercedes-Benz re-introduced a coupe in the E-Class lineup in 2009.
While the vehicle looked and drove like a Benz, sharp-eyed pundits were quick to note that the coupe did not share the same platform as the rest of the E-Class line.
Instead, it rode on a platform that underpinned the C-Class.
Mercedes-Benz retorted that the coupe shared approximately 60 per cent of its mechanical components with the rest of the E-Class line.
But the controversy never went away — until now, with the coupe sharing its platform with the rest of the family.
I drove an E 400 4Matic, the only trim level in Canada.
The E-Class line now includes a four-door sedan, a five-door wagon, a coupe and a cabriolet. In Europe, Benz sells an All-Terrain model based on the five-door. This competes directly with the Audi Allroad.
The controversy surrounding the provenance of the previous generation speaks to the attention to detail the vehicle is subjected to by the press and its own fans.
With a total of more than 13 million sedans and wagons sold since its inception, the E-Class is the best-selling vehicle in Mercedes-Benz history. Examples can be found in all corners of the globe.
This is the fifth generation of the mid-sized luxury vehicles.
The 2018 E 400 is longer and wider than the vehicle it replaces, but shorter by almost 100 mm compared with its four-door brethren.
Although the new coupe now shares the same platform as the sedan, its body is all its own. While the front of the car shares the same design language, the sheet metal is unique to the coupe.
The design is clean and devoid of sharp lines and folds that seem to be found in an increasingly large share of the competition. Instead, the E 400 coupe is fluid and totally understated.
Mercedes seems to want to send out a message that its core buyers are confident enough to not need people’s heads to turn when the car passes by.
SUVs and sedans are perhaps better at transporting passengers, but the E400 coupe is a close second. Notice how the rear window is larger than most coupes? That’s because the rear seats are generous for two (MercedesBenz admits there is more rear room than in its larger S-Class coupe).
The pillarless windows wind down and, with the inclusion of the panoramic roof, the space is very airy.
The back seats fold down 60/40 to extend cargo-carrying capacity.
The interior is everything one would expect to find in a luxury vehicle costing north of $70,000. Of particular interest is the execution of the dash.
On my tester, the driver faces not one, but two 12.3-inch display screens. The one directly ahead of the driver displays the speedometer and is customizable to suit every driver’s taste. One can set it to display fuel consumption, what’s playing on the radio or even the navigation map. The secondary display is for the infotainment system and camera.
The camera array is state of the art. At a stop, the driver can pull up camera views showing the front, rear or side (that last camera shows the front wheel and how far it is from the curb).
The resolution is the best I have seen.
There is only one engine available, a turbocharged 3.0-litre V-6 producing 329 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque. It is mated to a nine-speed automatic and all-wheel-drive.
Depress the accelerator to the lush carpet, and the E400 rushes from a stop to 100 kilometres an hour in just 5.3 seconds (M-B figures).
Drivers can opt between quicker response in Sport mode, eke out the last drop of fuel in Eco mode or even customize their own.
Steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters add to the fun on the open road, while the engine stop/start system maximizes furl economy in the city.
The E400 coupe is a capable companion on country road jaunts, with a well-controlled suspension that inspires confidence.
As the second-most technologically advanced Mercedes-Benz (the top is the S-Class), the E-Class is bristling with cutting-edge features.
Mercedes-Benz’s Intelligent Drive Package offers semi-automated driving on the highway (and to a degree the city), autonomous braking and active intervention with evasive manoeuvres.
Stereo cameras and radar sensors allow the E-Class to follow traffic up to 200 km/h. The Active Steering Assist uses the cameras and radar to stay in its lane using road markings.
The Active Brake Assist, when it detects a risk of collision, can initiate autonomous braking or provides assistance if, by its calculations, the driver does not brake hard enough.
If a pedestrian steps into the car’s path suddenly, it will automatically turn the steering wheel to avoid the pedestrian in a controlled manner.
That is autonomous driving that I can accept — and hope never to have to use.
Mercedes-Benz’s mantra has always been “The Best or Nothing.” The new E-Class is further confirmation of the company’s long-held promise.
THE SPEC SHEET
Type: Mid-sized luxury two-door coupe, front engine, all-wheel-drive Engine: Twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre V-6, 329 hp at 5,250 r.p.m., 354 lb.-ft. of torque at 1,600 to 4,000 r.p.m. Transmission: Nine-speed automatic Dimensions (mm): Length, 4,826; width, 2,080; height, 1,430; wheelbase, 2,873 Curb weight (kg): 1,845 Price (base/as tested): $72,700/ $86,795 (includes $2,395 freight and PDI and $100 AC tax) Options: Premium package $4,000, Intelligent Drive Package $2,700, technology package $2,600, multicontour seats with massage $1,800, AMG 19-inch wheels $500. Tires: 245/40 R19 on alloy wheels, Fuel type: Premium Fuel economy (L/100km): 8.9 highway/ 11.8 city Warranty: Four years/80,000 km new car, four years/ unlimited km roadside assistance