German Car Forum

The E-Class is a core model in the Mercedes-Benz range, the executive saloon selling over 12-million units since its 1947 introduction. With every new edition it has become safer, more efficient and better to drive and the new car boasts excellent economy and emissions performance, a myriad of safety equipment and phenomenal refinement and comfort. It's also a good drive, some of the driving mojo Mercedes delivered with its C-Class making it through to its larger relative.

In the Metal

The lines of the new E-Class that jarred on the motor show stand and the unveil in Detroit look softer and far more appealing in natural light. It's a more assertive looking car than before, which retains the familial look of its predecessors thanks to its quad lamp set up and contoured bonnet. The front is perhaps the fussiest aspect, the edgy lights looking a bit contrived; the LED driving lights on the Avantgarde and Sport models even look like an afterthought.

Bold rear wing treatment which apes that of the 1953 'Pontoon' model works particularly well in the metal, the E-Class looking its best from the back and in profile. Inside it's all similar to the C-Class in layout, though thankfully the designers have done a better job at integrating the main screen into the top of the dashboard. The seats, as ever, offer remarkable support and comfort and the boot is absolutely vast - one option well worth having to stop stuff sliding between the time zones in the gargantuan boot is a slide-and-push-down luggage holder that's perfect for holding shopping, laptop bags and the like.

What you get for your Money

You get a lot more than you got with the old E-Class in the new car. Mercedes is being quite aggressive with both the pricing and specification to give it the best chance possible in these tougher economic times. All cars come with the new Attention Assist, a driver drowsiness monitoring system, along with the usual luxuries like climate control, Bluetooth connection, heated and electrically adjustable front seats and parking guidance front and rear. The UK market get three simplified and well specified trim levels - SE, Avantgarde and Sport - with the SE trim only offered on the four-cylinder cars.


Full Story: The Car Enthusiast - Mercedes-Benz E-Class


M

Those are some nice pics.

Interesting article, although according to what I know those interior shots (at least of the center console), could not have been of the same car whose exterior is shown. The exterior shots must be an Avantgarde because of the foglights, but the interior plaque says elegance. Plus, Movistar does not offer service in Germany (and this car has D plates).

Those LED lights can be ordered for the Elegance model as well. The front bumper is from the Elegance model because it has chrome trim at the left and right edges below the fog lights. This car also comes with distronic which is only available with the 3 bar grill combination.

Look at the right foglight, and then look at the left one.

Normally, at a Merc, when you steer right and the headlights are on(and the car is equipped with ILS, I suppose), the right foglight lits up for a moment. Same for the left side.

But in this pic...

If the right fog was DONE(although this is, practically & technically, impossible when it comes to LEDs), then this issue may come as an unexpected failure from Mercedes-Benz on a so-fresh automobile.

Or the lower left LED caught the full flash that was sent out by an SB-flash system. Remember, these are professional photographs and even though it is a sunny day out there they still work with artificial lighting such as brighteners and flash to create moods and atmosphere in the photograph.

Just a thought.

I like this line:
"The lines of the new E-Class that jarred on the motor show stand and the unveil in Detroit look softer and far more appealing in natural light. It's a more assertive looking car than before, which retains the familial look of its predecessors thanks to its quad lamp set up and contoured bonnet. The front is perhaps the fussiest aspect, the edgy lights looking a bit contrived; the LED driving lights on the Avantgarde and Sport models even look like an afterthought."

I mostly agree with that. I can't get myself to see this as flawless of a design as M-B had been known to do in prior years. There are too many funky and non-cohesive elements IMO, not to mention how jarring the angular look is in certain pictures.

I saw the car IRL, and it's not nearly as "complicated" as in pics. It's pretty cohesive, and flowing IRL, you don't get the impression of "over-design" you can have in pics. Trust me, it's way better IRL, really. Looks pretty clean actually, in the metal.

Cool, thanks for the insight. I've looked at the pics so much for what seems like countless hours trying to find myself attracted to the design, I just can't wait to see 'em in person to see if my opinion may be swayed.

Well now that you have seen it do you like it what do you think off it in comparison to the w211.And whats your opinion on the cars interior and exterior did you see the car in motion or at a dealership..

Thanks in advance..

I saw my second E-class, this time in wine-red. The exterior is actually bland, not something that makes you look twice. The car isnt ugly or anything either. I still think C-class looks better than the new E. When I saw the new E-class there was a C-class next to it and in my eyes, C-class design look better.

I didnt get inside the new E but I stretch my arm through the open window to touch the black instrument panel and it kinda felt hard. I dont know if thats the same case with previous E-class.
Other than that I really like the interior and I dont care if there are hard plastic inside. As long the interior design looks good then I dont care. And the leather seats felt exclusive and they looked comfortable.

I'm sure many current E-class owners are going to replace it with the new E. But if you dont need the space, stick to the C-class.