Mercedes E-Class

Overview

Finally, Mercedes-Benz India has launched the much-awaited 2014 E-Class in India today (25th June, 2013). Mercedes E-Class is a pure exhibit of power and outstanding strength. The all-new front grille along with the prominent head lamps add up to the sleek styling of the car. The front bumper and huge Mercedes logo are also the part of the marked and elegant styling of the car. The extra-long wheelbase of the car is a reflection of the spaciousness of the car. The wheels of the car now sports all-new alloy wheels and have an aura of strength. The interior of the car is very comfortable and elegantly designed. The cabin space is spacious and very lavishly done. The decorative dashboard adornments, beautiful door panels and the fine wood used makes the interior very enticing.

The ventilation outlets integrated in the wood with style add up to the charisma of the car. The ride of the Mercedes E-Class is very smooth and exhilarating because of the aerodynamics and smooth steering and suspension. The assistance systems for driving and controls make everything very accessible to the driver. The adaptive brake system with HOLD function, Attention Assist drowsiness detection system and Parktronic parking aid are parts of safety features. The airbags provide protection against impact injuries. Protection in cases of accidents comes in the form of safety passenger compartments, knee bags for the driver and passengers, cash-responsive head-restraints and standard active bonnet. 2014 Mercedes E-Class is available in three variants: E200 CGi Petrol, E220 CDi Diesel and E220 CDi Limited Edition. Prices start from INR 41.50 lakhs for the petrol variant and goes up to 49.90 lakhs for the limited edition diesel variant.

Mercedes E-Class Exterior

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class has gone through a face-lift. Its revamped exterior design is improved with its high-tech features and updated locomotives. The roofline, front doors, and windows have also been redesigned with a more sophisticated look that is intended to capture the attention of car lovers in a glance. The advanced features of this vehicle are unmatched. It comes with a night vision assistant that helps drivers detect cyclists, pedestrians and also approaching traffic. The active light assistant that depends on adaptive HID technology has been shifted to advanced, active LED pixels that are powerful enough to redirect the light rays away from looming traffic.

Mercedes E-Class Interior

The Mercedes E-Class cabin keeps adequate Mercedes-style interior space to make it comfy for passengers. The seat controls are located on the door panels while the heating and cooling consoles are at the bottommost of the center stack to make it easier for passengers to locate them whenever necessary. The tones are made darker with a touch of timber shade. All cases in the cabin display a chic and sleek Mercedes touch. The dashboards in all Mercedes E-Class models are almost the same so there is no need to adjust for those who have been used to the dashboard design of other models in this segment. The three-gauge instrument cluster which has been there for most of the previous models has been superseded by a set of five analogue devices. All gauges are remarkably readable at a glimpse. In addition to these, the E-Class dashboard comes with a command system that is installed at the front and center part of the control stack.

The command system is made up of a seven-inch color display screen that comes with a Bluetooth interface and six-disc CD/DVD changer that lets people to connect to the player via phone or any other compatible device. Using a point-and-click control at the center stack, this tool can be used by either the driver or front passenger to change the volume and control other audio video functions. It also shows an optional map reading screen, a standby camera image, and night vision ultraviolet display plus climate controls so passengers can adjust the temperature anytime. When it comes to comfort, the Mercedes E-Class sedan front seats are quite supportive combined with sport-inspired seats which are also found in the Cabriolet and Coupe versions. Passengers can adjust their seats as well as the steering wheel height according to their preference. The sporty steering wheel is quite enticing as it is covered in stitched leather, with switches to control most functions inside the vehicle. The new gear selector for this model looks a lot like the one from the previous model but it comes with well-shaped blades behind the steering-wheel shafts for manual gear option.

Engine and Gearbox

Mercedes E-Class has two engine options: 2.0 litre petrol and 2.2 litre diesel.The petrol model generates maximum power of 184 Bhp at 5500 rpm with maximum torque of 300 Nm at1200 rpm. It takes about 7.9 seconds to cross the 100 kmph mark. The diesel model develops maximum power of 204 Bhp at 4200 rpm with maximum torque of 500 Nm at 1600 rpm. It takes about 7.5 seconds to cross the 100 kmph mark. Both the engines are mated to 7-speed automatic gearbox.

Safety Features

Safety features are always present on all Mercedes-Benz car models so the E-Class is not an exception. In addition to the ESP stability control and automatic brakes system, this vehicle comes with a total of nine additional restraints as well as front air bags, knee air bags and pelvic air bags that all work together with curtain and side air bags to give extra care for front passengers in case of an accident. The attention assist system is also present in the Mercedes E-Class model that alerts the driver in case the car detects signs of drowsiness. This feature is said to prevent more than a hundred thousand accidents per year as the steering sensor comes with a whiz type of software that uses 70 parameters to create a unique driver record during the first 20 minutes of driving. Amid 50 and 112 miles per hour, the system will identify if there are inconsistent steering movements from the driver which is a common sign among drowsy people.

This triggers a loud voice warning saying, "Time for a Rest?" plus a coffee cup indicator that glows in the instrument cluster. Customers can add optional safety equipment such as the Lane Keeping Assist system. This feature alerts the driver by mimicking a rocky strip vibration in the steering wheel in case the vehicle drifts from its current lane without using the turn signals. Included in the Lane Tracking Package is a feature that recognizes lane markings when the car is driven with speeds above 37 miles per hour. The small camera installed in the windshield plus the minute computer analyses the video images and helps the system detect unusual driving movements. The Blind Spot Assist is another helpful feature that customers can add to help detect blind spots at the lateral and rear parts of the vehicle. The system gives audible warnings whenever a blind spot is detected so the driver can avoid accidents.

Verdict

All Mercedes E-Class models are made with excellence but what really makes it standout are its unique features such as the clean-burning turbo engine that offers better emissions without compromising speed. It is packed with safety functions and comfort features to make passengers at ease even during long travels so definitely, Mercedes E-Class is worth its market price.