Swing and a miss
£68,020
FOR Ride and refinement, well integrated hybrid, electric range
AGAINST Coarse 4cyl engine, high price to pay, infotainment
As I’m sure you’re aware Merc has diversified its portfolio If you want an electric E Class you need the EQE This is for all your other executive needs petrol diesel yes still but front and centre sits the E e plug in hybrid
We like this powertrain it’s probably the best integrated hybrid there is teaming a litre bhp petrol with a bhp e motor and kWh battery for a useful miles of e range and loads of functionality such as variable regen via the paddles and integrated satnav to help with route planning/recharging
But there’s an issue The engine The in line four is too coarse and gruff The E wafts about quietly and smoothly in electric then you need a bit more and instead of a silken helping hand you get a bear with a sore head grumbling about its hangover
It’s a shame because the rest of the car is up to scratch Yes much has been made of the fact UK buyers can’t spec air suspension Doesn’t matter The passive setup controls roll nicely irons out undulations and deals with cratered country lanes with admirable poise It’s supremely quiet and composed a fine relaxing fluent executive saloon Right up to the point that the litre groans into life
Meanwhile the cabin tries to drown you in tech Premium and Premium Plus models come with the MBUX superscreen the flat glass dash width panel with incorporated screens Combine this with electric vents D nav graphics endless ambient lighting options haptic switchgear and you have a car that doesn’t so much bathe you in tech as drown you in it It’s overwhelming And highly distracting
How are you meant to relax into a drive when you’ve got this much info being thrown at you? It’s like there’s been no editing no one’s asked what can be left out What’s more it feels like no one’s asked what role the E Class performs now The aspirational qualities that underpinned it in previous generations aren’t there any more This is a car that’s more impressive at a standstill where you can coo over its screens and functionality than it is on the move where much of that is infuriating And look at the cost and the kg weight come to think of it It’s a decent E Class but the question is who now wants an E Class?