Mercedes Benz India

Mercedes Benz India

Earlier this year Mercedes-Benz launched the latest additions to its passenger car range: the W212 E-Class sedan and the C207 E-Class Coupe. Both bodystyles arrived on our shores with the choice of a 3.5 litre V6 or 5.5 litre V8 petrol engine, while a range of thrifty diesels and a direct-injected petrol four have since been added to the mix. We decided to test the model that sits in the middle of the petrol engined offerings: the E350 sedan. The 2010 E-Class sedan is all-new, and the ninth generation model in the E-Class鈥檚 60-year history. The bodywork is fresh, the interior is completely different and the underpinnings promise a better ride and improved performance. It鈥檚 easy to quantify the changes on a spec sheet, but what we wanted to know was, 鈥渄oes it still feel like an E-Class鈥? According to Mercedes, the 2010 E350 wears its heritage on its sleeve.

Trainspotters will notice the pontoon-like shaping of the rear fenders (a homage to 1940s-era Benzes) and the 2010 E-Class is the third generation to wear the quad-headlamped face. The shape of the bonnet is also designed to evoke memories of early Mercedes sedans, but to the average observer the new E-Class is simply 鈥淐lassic Benz鈥? The rounded corners and soft edges of the W211 are gone, replaced by sharp creases and ruler-straight cutlines. The front end sees the round lenses of the last E-Class being dropped in favour of more rectangular units and the front bumper sporting a much squarer, more athletic jaw. Two L-shaped LED daytime running lamps occupy each corner of the lower bumper, and are perhaps the most noticeable aspect of the new E鈥檚 design. The flanks appear bigger and bulkier, the beltline has been moved up and a prominent longitudinal crease now ties the front fenders to the rear.

The LED taillights, like the headlights, are more rectangular in shape and are joined by a chrome strip that spans the bootlid. The V6 has a pair of chrome oval exhaust tips protruding from underneath its bumper, while the V8 gets rectangular-shaped outlets. Being an Elegance-spec E350, our tester sported a set of 17-inch alloys, while the Avantgarde E350s wear 18-inch alloys. The Elegance trim also adds more chrome on the bumpers and rubbing strips, along with a four-slat (rather than three-slat) chrome grille. The new E-Class is longer, wider, lower and has a longer wheelbase than the W211. The bold n鈥?bulky design adds to the effect, endowing the 2010 E-class sedan with a lot more visual presence than the outgoing model. In fact, it鈥檚 vaguely reminiscent of the W124 E-Class of the late 1980s/early 1990s. The styling is undeniably modern and fresh, but there鈥檚 more than a hint of the W124鈥檚 Mafia-style appeal in the new E-Class鈥檚 form. So it certainly looks like an E-Class should.

The cabin of the new E-Class is entirely new, and improved. Mercedes-Benz now offers all new E-Class models (aside from the base E220 CDI) in Avantgarde trim by default, with the comfort-oriented Elegance specification a no-cost option. The Elegance is designed to appeal to a more mature audience, a group that Mercedes calls its 鈥渢raditional buyers鈥? It鈥檚 easy to see why. While the Avantgarde gets black-on-black cabin plastics, dark wood trim, darker leather and a black headliner, the Elegance is a tribute to polished walnut trim, beige and grey. An optional Exclusive package adds more wood, an Alcantara headliner and a leather-trimmed dash. Ergonomically, the new E-Class is fantastic. Both front seats move electrically in virtually every conceivable direction, and the side bolsters, lumbar cushion and seat squab are pneumatically adjustable to improve support. All of the controls fall readily to hand, and functions that can鈥檛 be activated by the steering wheel buttons can be accessed via the console-mounted controller for the COMAND system. The multi-function LCD display has been moved to its own binnacle next to the instrument cluster, where it is more easily seen by the driver.

The gear shift now resides on the steering column (like the S-Class), freeing up valuable real estate on the centre console. The steering column is electrically powered, and both rake and reach can be tailored to each driver. A memory function also allows three different seat/wheel positions to be saved. The shortcut buttons for the stereo, sat-nav and telephone are a little distant from the driver, but a few clicks of the COMAND controller will bring those up on the screen in a second or two. The instrument cluster houses a large, central speedometer that rings an LCD multifunction display. A tachometer and clock flank the speedo, while a fuel and temperature gauge sit further outboard. The multifunction display can show trip computer read-outs, vehicle status messages and navigation instructions, and is clear and legible under all lighting conditions. For rear seat passengers, both space and comfort are plentiful. The seat cushions are supportive, there are three height-adjustable headrests and legroom for the two outer passengers is more than adequate. The tall centre tunnel does limit the middle passenger鈥檚 legroom, however.