High-tech Mercedes E-class stands out

The hard-working Mercedes E-class is bristling with new technology, says Damien O’carroll.

While the mighty S-class has long been regarded as the luxury and style leader of the Mercedes-benz range, the hardworking (it has to cover everything from taxi to executive express, remember) E-class has been quietly set up to be the German manufacturer’s technology leader. So it makes sense that the newest incarnation is absolutely bristling with new tech. Mercedes-benz is still sorting through the final details for the E-class’s local launch so prices are, as yet, an unknown, but the model line-up will start with the E 200 that packs a 135kw/300nm turbocharged 2-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, while the E 300 gets the same 2-litre wound up to produce 180kw of power and 370Nm of torque. The E 400 4Matic tops the initial launch range with its 3.0-litre V6 punching 245kw and 480Nm through Mercedes’ 4Matic AWD system, available for the first time locally on the E-class. The E 220d opens the diesel range and packs an all-new 1.9-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine that produces an impressive 143kw and 400Nm. The E 350d tops the diesel range with Mercedes’ familiar 3.0-litre diesel V6 that makes 190kw/620nm. All E-class models come equipped with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The engines are an interesting bunch, with the new (and existing) diesels coming out as the best options. While fuel economy didn’t seem to match up to the claims on the launch, the diesel engines were not only more modern, they were also generally quieter and smoother than their occasionally harsh petrol counterparts. Apart from the brilliant petrol V6 in the E 400 4Matic that is, which was a thoroughly excellent piece of kit. And, rather unsurprisingly, expected to be the best seller in the local market. The E 200, E 220d, and E 350d will go on sale in New Zealand in July, with the E 300 and E 400 4Matic expected some time near the end of the year. The E 350e plug-in hybrid will also follow sometime in 2017. Locally, all E-classes will be equipped with Agility Control adjustable suspension, with the 300, 350d and 400 getting multichamber air suspension. All models also get the deeply impressive dual 12.3-inch high-definition displays (one replaces the traditional instrument panel behind the steering wheel, while the other sits alongside, giving the impression of one extremely wide screen stretching across the dash), with dual thumb touchpad controls on the steering wheel. Each touchpad controls its corresponding screen and is an incredibly intuitive and simple control method. Mercedes has made the Driver Assistance Package standard on all E-classes in New Zealand and it is the contents of this package that show how far Mercedes has pushed the technological envelope with the E-class. The Driver Assistance Package includes improved standards like Active Brake Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Blind Spot Assist and Mercedes’ Pre-safe impact preparation system, but this time around it also includes a “Drive Pilot” system that is the logical extension of where the company has gone with its Distronic cruise control system. Now even capable of offering steering assistance on roads where the markings are inconsistent (or even non-existent) by monitoring things such as surrounding traffic and roadside objects, the E-class effortlessly handles heavy, slow traffic with minimal input from the driver, much as it did before, but this has now been applied to higher speeds, with the new car capable of handling things at speeds of up to 130km/h (210km/h for the radar cruise). This means mindless motorway cruising is also easily handled by the E-class, with minimal effort from the driver. Also included in the package is Active Lane-change Assist which again uses cameras, radar and other sensors to automatically change lanes after the indicator has been on for more than two seconds and the car has ascertained that the lane is clear. The driver assists were remarkably competent in both heavy low speed and high speed traffic, but faltered sometimes in the ground in between with a few idiosyncratic hiccups (it was sometimes very slow to move off after the car in front has and would occasionally just give up if it got confused), that actually just serve as timely reminders that they are just assists after all, and that the driver is still the one in control.