Displaying items by tag: AMG Line

Mercedes E-Class is a technological tour de force, but from behind the wheel it suffers from a distinct lack of character. The plug-in hybrid powertrain really delivers in terms of efficiency, but that comes at the cost of practicality, which is a shame given this car’s otherwise spacious estate body. We expect emerging rivals from BMW and Audi will add some competitive spice to this sector once again.

The Mercedes E-Class needs to perform not only as a luxurious executive car, but also as a practical family offering. This is where the new Estate model comes in; with wagons losing favour against a surge of SUVs, is Mercedes launching a loss leader? We’re testing it here for the first time to see if it can repay the German firm’s faith.
 
Mercedes has gone big on technology with its latest models, and the E-Class Estate is no different. The first thing you’ll notice is the door handles – or lack of. Instead there’s an almost flush-fitting section which extends when you approach the car. Unlike some other rather flimsy flush-fitting door handles we’ve come across, the Mercedes opens with a solid “clack” sound. A good start, then.
 
Jump inside and just as in the E-Class saloon we tested recently, you’ll notice plenty of inspiration from the larger, more expensive S-Class. And although there is a lot of new and amazing technology on board, it feels like an evolution of the previous E’s interior’s design rather than something completely fresh. Our AMG Line Premium Plus model features the new Superscreen infotainment system; to the uninitiated it’d be hard to imagine a Mercedes fitted with the larger Hyperscreen layout available elsewhere in the maker’s line-up.

The Superscreen is made up of a 14.4-inch central display, and two 12.3-inch displays either side. It’s a little confusing to get your head around at first – such is the array of information offered – but give it a day or two and you’ll be whizzing through the functions on the move without issue. But with so much going on in the cabin, the interior can feel surprisingly compact.
 
Not what you’d necessarily expect of a car measuring almost five metres nose to tail. It’s the same length as its predecessor but with no replacement for the CLS Shooting Brake planned, Mercedes has gone with a sleeker, more coupe-like roofline to fill the void.
 
The result is rear-seat space that feels pleasant and airy, but as that roof drops down to the rear there’s an impact on boot space. The E 300 e Estate’s boot capacity with the rear seats up stands at just 460 litres thanks to the positioning of the battery – that’s 20 litres less than the old car. If you don’t want the plug-in tech, then you’ll be pleased to learn the mild-hybrid E-Class comes with a much larger 615-litre boot.

 
When we tried the E-Class saloon in E 220 d form, we were impressed by its 2.0-litre mild-hybrid diesel engine. The plug-in hybrid driven here uses a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine mated to 25.kWh battery which Mercedes claims can provide an electric-only range of up 73 miles – dropping to 62 miles on the biggest wheels. We only managed 42 miles, but this was done in cold conditions. European cars get DC fast charging, but the feature isn’t expected to be offered in the UK.

There’s 312bhp and 550Nm of torque from the combined plug-in hybrid powertrain, sending power through a smooth nine-speed automatic transmission. The 0-62mph dash is dealt with in 6.5 seconds, and while that doesn’t sound too impressive given the power available, it makes more sense when you factor in the portly 2,275kg kerbweight; 370kg more than the mild-hybrid model.
 
That bulk means there’s not much joy to be had trying to throw the E 300 e around – especially in Estate form. The steering is light and there’s decent grip, but where the E-Class really shines is when it comes to refinement. Our car was fitted with the optional air suspension which smothers bumps and imperfections in the road brilliantly – combined with the Acoustic Comfort Package, the E-Class Estate is wonderfully quiet on a cruise.
 
Our car in AMG Line Premium form costs from £73,150 (Premium Plus is almost £6k more again) – a significant amount of money even in this day and age. Luckily for Mercedes, the Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo has just gone off sale and the BMW 5 Series Touring is between generations. The Audi A6 Avant is coming to the end of its life, though it’s hard to ignore the vastly cheaper Jaguar XF Sportbrake in this part of the market – even if it isn’t available with any fuel-saving PHEV tech.

 
But with an excellent range of engines, a comfortable, composed ride and plenty of trick features, the E-Class Estate will be a compelling choice in the upper echelons of the estate-car market.

 

Source: mercedesworld.com

The E-Class’s mid-life facelift is limited to a few minor styling changes and some tweaks to the cabin, but it remains an all-round impressive package. It’s still not as sharp as a BMW 5 Series to drive, but the interior blows its rival out the park; some of the tech feels like a bit of a gimmick, but quality, fit and finish are second to none. The E-Class now offers true S-Class luxury at a fraction of the price.

