Mercedes E350D All-terrain
E-class Estate spin-off stays graceful while gaining extra heft
Rugged estate driven
For drivers who tackle off-road territory regularly but not to the extent that a full-blown SUV is essential, the Mercedes-benz E-class All-terrain Edition could be just the thing.
It’s a new take on the elegant E-class Estate, equipped with the refined and powerful 350d, 3.0-litre diesel engine, a 9G-tronic automatic gearbox, 4Matic permanent fourwheel drive and Air Body Control air suspension.
Mercedes’ Dynamic Drive gets an extra setting – All Terrain Mode – joining the existing Comfort, Sport and Eco modes. When selected, the ride height increases by an additional 20mm as long as the speed doesn’t exceed 19mph. A limiter can be set to avoid that happening and to prevent the car lowering automatically on rough tracks. In other modes, the ride height is already 29mm higher than a standard E-class Estate thanks to the air suspension and standard 20in alloy wheels.
One test involved towing a horsebox loaded with a 250kg weight up a steep gravel incline, with a stop and start halfway up. Traction was remarkable and ground clearance adequate for some rough tracks on the North York Moors. The tow bar is electrically deployable and an overhead view on the reversing camera makes hitching a trailer a cinch.
Back on-road, the All-terrain reveals a Jekyll and Hyde character, easily transitioning from crosscountry load-lugger to powerful, refined tourer. It has good body control, immediately responsive steering and a supple ride except for some secondary patter on rougher surfaces. That is probably due to the low-profile 275/35 Pirelli P Zero tyres. A smaller wheel and deeper tyre section would improve that further and also be preferable offroad. The interior provides the usual Mercedes standard of crafted luxury in which to sit and enjoy the drive.
Accommodation is five-seat only, but the standard E-class Estate boot of 640 litres, or 1820 litres with the 40/20/40 seats dropped, provides a usable floor area that will make some question the advantage of an SUV for all-terrain work. A low loading bay for dogs to hop in and out and easier access to roof loads makes the All-terrain’s appeal as a fun-to-drive practical all-rounder even stronger.