MERCEDES-BENZ Classe E 2017

Body, cabin and cargo space

Mercedes-Benz has always maintained a family resemblance, but the new 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class looks so much like the C-Class that it is easy to mistake one for the other. That may be displeasing to the owners of the superior model, who pay $15,000 to $20,000 more for their sedan…

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class’s larger dimensions are clearly apparent upon a closer look or when climbing inside. The cabin can accommodate four adults without undue difficulty, though headroom and legroom have diminished slightly this year. Which is strange, seeing that both wheelbase and length increase 7.5 cm and 4.3 cm, respectively.

Access is easy to the front but more delicate to the rear because of the pronounced slope of the roof. The front seats are very comfortable, firmly padded but not too hard, and provide excellent support on any length of trip. Multiple settings including adjustable thigh support and the long range of the telescoping steering wheel ensure a good driving position for individuals of all sizes. However, the driver’s knee easily rubs against the wide centre console, a problem common to most German cars.

The rear outboard seats are well shaped, but the middle position is uninviting, with hard, flat cushions and an imposing centre tunnel that takes up precious leg and foot room. Standard features include vents behind the console, map pockets behind the seats, cup holders on the middle armrest and bottle holders on the doors. Heated rear seats are optional on all models, even though they are standard on certain compacts that cost half the price.

The trunk of the sedan is roomy in length and height but limited in width because of the notable intrusion of the wheel wells and the traditional lid hinges (though the latter are recessed to avoid damaging trunk contents). The split rear backrests fold in a 40/20/40 configuration, which is both practical and rare in a sedan. A power trunk lid is optional.

Finish and convenience

Flawless paintwork and high-precision fit, inside and out. Attentive finish and quality materials: brushed-aluminum or glossy plastic trim, real wood, contrasting topstitching. For the price (over $60,000), however, the base E 300 should have genuine leather upholstery, though the Artico (man-made) leather is quite convincing.

Rather than traditional gauges, most models have a huge, 31.2-cm (12.3-in.) widescreen instrument cluster. Several displays are possible: traditional analog, digital speed readout, prominent trip computer, etc. All are crisp, with impeccable graphics.

Another similarly sized screen is positioned in the centre of the dash in an extension of the first; it groups nearly all car functions (audio, hands-free phone, GPS, ventilation, settings for driver assist systems, etc.). It is controlled via a laptop-type touchpad that requires a lot of concentration while driving.

Even the steering-wheel-mounted controls are now the same type, and they are not as precise as Mercedes-Benz would have us believe. Fortunately, there are still some buttons and a large control knob to make things a bit easier. Efficient voice recognition also lets you by-pass the maze of menus.

USB port, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto interfaces, navigation, heated front seats, LED headlights, rain-sensing wipers and pushbutton start are all standard. However, to obtain a backup camera, heated steering wheel and keyless entry, E 300 buyers must add the $5,100 Luxury Package. Here again, all these features should be delivered as standard equipment on a car of this price.

Interested in multicontour massaging seats, nappa leather, rear sunshades or heated arm rests? No problem as long as you dip a little deeper into your wallet! Fully equipped, an E 300 costs more than $80,000; an AMG E 43, nearly $100,000.

Safety features

• Antilock brakes with brake-force distribution and brake assist
• Stability and traction control
• Hill-hold assist
• Front airbags
• Driver knee airbag
• Front side airbags
• Side curtain airbags
• Pretensioners on all seatbelts
• Five adjustable head restraints
• Tire pressure monitor
• Backup camera (standard, E 400 and AMG E 43; optional, E 300)
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Frontal collision warning with automatic emergency braking
• Lane departure warning, lane-keep assist and blind-spot monitoring (all with automatic assist), side or rear collision detection, cross-traffic warning at intersections, adaptive cruise control, lane-change and avoidance assist (included in optional Intelligent Drive Package)

