2024 Mercedes-Benz E 300 assessment

Mercedes-Benz is without doubt one of the world’s oldest automobile manufacturers, and the E-Class is certainly one of its longest working nameplates.

Whereas the fashionable E-Class as we all know it first debuted within the early Nineties, its lineage dates way back to the late Forties. Mercedes-Benz says there have been 16 million items of its ‘mid-size’ sedan constructed since its inception eight a long time in the past.

However the 2024 Mercedes-Benz E-Class you see here’s a totally different beast in comparison with its W110- and W120-era ancestors from a long time previous.

It’s now grown to over 4.9 metres lengthy, making it nearly as massive as a third-generation S-Class. As is the case with earlier iterations it additionally forges its personal design path, moderately than the mini-me impact between the C-Class and S-Class.

The Australian vary appears very totally different in 2024. Gone are the diesels, the six-cylinder choices, and the plug-in hybrid – only a single mild-hybrid four-pot is obtainable at launch.

Whereas earlier iterations have provided Property and All-Terrain wagon choices as properly, Mercedes-Benz Australia has elected to not provide them domestically regardless of them being obtainable overseas – SUVs are apparently why.

With a tech-laden cabin, flagship design method in addition to a deal with consolation and luxuries, does the W124-generation E-Class ship on Benz’s promise of ‘The Greatest or Nothing’?

How a lot does the Mercedes-Benz E-Class price?

The brand new-gen E-Class Sedan vary has been pared again to only one variant – the E 300.

Mercedes-Benz Australia hasn’t closed the door on different variants becoming a member of the lineup, however there’s nothing confirmed in the meanwhile.

In abroad markets there are additionally E 200 and E 220d mild-hybrids; E 300e and E 400e plug-in hybrids with over 100km of EV vary; in addition to the selection of Sedan (Saloon), Property, and All-Terrain physique types.

We additionally anticipate high-performance AMG variations are coming down the monitor. Count on an AMG E 53 donning a 330kW/560Nm 3.0-litre twin-turbo inline six to begin with – given Mercedes has the AMG CLE 53 on the best way.

Costs exclude on-road prices

To see how the Mercedes-Benz E-Class traces up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability device.

What’s the Mercedes-Benz E-Class like on the within?

Screens, screens and extra screens…

As normal there’s a 12.3-inch show for the motive force and one for the entrance passenger, and a 14.4-inch touchscreen built-in into the dashboard.

Mercedes-Benz calls the association the MBUX Superscreen, which differs from the EQE’s Hyperscreen as the motive force’s show within the E-Class isn’t recessed into the dashboard – it’s extra consistent with the instrument clusters within the C-Class and S-Class.

It’s all working the most recent Mercedes-Benz Consumer eXperience (MBUX) software program, which has a good flatter menu construction referred to as “Zero Layer”. There’s so much happening, however the menu construction means the clearly-labelled buttons and sub-menus ought to take you to what you’re searching for.

The built-in clever voice assistant is an attention-grabbing character, which claims to study as time goes on and may management the whole lot from infotainment to the local weather management and sunroof. You can too play video games or ask it normal data questions which is kinda enjoyable.

It’s all in any other case fairly acquainted in case you’ve ever sat in a present Benz, with crisp graphics, sharp responses, and a distinctly Mercedes appear and feel.

Wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto function as normal, and take up a wholesome portion of that 14.4-inch touchscreen. The native system works fairly properly as I discussed earlier, and has related providers, augmented actuality navigation, and DAB radio.

It’s all hooked as much as a 17-speaker Burmester 4D sound system with 730W amplifier. What’s 4D? It’ll really translate “the system’s sound into vibrations within the entrance seats utilizing two tactile transducers built-in into every backrest”.

“Dolby Atmos can use the complete cabin house to create a 360-degree expertise, positioning particular person devices or voices within the studio combine throughout the listening space,” the corporate provides.

Price it? Effectively, throughout our couple of hours behind the wheel I used to be extra targeted on driving than whether or not my seat was vibrating me proper, however the sound high quality was excellent.

I need to take a second to speak about atmosphere and construct high quality, as a result of it’s one thing that’s been a speaking level out of latest Benz launches.

