An E-Class with S-Class cred
Mercedes-Benz has given the E-Class an update for this year. Nile Bijoux finds out more.
The E-Class has been given a fairly hefty facelift for 2021 and, to cut a short story even shorter, it’s still a high-quality German sedan. You can stop reading now.
On the outside
If you’re still reading, then you will want to know that Mercedes has given the E-Class a styling update to bring it in line with other new models. It has sharp DRLs on the upper edge of the headlight cluster, extra blades in the corners of the front bumper and a new grille. Around the back are slimmer taillights, similar in shape to the new A-Class sedan.
On the inside
Inside is largely the same as before, but with some sneaky changes here and there. You’ll notice the steering wheel is different and Mercedes’ MBUX system now dominates the dash.
The new steering wheel is probably the most interesting addition, aside from MBUX which you probably already know all about. It ditches the physical buttons/touchpad combination of other Mercedes models and goes all-in on touch.
Unfortunately, like most implementations, it’s not perfect. There were more than a few times I couldn’t get the directional pad responsible for switching instrument screens to work (you need to move your thumb in the same direction as the arrows, not straight up or down) and getting MBUX to skip a song was difficult at times as well.
Under the bonnet
The E 200 here is the base model this time around, sourcing its power from a turbo-charged 2.0-litre inline four. It’s not a barnstormer of an engine, offering a humble 145kW/ 320Nm, but that’s all you really need.
It’s paired with a familiar nine-speed automatic transmission that does a good job of finding the right cog for the situation.
There’s no mild hybrid electrification here, which puts the E-Class on the back foot compared to its BMW 5 Series rival. That said, the E 200 still returns decent fuel consumption figures of around 8.0L/100km.
The lineup has had a trim, now comprising the E 200, E 300 e plug-in hybrid, E 350 and the big daddy E 63 S. Mercedes had a look at what sold and ditched what didn’t, so there’s an interesting glimpse into what the few remaining sedan buyers actually want. Sadly, the mild hybrid straight-six AMG E 53 isn’t coming to New Zealand.
On the road
So, do the changes affect the actual drive of the E 200? Some do. The new steering wheel is nice to use, albeit surprisingly thick, and the new digital screens are lovely to look at.
Aside from the new touchyfeely bits and the screens, Mercedes has reworked the lanekeep assist system to no longer require drivers to nudge the wheel when the system asks you to. This was to ensure drivers kept their hands on the wheel, because lane-keep isn’t autonomous driving, but it could still be annoying.
Now the system only requires a hand to be on the wheel, no movement, thanks to a bunch of sensors lining the rim. It’s still not autonomous driving, but it makes highway cruising easier.
Otherwise, this is the same E-Class to drive as it was before, though the 2.0-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine sounds strangely diesel-like.
Mercedes includes its Agility Control suspension as standard on the E 200, with ‘‘passive selective damping’’, which seems to be Mercedes-speak for adaptive dampers. The system can adjust itself for varying road surfaces to improve the ride – basically it is active suspension designed for traditional steel spring-based systems.
Other standard features include active parking assist, a 360-degree camera, wireless phone charging and ambient interior lighting.
Optional extras range from an augmented reality display (standard on the E 63 S) which overlays navigation information on the central infotainment screen and the new MBUX interior assistance package which allows actuation of some cabin functions by detecting hand movements from either the driver or passenger using a
camera in the overhead console.
For example, a hand gesture towards the centre touchscreen can change the media display or highlight individual elements. Or, a reading lamp can be switched on by extending a hand towards the interior mirror.
Verdict
The E 200 is still a quality machine if you’re one of the few people in the market for a midsized sedan with luxury credentials. The new lane-keep system that requires just a hand on the wheel is a nice indication that autonomous driving is still coming and updates are flowing on from behind-the-scenes research.
I would recommend stretching for the E 300 e if you’d like a bit more power but without costing the environment too much, or settling for a higherend C-Class for similar money.
In terms of competition, BMW’s refreshed 5 Series comes to mind, as does Audi’s A6. You could also consider the Lexus ES, which undercuts the Germans by quite a bit in price but doesn’t have quite the same pedigree.