Mercedes-benz E300e
Freshened by tech revamp
Despite four years passing since its launch, the fifth-generation Mercedes E-class still occupies a firmly competitive position as one of our executive class favourites.
Its blend of unrivalled comfort and refinement have stood the test of time, but four years is an exceedingly long time on the technology front. The focus, then, for the Audi A6 rival’s mid-life revamp is a totally overhauled electrical system, which engineers told Autocar earlier this year makes the new E “more advanced than the S-class in certain areas”. We’re driving it in the UK, albeit in left-hand-drive German specification.
Let’s start with the visual tweaks, which are minor enough for our photographer to enquire what has actually changed over the old model. The front end carries most of the changes, including new Led-only lights inspired by the latest CLS and a new grille and bumper arrangement. A fresh set of tail-lights has been added at the rear, but the refresh is unlikely to change anyone’s opinion on the E-class’s styling.
Things get more interesting inside. Architecturally it’s familiar, yet the detail changes are extensive. The first change is easy to spot: the steering wheel has moved to a more minimalist split three-spoke design, allowing for two separate bars of switchgear to be installed. These are now capacitive touch controls, which seem a bit fiddly at first but become more natural with practice. They also allow greater functionality: if you want to adjust the cruise control’s speed by 5mph, for example, you can firmly press the up/down button, while a gentle slide of the finger up or down will increase or reduce the speed in 1mph increments.
Elsewhere, the E-class has moved to Mercedes’ latest MBUX software. As first rolled out on the brand’s compact models, it’s incorporated into the same dual-screen display setup (now standard fitment, with a size upgrade in higher trims), but with the right-hand display now touch operated via the screen itself, with a square pad to replace the rotary click wheel control. With the more advanced voice control also offered, it’s a case of ‘choose your weapon’ with the control interfaces, and although none proved as naturally intuitive as the old rotary control for this tester, we’ve little doubt that, as is the case with the steering wheel, you’d get used to it.
To complement the new E-class’s more advanced driver assistance suite, the wheel’s capacitive function means you no longer have to wiggle the wheel to let it know you’re paying attention in full lane assist mode. Now it can detect your hand grip more effectively, while new connected systems mean the car can slow itself in anticipation of traffic ahead. Comfort is further enhanced by the optional Energising Plus package, bringing not only heated and ventilated seats but also a heated armrest and centre console.
Mechanically, it’s the electrical overhaul that dominates the headlines again: the full UK engine range has yet to be detailed, but a number of models feature a more advanced 48V mild-hybrid system. The plug-in hybrid E300e driven here is, however, largely unchanged from its introduction last year. Its 13.5kwh battery allows for a seemingly realistic 30 miles of EV range, while its seamless balancing of power sources makes for smooth, unruff led progress and respectable real-world economy, as long as charging isn’t an issue. It’s pretty quick off the line, too, but out-and-out pace isn’t what the non-amg E-class is about.
It’s better at a relaxed gait, where the PHEV’S additional weight doesn’t make itself felt. Our car’s optional Air Body Control suspension smoothed out even the worst surfaces, but downsides remain: the PHEV’S extra initial outlay, for starters, plus the boot space sacrifice the hybrid system demands. There’s also Mercedes’ own E300de plug-in diesel to consider, which isn’t too far off in terms of performance but offers substantially greater real-world economy, especially on longer runs.