Mercedes-benz E220d Estate On an island cruise
Where better to properly mull over our E220d than on a long drive to Mull?
WHY WE’RE RUNNING IT
To find out how well this high-tech exec blends luxury and sporting traits in a practical body
Reader Michael Williams accused me of ‘a double fail’ for the apparently pitiful average fuel economy I achieved on a 567mile trek from the Isle of Mull to Basingstoke (Letters, 15 November).
Michael pointed out that my indicated 47.8mpg average paled in comparison with the 53.3mpg he’d achieved in his E350 Estate over a 453-mile drive, and also fell flat in comparison with the new Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP) figure of 67.3mpg for the E220d.
I’d counter by saying my learned friend failed to note that our car is a 4Matic four-wheel-drive E220d, which rates at an official claimed combined economy figure of 57.7mpg. In any case, I don’t think my average, achieved over a variety of roads, weather, traffic conditions and moods, was too shabby at all, but I salute Michael’s parsimonious efforts.
My drive to the Hebridean island to stay in a static mobile home and watch the Mull Rally was an opportunity to really test the E220d on a long drive. First, a practical stating-the-blooming-obvious consideration: this is quite a long car. I was tickled by the overhead view from the upper deck of the Caledonian Macbrayne ferry to Mull (see photograph), where the Merc’s 4933mm appeared to outstretch most of the other cars on the lower deck.
When we set off on our journey, this was a cause for concern. Most Mull roads are tight and twisty – the ferry carries quaint leaflets advising how to use passing places on singletrack lanes – and I was worried that our E-class might prove too cumbersome. That was unfounded; for a big and fairly heavy car, this Merc has surprisingly light, precise (and yet still feelsome) steering, particularly in Comfort driving mode, and once you’ve worked out the extent to which you can ignore the over-sensitive proximity sensors, it is easy to place on narrow roads.
The hugely impressive headlights were useful while driving in the pitch dark on the remote roads. Our car is equipped with Multibeam LED headlights that come as part of the £3895 Premium Plus option pack. Each headlight comprises 84 individually controlled LEDS arranged in a grid pattern, which is adjustable in a multitude of ways to provide better illumination around corners, during heavy rain and so on. They provide an excellent depth and spread of brilliant white illumination – particularly useful on an island inhabited by deer with a death wish.
The other factor that comes into play on long journeys is comfort. It dawned on me during our long, fraught return drive that you really notice how cosseting or otherwise a car is when you’re stuck in solid traffic in it. When you aren’t moving, your mind and body get fidgety but, like Baby Bear’s porridge, I find our car’s AMG Line driving seat just right: it’s supportive but not over-firm.
A couple of new quibbles did present themselves. The first is partial obstruction of traffic approaching from the right by the A-pillar, although this is likely down to the particulars of my driving position, which is that of a person who is short-of-leg.
Second, I noticed during our bumper-to-bumper crawl that our Merc’s stop-start system kills the engine very quickly indeed. Sometimes it reacts when you don’t want it to, because the traffic ahead is on the move and you’re preparing to pick up the throttle. I’m loath to disengage the stop-start, though. Mr Williams would never forgive me.