THE Three-Pointed Star. It’s a badge synonymous with class, quality and conservatism. It once ruled over the premium saloon segment with impunity. However, as the once-dominant Mercedes-Benz E-Class became increasingly sophisticated and luxurious, thousands of faithful buyers were forced to buy down… Some opted for the competent C-Class while others left the brand for good. And as the E’s German and Japanese rivals raised the stakes by launching sportier and better priced offerings, the now obsolete W211 model entered the market amid a storm over quality issues (especially in North America). Once we chose the Jaguar XF, which favours style and dynamism over old-fashioned solidity and poise, as our Top 12 Best Buy in the executive saloon segment earlier this year, the beleaguered E-Class’ fate seemed sealed… It was out of step and out of time. Thus the latestgeneration E-Class is arguably the most controversial ’Benz model to join our road test line-up in recent memory. As we have alluded to in previous reports on the range, the new E-Class’s exterior lines split opinion right down the middle. With comments ranging from “classy and conservative” to “a bit blobby”, the E300’s seemingly retro horizontal character lines, blunt frontal and rear aspects and squared, quad headlamps, particularly the smaller, inside units, didn’t garner universal appeal. The elongated taillamps also received a mixed reception, although it must be said that the test car’s solid white paintwork, excellently finished though it was, seemed to add to the car’s bulk. In its heyday, the E-Class was known for its reserved, angular looks and, in what appears to a belated return to Bauhaus, the newcomer seems to stake its future on the legacy of its understated predecessors, in terms of aesthetics, anyway. This approach may appeal to older buyers, but may be too subdued for those accustomed to the “sporty baby S-Class” image of the current C.
By contrast, the interior proved to be one of the highlights of the E300. In what is arguably the biggest single improvement over the W211, the new E-Class has a tiered, precipitous facia distinguished by excellent use of premium soft-touch materials with quality finishes. Some testers remarked that the interior appeared somewhat old fashioned… The steering column- mounted transmission selector could be mistaken for an indicator stalk (mounted on the right-hand side of the steering wheel on some cars), causing the driver to select neutral when signalling a lane change.
Whereas most of its rivals have switched to electronic parking brake activation and release, Mercedes-Benz has persisted with its quaint parking brake foot pedal, but there were few qualms with the now-familiar circular controller for the Comand APS interface, supplemented by suspension setting buttons in the expansive centre console. The toggles for the climate control settings are arguably located too near the bottom of the facia, but given the requirement to host the controls for the raft of extra options fitted to the test unit (to the value of R130 800), it was not surprising that space was scarce. But the overall effect is very upmarket and composed… Anthracite leather trim and black ash wood inlays were complemented by classic white-on-black instrumentation, of which both digital and analogue elements were pleasing on the eye.
And while rear passengers have generous levels of headand kneeroom at their disposal (940 mm and 670 mm respectively), front passengers have an extensive range of seat adjustment plus hip, side and back support at their disposal thanks to the electrical adjustment and the various massage functions and pneumatic cushioning offered by the extra-cost multi-contour seats fitted to the test unit. Curiously, the driver’s state-of-art leather throne still needs to be slid fore and aft with the aid of a tug on a release lever, followed by an ungainly pelvic thrust. Again, it’s a rather quaint throwback to yesteryear, as is the cavernous boot, which offers a full-sized spare wheel and will still swallow 368 dm³ of luggage when required.
As for the driving experience, those who were expecting an unflustered ride quality coupled with effortless cruising ability will not be disappointed in the least. From the moment you set off, the E300 impresses with its ability to make smooth progress. With peak outputs of 170 kW and 300 N.m at its disposal, the 3,0-litre four-valvesper- cylinder V6 powerplant (as used in the C280) propels the E-Class body, which tipped our scales at 1 839 kg, at a leisurely – rather than brisk – rate. The 7G-Tronic seven-speed automatic transmission offers manual override via steering wheel paddles, but most testers preferred to rely on kickdown when urgent speed was required.
The E300 gains momentum rather deceptively, because road and mechanical noise intrusion to the cabin is impressively low. With the optional Airmatic air suspension fitted, bumps and changes in road surfaces were absorbed with consummate ease, but the cosseting ride and light, inert steering feel from the powerassisted rack-and-pinion set-up contributed to an eerie sensation of distance between driver and road during cornering. Although none of our testers complained about the E300’s handling limits, few praised the car’s ultimate dynamic ability. Braking ability earned an excellent rating, and although the pedal doesn’t provide much feedback to the driver, the brakes did feel less snatchy than on the previous E-Class’ Sensotronic set-up.
As a package, the E300 as tested here is lavishly equipped. According to Mercedes-Benz, the driving assistance package, which includes blind spot and lane keeping assist functions, and a Distronic adaptive cruise control system that will emit a beep and flash a red light on the instrument binnacle if the E follows another car too closely (then gently apply the brakes if the driver ignores the warning) are part of the new E-Class’ raisons d’être. However, testers found the high-tech “nanny technology” either intrusive or gimmicky.
Similarly, the intelligent light package, which beefs up both interior and exterior illumination functions, panoramic sunroof and premium sound system are nice-to-haves, but they all add up and the price tag for this E300 is R688 000, which is significantly more than its 3,0-litre rivals.
CONCLUSION
The E300’s strongest and most redeeming feature in this test is that it remains an impressive package even if one looks past the extras. The E-Class has successfully improved on the shortcomings of its W211 predecessor, and recaptures the olde worlde charm of many premium Benzes that came before it. By bucking the trend towards sportier, high-fashion executive saloons, the new E-Class can’t hope to move the goalposts in its segment, at least not in terms of dynamic ability or cross-generational appeal. What the new E does particularly well, however, is showcase some of Mercedes-Benz’s more traditional traits, such as poise, refi nement and understated luxury. And it makes it all look oh so effortless…