Crash test results

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
Overall score: 5 / 5
Frontal impact: 5 / 5
Side impact: 5 / 5
Rollover resistance: 5 / 5

Insurance Institute For Highway Safety (IIHS)
Moderate overlap frontal impact: 4 / 4
Small overlap frontal impact:
- driver side: 4 / 4
- passenger side: 4 / 4
Side impact: 4 / 4
Rear impact: 4 / 4
Roof strength: 4 / 4

IIHS Top Safety Pick

Visibility

Visibility is good overall, front and side; the blind-spot monitoring system compensates for the small size of the outside mirrors. Rear visibility is reduced by the high rear package shelf (as in nearly all sedans) and the wide roof pillars. The large backup display is always clear, because the camera retracts when in drive. However, it is unacceptable that this important safety device is still an option on the E 300, whereas it is standard on a host of economy cars.

Headlights: The LED projectors light a very bright but too-short path in the low-beam position. High-beam distance is sufficient; automatic high-beams are standard on all models.

Engine and transmission

Except for the diesel engine offered from 2014 to 2016, it has been quite a while since Mercedes-Benz offered a four-cylinder in its midsize sedan in North America. This year, a four-cylinder equips the E 300, the most popular model of the lineup. With a displacement of 2.0 litres, this direct injection turbo engine is a bit less powerful than last year’s 3.5-litre V6, but it provides more low-end torque.

The result is amply vigorous performance for daily driving, and excellent pickup. The engine is appreciated for its smooth, discrete delivery, though it cannot compete with the unctuosity and refined engine note of the former V6. For drivers still attached to their six-cylinder, two versions of a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 are still listed; the 4.7-litre twin-turbo V8 is now reserved for the coupe and convertible.

All sedans and the station wagon are delivered with a nine-speed automatic transmission. Designed and built by Mercedes-Benz, it shifts smoothly and downshifts promptly. It is geared to make the most of the turbo engine. Paddle shifters provide access to engine braking that is especially useful in a descent.

Without being imperceptible, the automatic start-stop system functions more fluidly than that of many competing vehicles. It contributes to a 7-percent reduction in fuel consumption announced for the E 300, in conjunction with the smaller engine and additional gears. We registered an average of 9.4 L/100 km during our test (75-percent on the highway), which compares to Natural Resources Canada’s combined rating.

Ride and handling

Large sedans by Mercedes-Benz always stand out for a ride as imperturbable as a bombproof vault. The latest Mercedes-Benz E-Class carries on the tradition; an ultra-quiet cabin, exceptional steering stability and impeccably comfortable seats make it nearly a perfect machine for racking up the kilometres.

Why “nearly”? Simply because the firm suspension tunings prevent it from filtering out pavement defects with the same aplomb as before. A succession of bumps and potholes unleashes small, stiff body movements and a series of bounces that are unexpected in a car such as this. The more compliant suspension included in the no-charge Luxury Package may attenuate this effect, but we haven’t tested it. An adjustable air suspension is also listed, as a $2,000 option.

The upside of the equation is that the E-Class tackles curves incisively, with a minimum of body lean and a high level of grip. The full-time all-wheel-drive system erases any trace of understeer, and the crisp steering lets you point the car where you want to go, without effort. The drive mode selector lets you reduce steering assistance for slightly more feel of its linear operation in sporty driving. Braking is perfectly adequate in all circumstances, with an easily modulated pedal.

Despite its genuine appeal for driving fans, the E-Class offers one of the most comprehensive suites of driver assistance technologies on the market. Mercedes-Benz even claims that the car can drive itself on limited-access roads (such as our highways) for a maximum period of one minute.

We briefly tested this function, paired with the adaptive cruise control, during our winter test. The car does, indeed, guide itself within its lane with no problem… until pavement markings are erased or a trail of slush appears. The system can then attempt to steer the car in the wrong direction. That’s why we feel it is essential to concentrate all one’s attention on the road, despite this developing technology.