In contrast to the C-Class and GLC, I’m glad to report the E-Class is extra consistent with conventional perceptions of Mercedes construct. It’s properly completed, feels solidly put collectively, and there’s a greater mixture of premium supplies.

Nevertheless, whereas the massive screens have loads of wow issue, the deal with minimising bodily buttons instead of screens means there’s foolish touch-capacitive stuff in regards to the place which is normally completed in piano black.

Maintain your cleansing cloths helpful, since you’re going to should wipe down a lot of the entrance cabin commonly with purchasers or members of the family driving alongside.

With simply myself within the automobile there have been loads of fingerprints and smudges left in regards to the place from contact inputs and swipes of the display screen for primary capabilities, in addition to on the double-spoke steering wheel. Aluminium or matte end subsequent time, perhaps?

The rear seat additionally isn’t as palatial as you’d count on with the E-Class’s prolonged dimensions on this era.

At 6’1 I can match behind my very own driving place high quality, however that is removed from a cut-price S-Class L. Knee and leg room aren’t fairly on the ranges I’d count on of a automobile this dimension, although foot and toe room are high quality for the outer seats.

There’s an enormous driveline hump within the center which is able to trigger a fifth passenger to splay out, and the rear of the centre console protrudes fairly a bit – it’s extra of a luxurious 4 seater.

I discover it odd Mercedes-Benz has relegated four-zone local weather to the choices record, and a part of a $9400 bundle on an already costly automobile. However there are air vents as normal.

There’s a wholesome 540 litres of boot house underneath the electrically operated rear lid, and you may fold down the rear seats – together with simply the centre one – for longer gadgets and elevated capability in case you want.

To see how the Mercedes-Benz E-Class traces up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability device.

What’s underneath the bonnet?

Regardless of traditionally providing a variety of four-, six- and eight-cylinder choices, the 2024 Mercedes-Benz E-Class provides a sole four-cylinder mild-hybrid powertrain at launch in Australia.

As famous earlier, Mercedes-Benz provides various engine variants overseas together with four-cylinder petrol and diesel mild-hybrids, in addition to four-cylinder plug-in hybrids with over 100km of WLTP-certified driving vary.

There are additionally Sedan (Saloon), Property and All-Terrain physique types provided in choose abroad markets, and there are six-cylinder choices coming to the lineup ultimately.

Additional, we will count on some hipo AMG-fettled E-Class fashions to launch in some unspecified time in the future, with one clue being the brand new AMG CLE 53 4Matic which is on its option to Australia quickly.

In contrast to the C-Class vary, which has reverted to a massaged four-cylinder turbo out of the A forty five hyper hatch, the go-fast CLE makes use of a 330kW/560Nm 3.0-litre twin-turbo inline six.

To see how the Mercedes-Benz E-Class traces up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability device.

How does the Mercedes-Benz E-Class drive?

$130,000 for a four-cylinder E-Class may sound like a little bit of a joke, however there’s a number of issues to contemplate right here.

Firstly, the E 300’s turbocharged and mild-hybrid four-pot is definitely as highly effective and even torquier than six-cylinder E-Lessons of previous, and stays hot-hatch fast with a 6.2s claimed 0-100km/h.

The two.0-litre 4 has a gruff and gravelly tone to it, nevertheless it’s properly muted. It’s hardly ever coarse or thrashy like we’ve discovered within the C-Class and GLC.

I didn’t all the time gell with the nine-speed computerized. Whereas it’s typically fairly good underneath load and at a cruise, I observed there was a slight lurchiness and clunkiness at low speeds, notably in stop-start conditions and when coming by means of low pace slip lanes – it simply wants an additional layer of polish.

Insulation from the surface world basically is excellent. We spent hours behind the wheel of the E 300 on a mixture of nation highways and B-roads with various surfaces and located it extremely refined and relaxed. It’s a wonderful all-round tourer.

And that’s the place these type of vehicles do their finest work, both skulking round quietly within the metropolis or stretching their legs on the freeway.

You’re finest to not try to drive this like a efficiency mannequin. It could put on AMG Line styling in and out, however an AMG the E 300 just isn’t.

From the sometimes doughy throttle response to the comfort-oriented chassis, this luxurious saloon is designed to do long-haul commutes in as a lot consolation as attainable. Our check vehicles had been fitted with elective adaptive air suspension as a part of the Plus Package deal, and we think about this solely provides to this.