 Executive saloons are consistently popular with UK car buyers and still take a sizeable slice of the new car market. However, the sector is changing, with many buyers and fleet managers turning away from diesel in favour of plug-in hybrid drivetrains. 

Therefore it’s fitting that our first taste of the facelifted Mercedes E-Class comes in the shape of the E 300 e plug-in. The revisions are limited to a handful of cosmetic tweaks and cabin upgrades with revised infotainment, but the 300 e’s engine and electric motor have been left well alone. 

The new infotainment system is an improvement, thanks to the updated and responsive touchpad; Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both included, and are much more intuitive to use now that the screen can be operated via touch. 

The upgraded cabin also features a new steering wheel, with two pairs of thin spokes branching out from the hub. They’re festooned with buttons, which is slightly confusing at first, but no hardship once you’re familiar with it. It also features ‘capacitive hands-off detection’ for use in conjunction with the adaptive cruise control, which includes route and road-based speed adjustment. 

The E-Class’s overall feeling of quality is impossible to ignore. From the plush seats to the leather-trimmed doors and centre console, it’s hard to see where Mercedes’ new S-Class flagship will improve on the E-Class’s winning formula. The cabin is perhaps less driver-focused than that of a BMW 5 Series, but you can’t argue with the faultless fit and finish. 

Every E-Class bound for the UK gets twin 12.3-inch digital screens as standard; previously, entry-level cars used a set of analogue dials paired with a large central infotainment display. New LED lights also feature, alongside 17-inch alloys, heated leather seats and a suite of safety kit. 

If you’re after the sharpest-handling executive saloon, then the 5 Series still edges the Merc, while the latest Audi A6 arguably pips it for involvement, too. The E 300 e wafts along in a way the BMW can’t, yet it can feel disconnected from the road at times; fine on the motorway, but less engaging on a twisting country road. 

The upside of this is that the Mercedes rides well at high speeds – especially on our car’s 18-inch wheels. It’s not perfect around town, but driver and passengers are shielded from the very worst lumps and bumps. Smaller potholes are of little concern, and even larger ones are absorbed with reasonable confidence. 

With no changes to the hybrid model’s powertrain or chassis, the E 300 e retains its 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and electric motor. Combined they produce 316bhp and an impressive 700Nm of torque. As such, performance isn’t lacking; the electrical system’s instant torque allowing access to all that power from a standstill. 

Despite its prodigious output, the four-cylinder motor can sound a little strained when you floor the throttle and extend it into the upper rev range. Still, the E-Class more than makes up for this with its incredible refinement – especially when running around on electricity. 

Mercedes still claims an electric-only range of around 32 miles on a full charge, and our test drive showed this is a realistic estimate. Even on faster roads, the E-Class’s range read-out dropped very nearly in line with actual mileage covered. The various drive modes allow you to prioritise or hold battery power, or let the system work out what’s best for maximum efficiency. 

The transition between petrol and electric power isn’t perhaps quite as smooth as it could be, but you’re unlikely to notice the car switching between the two in normal driving. We’d recommend using the battery hold function as much as possible; there’s nothing quite as satisfying as running around town on electric power alone – especially at the end of a long journey. 

Charging the E-Class plug-in hybrid is pretty straightforward, thanks to the fact that every E 300 e comes with two cables – one to use with a wallbox or at public charge points, and one for standard three-pin domestic sockets. Owners using the latter are able to top up the battery in around five hours, or just 90 minutes using a 7.4kW home wallbox. There’s no option for high-speed CCS rapid charging, though.
 
One thing to take into consideration is that the battery does eat into boot space quite significantly, reducing the overall capacity by 100 litres to 370 litres. 

Of course, the main reason many buyers will opt for a plug-in hybrid over a diesel is for the generous tax breaks. The plug-in car grant no longer covers PHEVs, but the E 300 e’s low CO2 emissions mean company car drivers can take advantage of an appealing Benefit-in-Kind rating of 10 per cent for the current tax year. In this regard, an E 220 d can’t come close, although the E 300 de diesel plug-in will hold even greater appeal than the petrol for high-mileage drivers. Read more > https://mercedes-world.com/e-class/mercedes-benz-e300e-amg-review

Source: mercedes-world.com