I could quickly see the new E-Class, and briefly sat in it.
The design is very nice, it's a superb vehicle. Doesn't look heavy as in pics, looks much longer and lower IRL. It looks noticeably lower than the 211, much more like an old-school MB. Rear wing looks nice.
The front is not as "in your face" as in pics, and the lights are way more than just squared as they really unite the side wing and front. They look "deep" and the shape of the outter unit changes completely depending from the angle you're looking at it. It seems to stretch and becomes wider and higher the more you are moving to the side of the car.
The rear is also totally different from the upright sturdy look it has in pics. I will develop it more, since it's the main difference from pics to IRL:
This rear is in fact very 3D-sculpted: it's sporty actually, and I love it. The lights have small "wings" in them who breaks the light reflection and make them appear less "one big piece" while the LEDs inside look very good. The whole rear of the car is noticeably inclined (giving it a dynamic stance) and also has an arrow-shape with a strong divising line in the middle. Nothing like the heavy, slightly Japanese look it has in pics, it's much more complex and detailled IRL.
So overall, the exterior is fantastic. Doesn't look over-designed, as every elements is flowing with the others and everything makes sense. But it's a very refined, very detailled, almost artistic design in a sense.
No great fan of the LEDs DRL though, but you don't really notice them.
The interior now: was a black-alu AVG interior with leather and COMAND. The design is very cool, I love every bit of it. Ergonomics are perfect, seats extremely comfortable. Roomy car, too, although i didn't sit in the back.
The plastic of the upper part of the dash is good-looking: you don't really notice it.
However, on the lower part, it is the same plastic as in the 204 C-Class: quite hard, too shiny. Looks extremely solid, but not refined enough. That is a bit disappointing.
It's however not a real problem, because there isn't much of this plastic, unlike the 204. I awaited a bit more, especially given the general complaints on that area for the C-Class.
The alu of the dash felt a bit too much like plastic (unlike the 204 or 164 for instance who have a real alu-layer), surely because of the design effect on it. Conventional alu, or wood, will cure that.
I also would've wished some fabric or a better plastic on the folding mirrors of the sun-reflectors (I don't know the specific word but you see what I mean). No time to study the interior, however.
The buttons of the A/C are super-nice, but not metal-coated unlike the 221 S-Class. They may feel a slight little bit too light to operate.
No time to study it further, but I loved it. All in all, i love that interior, but the finish/materials are not better than the W211 E-Class.
In fact, it undoubtedly feels more MB-like, more solid, better put together, more "made-to-last", whereas the 211 gave a more refined impression. That, from the materials as from the design. Reassuring, clean, strong.
The 211 was warmer, but also felt hollow on some places and didn't give that "MB-sturdiness" I love so much.
This car is a winner in my eyes. A true Mercedes-Benz, just like the 204.
Some will however miss the delicate, feminine touch of the 211.