Whereas it should fortunately waft alongside undulations and softer hits, the massive normal 20-inch alloy wheels and staggered 245/40 entrance and 275/35 rear tyres do imply there’s a slight terseness over sharper bumps and excessive frequency imperfections. It’s are from uncomfortable or unrefined, nevertheless it might be higher (smaller wheels, please).

Flicking between Consolation, Eco and Sport modes tailors steering and throttle response, along with damping and transmission shift factors. There are noticeable however not big modifications to every profile, however there’s some good adjustability dialled in.

The tradeoff to the journey’s firmer edge is that the E 300 can nonetheless tackle a sequence of bends with gusto.

It may be a 1.8-tonne, 4.9-metre lengthy government sedan, however the E-Class’s barely athletic bent means it corners with confidence and enthusiasm, laying a stable basis for upcoming AMG iterations.

The E 300 loves sweeping bends, the place its correct steering fluidly reacts to inputs and its hunkered-down stance conjures up confidence. You may energy out of bends with that 400Nm of torque, and you may flick it into Sport for even higher throttle response.

In its normal setting, the steering is kind of mild (however correct), nevertheless it’s not the final phrase in really feel. I perceive that is meant to make lower-speed and tighter manoeuvres a cinch – together with elective rear-axle steering – however rivals just like the BMW 5 Collection make the motive force really feel extra concerned.

This appears like a extra conventional Benz in character, with a pleasant lean in direction of consolation however with an underlying athletic edge meaning you’ll be able to nonetheless get pleasure from among the time between A and B.

As for driver help methods, the E-Class is fairly decked out as normal.

The adaptive cruise management and lane centring capabilities allow semi-autonomous freeway driving, and Mercedes’s tech is among the finest on the market, whereas the blind-spot help will counter steer away from an approaching car in your blind-spot.

We additionally received a preview of the elective Digital Mild projection operate, which is able to venture an arrow on the street forward if the car senses you drifting out of your lane, offering a visible warning for the motive force and close by street customers.

Mercedes-Benz says there’s prolonged performance on the playing cards sooner or later, however precisely what all that can seem like stays to be seen. To get this projection function, you should possibility the Plus Package deal.

What do you get?

Only one variant is accessible from launch – the E 300 Sedan.

E 300 Sedan normal tools:

Exterior

• AMG Line exterior bundle
• Agility Management suspension, selective damping
• 20-inch AMG multispoke alloy wheels in black
• Panoramic sliding sunroof
• Metallic paint – excl. Manufaktur
• Rear privateness glass
• Keyless-Go – handsfree entry
• Electrical folding mirrors
  • Encompass lighting
  • Emblem projection
• Digital Mild
• Adaptive Highbeam Help Plus
• Parking Package deal
  • Energetic Parking Help
  • 360-degree digicam
• Driving Help Package deal Plus
  • Pre Secure Impulse Facet
  • Distronic – adaptive cruise
  • Energetic lane change help – blind-spot
  • Energetic lane hold help
  • Energetic steering help
  • Visitors jam help
  • Visitors signal help
• Tyre strain monitor
• Acoustic Consolation Package deal
• Tyre restore package

Inside

• AMG Line inside bundle
• Sports activities steering wheel in Nappa leather-based
• Leather-based upholstery
• Roof liner in black
• Sports activities entrance seats
• Open-pore black ash wooden centre console
• Black piano lacquer trim
• Energetic ambient lighting with sound visualisation
• Auto-dimming inside and driver’s mirrors
• Reminiscence Package deal
  • Electrically adjustable entrance seats
  • Lumbar adjustment
  • Reminiscence operate – entrance seats
• Climatised entrance seats
• Folding rear seat backrests – 40:20:40
• Thermatic dual-zone local weather
• Burmester 4D encompass sound system
• DAB+ digital radio
• MBUX infotainment system
• MBUX Navigation Premium – AR operate
• MBUX Superscreen
  • 14.4-inch central touchscreen
  • 12.3-inch passenger touchscreen
• 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
• Apple CarPlay, Android Auto – wi-fi
• Wi-fi charging
• Mercedes-Me Join – 5G module
• Selfie and video digicam

Choices

A pair of possibility packages can be found for the E 300 Sedan.

