Mercedes E 220 d Estate
It has the largest boot of the three cars on test here, but how does the rest of the Mercedes package shape up?
MODEL TESTED: Mercedes E 220 d Estate AMG Line PRICE: £41,215 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbodiesel, 191bhp
THE current E-class represented a huge leap for Mercedes. It combines a lot of tech with a high-quality cabin to offer masses of space in an appealing and – compared with its rivals here – cheaper package. This E 220 d Estate in AMG Line trim costs £41, 215, undercutting its rivals by a small margin. However, can it put a greater distance between the BMW and Volvo?
DESIGN & ENGINEERING
JUST as the BMW features a versatile platform, Mercedes has its Modular Rear Architecture (MRA) to underpin the E-class. The car benefits from a multi-link rear axle, but where the 5 Series uses conventional steel springs as standard, the E-class has self-levelling air suspension at the rear, while adaptive dampers are standard.
Under the bonnet this E 220 d Estate uses the same 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel engine as the saloon. This replaced the ageing and noisy 2.1-litre diesel for this fifth-generation E-class, helping to improve refinement over its predecessor, and it’s just the start of the list of tech on offer.
Autonomous driving with lane change assist is available for £1,695 as part of the Driving Assistance Plus package (it’s the best system on the market), while our test car also featured the £1,495 COMAND Online upgraded infotainment system.
Our model had a second 12.3-inch screen for £495 that replaces the standard dials, matching the 5 Series’ digital dash (see Infotainment, Page 50).
These glossy screens are a stand-out feature inside, while the rest of the interior is nicely constructed and oozes quality. However, on AMG Line trim you don’t get leather – man-made Artico comes as standard, so if you want to upgrade to natural hide you’ll have to pay another £1,595.
There’s lots of other equipment included, though. Sat-nav and DAB are standard, while active parking assist with a rear-view camera, LED headlights, heated seats and the sportier AMG Line body styling are all included.
DRIVING
WHILE the BMW rides sweetly on its 18-inch alloy wheels, the Mercedes has 19-inch wheels as standard. Our test car came on £595 optional 20-inch items. These do affect the ride quality as the E-class feels a little harsher than the 5 Series over the same surfaces.
You notice bumps more, sometimes by the resounding thud, but on faster A-roads and motorways the E-class feels more at home. The chassis copes with gentle, rolling tarmac well, allowing the body to float over less severe imperfections to deliver a decent level of comfort, but you’re never too far from a harsher impact due to the larger alloys and low-profile tyres.
The Mercedes isn’t as capable dynamically as the BMW, either. There’s still a good level of grip, but the chassis feels more inert and less agile, taking longer to respond to your inputs – especially when it comes to changing direction.
However, the car does deliver strong straight-line performance. With 191bhp and 400Nm of torque produced at the lowest engine revs (1,600rpm), the Mercedes accelerated from 0-60mph in 7.6 seconds.
Thanks to the nine-speed automatic gearbox it’s serene at speed, although it’s not quite as snappy as the BMW. While the new engine is definitely more refined than its predecessor, it’s also no quieter than the 5 Series and gets a little rattly at the top end. But use the low-down torque rather than stretching the 2.0-litre unit and the E-class is a relaxing car.
PRACTICALITY
WITH 70 litres more than the BMW in its load bay, the Mercedes has a boot space advantage. A power tailgate is fitted as standard, although it doesn’t have the useful split element of the 5 Series. However, with no space-saver spare tyre, the E Class offers the most underfloor storage of the trio.
Inside there’s plenty of space, but both the BMW and Volvo feel roomier and offer more legroom – although you still won’t feel short-changed in the E-class. You won’t struggle for headroom either.
OWNERSHIP
MERCEDES’ middling 12th place in our Driver Power 2016 manufacturers’ survey isn’t exactly what you expect from a premium brand. Safety, however, is impressive.
The E-class scored a full five-star rating from Euro NCAP, and with lots of technology offered – including autonomous braking as standard – the car should deliver strong protection.
You can take this to the next level with the Driving Assistance Plus package, which alongside the autonomous driving functions, adds Evasive Steering Assist – helping you swerve to avoid an obstacle – as well as blind spot and lane-keep assist.
RUNNING COSTS
WHEN it comes to running costs our Driver Power results are partly borne out by the Mercedes’ servicing bills, as the E 220 d will cost £1,332 to maintain over three years, with the service pack costing £37 per month over 36 months. This is £376 more than the Volvo’s routine maintenance costs over the same period and an incredible £933 more than the BMW ’s.
The E-class will also cost our sample driver marginally more every year to insure than the 5 Series at £878 compared with £861, although the Volvo’s £784 sample premium undercuts both of its German competitors’.