Enchanting new E-Class

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Being only one rank lower in Mercedes-Benz superiority than the flagship S-Class, the E-Class is clearly aimed at bespoke company at the top end of the wealth and status market, which is why the white coats at Merc's head office were concerned over a number of niggles in the previous two models - hence the tough road and quality tests the latest model was subjected to.

Unlike main competitors Audi and BMW, Mercedes has generally placed less emphasis on the “sporty saloon” sales pitch, preferring instead to stick with what their smart saloons are known for, namely comfort, space, safety and superior ride quality.

But, unfortunately roadholding, suspension and steering sharpness suffer on the altar of comfort and the steering set-up of previous E-Class lacked feel and precision, and this sparked off a few mutters.

And again the white coats listened, sharpened their pencils and have now produced an E-Class that has a better balanced steering feel and a less “floaty” suspension.

And all the tweaks and add-ons, plus the tough testing programme the cars were subjected to, have paid handsome dividends because this is undoubtedly the best E-Class yet in terms of handling, steering, ride and comfort.

On the media launch drive in the Midlands region of KwaZulu-Natal, I was particularly impressed by the overall refined ambience of the living quarters and exceptionally smooth and comfortable ride of both the sedan and coupe variations.

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In fact, the new E-Class is the perfect vehicle in which to shake off the thousand mile blues…. I can just imagine how it will chow the long and lonely roads of the Northern Cape.

The E-Class has always been synonymous with safety and comfort and the latest incarnation has enough standard caring features to fill a book, let alone the optional extras which can fill another book!

I'm sure the salesman at the Merc dealership nearest to you won't mind folding his newspaper away and saving his sandwiches for later if you ask him to run through the options with you.

Ask to go on a test drive to try out new interesting features such as:

• Lane Keeping Assist, a system that causes the steering wheel to vibrate if the vehicle wanders off from its lane into an adjoining lane
  
• Blind Spot Assist which senses the presence of vehicles in the mirror's blind spot
  
• Adaptive Highbeam Assist which automatically adjusts the lights to prevent oncoming traffic being dazzled
  
• Distronic Plus radar-based system which ensures you keep a safe distance from the car in front and Pre-Safe Brake that automatically slows the car down if it's getting to close to the vehicle ahead, and
  
• Night View Assist which inter alia lights up pedestrians, cyclists and other objects which don't have high visibility after dark.

E-Class Coupeclick to enlarge

And if these standard features are still not fancy enough for you, you can add to your shopping list options such as a reversing camera, individual luxury seats at the back, a fancier climate control system, a speed limit assist programme and real snazzy seats that give you a body massage and enables the occupant to adjust the seat cushion depth and the way the sides of the seat grip his body.

I suspect that it may be just a little too fancy for some E-Class drivers, although others will probably love it. I'm not sure I will be proud to tell my mates at the golf club that I own a car that warns me when I'm drifting between lanes or when I'm too close to the vehicle ahead. I can just imagine the comments….

Methinks if you are not alert enough to realise you are too close to the car in front or if you are wandering between lanes you shouldn't be behind the wheel in the first place.

As always optional extras are expensive and in the case of this E-Class, hardly necessary, but with one exception - the Airmatic suspension which, at R17,500, is well worth the price.

The first fully-imported E-Class models to arrive in South Africa are available as sedans or coupes.

The entry model is the E300 model, sedan only (3.0-litre V6 170kW/300Nm); E350 sedan and coupe (3,5-litre V6 200kW/350Nm) and the mighty E500 (5,5-litre V8 285kW/530Nm).

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A few months down the line will see the arrival of the frugal E200 and two turbo-diesel models (highly acclaimed in Europe), plus a rip-roaring E63 AMG Sedan.

On the launch drive I did a stint at the wheel of the E350 coupe, the E300 Sedan and the E500 Sedan.

I was a little apprehensive about the coupe, knowing that it is based on the C-Class body, but I was quite pleasantly surprised with the ride and handling quality. The one thing I didn't like about the coupe is its lack of head and leg space in the back.

Once or twice during the drive the E300 version felt as though it could do with just a tad more vroom-vroom under the bonnet.

With the current financial squeeze hurting the new car market the entry-level model might well become the most popular of this latest E-Class bunch, even at a rather steep R471,000 a pop.

It really is a rather superior cruiser and commuter chariot that will appeal to the comfort and badge conscious.

And then there is the muscular E500 V8 sedan with the deep growl that I enjoyed the most.

It has tremendous potential for fun and I can just imagine the chairman taking the day off and stretching the big V's legs on that lovely stretch of coastal road between Gordon's Bay and Hermanus…

All images courtesy of quickpic.co.zaclick to enlarge

The coupes have a younger, slightly more stylish look than the more dignified sedans, but neither of the two shapes is likely to cause neck injuries or gasps of excitement.

Poise, presence and understated elegance are what you expect from an E-Class and the latest models run true to form. It's a look that requires just a few gentle approving nods, not a nose pressed to the driver's window for a quick peek inside.

The new E-Class doesn't look drastically different from the previous models, more of an evolution than a revolution.

The most noticeable make-up change is the redesign of the front head-lights which, some say, makes it look as though the car is pulling a face. I disagree. I think it adds further presence.

The E-Class vehicles that are already on sale locally range in price from R471,000 for the E300 Sedan to R820,000 for the E500 Coupe.

In the past 60 years more than 12-million E-Class cars have been sold of which 1,5-million went to new owners within the last six years.

And even though the Merc E wagons are up against the superb new Jaguar XF, Audi's highly-capable A6 and the new 5 Series BMW due here within a few months, the three-pointed star will no doubt continue to dance to the happy tunes of ringing cash registers.