Plus Package deal: $9400

• Airmatic adaptive air suspension
• Illuminated grille
• Rear-axle steering
• Multi-contour entrance seats
• Heated entrance seats
• Heated rear seats
• 4-zone local weather management
• MBUX Inside Assistant

Energizing Package deal Plus: $5200

• Air-Stability bundle incl. adjustable inside fragrances
• Energizing Consolation packages
  • Regulate local weather, music, lighting, fragrances, air-conditioning
  • Anti-travel illness program

Colors

A number of exterior and inside color choices can be found.

Exterior

Customary – $NCO

• Polar White Non-Metallic
• Graphite Gray Metallic
• Excessive-tech Silver Metallic
• Verde Silver Metallic
• Obsidian Black Metallic
• Nautic Blue Metallic

Manufaktur – Optionally available

• Alpine Gray Strong: $2900
• Hyacinth Crimson Metallic: $2500
• Opalite White Vivid: $2500

Inside

• Black leather-based – Sport Seats*
• Black leather-based – Consolation Seats^
• Tonka Brown leather-based – Consolation Seats
• Macchiato Beige leather-based – Consolation Seats

*Not together with Energizing Package deal Plus
^Solely together with Energizing Package deal Plus

Is the Mercedes-Benz E-Class protected?

The brand new Mercedes-Benz E-Class has but to be examined by ANCAP or Euro NCAP.

Customary security tools consists of:

• 11 airbags
• Energetic Steering Help – lane centring
• Adaptive cruise management with cease, go
• Autonomous emergency braking
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Evasive steering help
• Lane hold help
• Pre-Secure Plus, Impulse Facet
• Rear cross-traffic help
• Encompass-view digicam
• Visitors signal recognition

How a lot does the Mercedes-Benz E-Class price to run?

Like the broader Mercedes-Benz vary, the E-Class is roofed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee.

Scheduled upkeep is required each 12 months or 25,000 kilometres – whichever comes first.

Mercedes-Benz provides as much as 5 years of capped-price servicing, although it hasn’t confirmed pricing for the W124 era – for reference, the outgoing one will price you a lofty $6800 for a five-year plan.

CarExpert’s Tackle the Mercedes-Benz E-Class

The newest E-Class is a brand new chapter in one of many oldest Mercedes-Benz storylines – it might be area of interest, nevertheless it’s an enormous deal.

As is the case with a lot of the premium producers, the mid-size segments usually bridge the hole between entry-level and flagship merchandise – and generally even blur the traces between them.

The E-Class has lengthy stood by itself in comparison with the C-Class and S-Class, carving its personal path and doing issues in its personal time. It’s extra particular and attention-grabbing than the C, however not fairly the automated chauffeur’s selection just like the S.

Like generations previous it’s not only a cookie-cutter Benz sedan. It’s distinct from the C- and S-Lessons in and out, and provides various distinctive touches like that Superscreen which actually provides the cabin a unique vibe to its stablemates.

The driving expertise can be largely good, with easy efficiency, respectable dealing with, and good effectivity. Consolation and calmness are likewise robust factors.

However there are a number of kinks within the armour. There’s no escaping the lofty worth – it’s $15,000 greater than a BMW 520i which isn’t that far off when it comes to energy and tempo, and piles on comparable luxuries and a extra standard cabin. You can too have a extra highly effective six-cylinder Audi A6 55 TFSI with quattro all-wheel drive for a similar cash.

You additionally want so as to add over $10,000 in choices to the Benz to get the complete suite of obtainable options for the right expertise. It’s a disgrace sure fascinating options aren’t simply single-item choices moderately than exxy packages.

It’s additionally disappointing there’s little variety within the vary or selection of powertrains. Positive Mercedes will promote you an EQE, nevertheless it’s much less fascinating and fairly a bit much less engaging, and I’ll depart it at that. One thing has me considering a diesel engine or plug-in hybrid would additional increase the effectivity equation, and swimsuit this automobile’s easy vibe.

The E-Class solely sells in double-digit numbers month-to-month, making it a distinct segment providing for loyalists – and I reckon these conventional E- consumers shall be completely pleased with how this one goes about its enterprise.

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