Mercedes E-class Estate
MODEL TESTED: Mercedes E 220d AMG-LINE Estate PRICE: £40,725 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 191bhp
AT launch, the new E-class Estate line-up mirrors the saloon’s. This means there’s a choice of E 220d and E 350d diesels, as well as the Mercedes-amg E 43 petrol. The diesels are available in SE or AMG-LINE trim levels, and we test the latter in £40,725 E 220d guise. It’s £2,000 more than the four-door saloon and nearly £3,000 extra over the Volvo. So is it worth the additional outlay?
Styling 4.2/5
THE E-class saloon takes its inspiration from Mercedes’ S-class, so it gets plenty of the limousine model’s svelte curves. However, look to the back of this new car and it is the smaller C-class Estate that serves as a template. That means the E-class Estate gets the same sweeping roofline and steeply raked tailgate, plus similar distinctive LED tail-lights that are joined by an eye-catching chrome trim strip.
Overall it’s a classy design, but it’s difficult to ignore the fact that from many angles it resembles a scaled-up C-class Estate. Still, AMGLINE models like our test car look more distinctive thanks to the addition of a sportier bodykit with bigger grilles, a deep rear bumper and chunkier side sills. It also gets eye-catching 19-inch alloy wheels that hide larger, drilled brake discs.
Inside, AMG-LINE models have Mercedes’ Seat Comfort package, which provides an even wider range of adjustment and helps make the car as comfortable as the Volvo. Other equipment highlights include adaptive dampers, LED headlamps, a self-parking system, a reversing camera and parking sensors. Sat-nav, heated seats, keyless go and a sports steering wheel with Mercedes’ new twin touchpad controls are also on the kit list.
However, our test car’s twin 12.3-inch displays are an optional extra. The central one costs £1,495 and includes the upgraded COMAND Online sat-nav, while the digital dial pack will set you back another £495 and can only be ordered with the former. These are expensive additions, but worth the extra outlay as the smaller, standard analogue dials look lost in the vast gloss black panel that runs the full width of the dashboard.
In all other respects the cabin feels upmarket, with the slick centre console design, metal-finish air vents and 64-colour ambient light set-up helping to give the car the same luxurious ambience as the brand’s S-class flagship. And while you’ll have to pay £1,595 extra for real leather (man-made Artico leather is standard), build quality is even better than in the Volvo – although not by much.
Driving 4.0/5
LIKE the E-class saloon, the Estate ditches the brand’s old 2.1-litre turbodiesel in favour of an all-new 2.0-litre four-cylinder that’s not only more efficient than its predecessor, but also more powerful.
With 191bhp on tap the Mercedes is the more potent car of this duo, plus it benefits from some closely stacked ratios in its nine-speed gearbox. Yet despite this advantage it trailed the V90 by a fraction, completing the 0-60mph sprint three tenths slower, with a time of 7.6 seconds.
It was a similar story during our in-gear assessments, where the E 220d was just behind the Volvo during all the 50-70mph tests. And while it was able to pull ahead from 30-50mph, its advantage was small. Still, out on the road these tenths of a second are virtually impossible to detect, and the E-class delivers effortless and usable performance in almost all situations. The engine is refined, too.
Rev the unit hard, and you still hear a diesel grumble from under the bonnet, but it’s fractionally less intrusive than the Volvo’s when extended. Settle down to a cruise and on the motorway the ninespeed auto gearbox makes for low cruising revs of just 1,300rpm at 70mph, while the slippery shape also means there’s virtually no wind noise.
Like the Volvo, the Mercedes is available with air-suspension, but at £1,495 it’s £5 cheaper than its rival’s set-up, plus it works on all four wheels. Yet while the system keeps the car level when fully loaded and floats comfortably along on faster, smoother roads, the larger wheels mean the ride feels a little unsettled on jagged surfaces. Hit a corner quickly, and you’ll find body control soft in Comfort mode. Sport or Sport+ settings reduce roll, but also add an artificial weight to the steering. There’s grip and composure, but not a lot to get keen drivers excited.
Practicality 4.5/5
WITH 640 litres of luggage space, the latest E-class is 80 litres ahead of the Volvo, but 55 litres behind its predecessor. It’s a similar story when the seats are folded, because the Mercedes’ total capacity has shrunk from 1,960 litres in the old car to 1,820 litres in the newcomer. Still, that’s more than in the V90, plus the E-class is packed with some handy touches.
There’s a powered tailgate, remote release buttons for the 40:20:40 folding bench and luggage retaining net, plus the rear seatbacks can be tilted forward slightly for an extra 30 litres of space. The car also features a low load lip, while the retractable cover rises up as the tailgate opens, making it easier to access items in the boot. Storage is good, too, with a large central cubby and a big trinket tray.
Running costs 3.8/5
THE E-class is pricier to buy than the Volvo, plus it will cost more to run for business users and private buyers. Weaker residuals of 43. 2 per cent ensure it’ll be worth less than the Volvo after three years, while its fractionally higher CO2 emissions of 120g/km and steeper P11D price mean company car users face bigger Benefit in Kind bills.
The extra costs don’t end there, because Mercedes’ £37-a-month maintenance plan adds up to £1,332 for three years’ worth of servicing, which is £376 more than Volvo’s similar scheme. On the plus side, the Mercedes returned a frugal 46.5mpg on test.
Ownership 4.3/5
THE E-class adopts some of the safety tech from the S-class, and gets autonomous braking as standard, plus seven airbags and the Attention Assist driver fatigue system. However, while adaptive cruise is included on the V90, it’s only available on the E-class as part of the £1,695 Driving Assistance Plus Package.
Mercedes’ form in our Driver Power satisfaction survey isn’t as strong as you’d expect from a manufacturer that relies heavily on its premium status, with the brand finishing our 2016 poll in 12th place, just ahead of Volvo. More concerning for Mercedes will be the performance of its dealers, placed in a lowly 20th by owners, who were critical of the customer service and value for money.