Mercedes-Benz E200: Executive class indulgence

By Ghaith Madadha - Feb 14,2017 - Last updated at Feb 14,2017

Photo courtesy of Mercedes-Benz

Perhaps the most defining model among Mercedes-Benz’ various model lines across the years, the E-Class sums up the brand’s luxurious yet unostentatious, sensibly practical yet established premium brand and elegant yet conservative appeal.

Possibly the most important of Mercedes models, the E-Class is probably the most popularly aspirational car in Jordan, and especially so in E200 guise, where it represents one of the safest investments in a premium car.

Launched last year, the latest incarnation is one of the most technologically advanced cars rolled out by the Stuttgart manufacturer.

Flowing and fluent

Designated the W213 according to Mercedes-Benz model codes, the latest E-Class is a curvier and more flowing design and succeeds the more overt, chunkier and edgier W212, circa 2009-2016. Styled according to Stuttgart’s currently prevailing Sensual Purity design ethos, the new executive segment E-Class sits between and bears a strong familial resemblance to the brand’s flagship S-Class and junior executive C-Class saloons.

With a snouty grille with pronounced frame and bonnet surfacing, bullet-like LED headlamp clusters, flowing ridge along its flank, arcing roofline and waistline trailing off to a tapered boot, the new E-Class strikes a distinctly elegant, smooth and fluent aesthetic.

Smooth and flowing, its design generates low aerodynamic drag for refinement and efficiency. Meanwhile, mixed material construction including greater use of high strength steel in the frame and lightweight aluminium for many body panels allows for a significant weight reduction of up to 100kg, depending on model, and which helps improve efficiency, performance, handling and comfort.

Slightly longer than its predecessor by 65mm, including 43mm at the wheelbase, the new E-Class, however, features a shorter front overhang, and is slightly narrower and lower. Driven in more assertive AMG Line styling specification, it features larger 48cm alloy wheels and bumper details.

Efficient and versatile

Powered by a turbocharged direct injection four-cylinder engine carried over from its predecessor — and employed in more powerful states of tune in E250 and E300 variants — the entry-level petrol E200 version develops 181BHP at 5500rpm and 221lb/ft torque 1200-4000rpm. Weighing in 1605kg and driven through Mercedes much improved new 9-speed automatic gearbox, the E200 accelerates through 0-100km/h in 7.7-seconds, tops out at 240km/h and returns frugal in-class 5.9l/100km combined cycle fuel efficiency.

Slick and smooth, its new 9-speed automatic is an improvement on the previous 7-speed, with better shift responses and a wider range of ratios for improved acceleration, on-the-move flexibility, refinement and fuel efficiency.

Smooth and refined but with a faint four-cylinder chatter at idle, the E200 is responsive off-the-line with little by way of turbo lag. Spooling up swiftly, it settles into it generous and broad peak torque rev range, on-the-move progress and flexibility is responsive and confident.

At its best when exploiting its versatile mid-range in town and on highway, the E200 is also happy to be revved hard and high into its rev range through snaking switchbacks or winding hill claims, which it dispatches with confident consistency, if not the same muscularity as 208BHP and 242BHP e250 and E300 versions of the same engine would.

Reassuring comfort

Highly stable and reassuring at speed as such that premium German executive saloon is expected to be, the E200 is smooth, refined and comfortable. Riding on multi-link suspension with adaptive Agility Control system to loosen its dampers for suppleness or to make them tauter for greater body control through corners, the E200 manages to mostly keep one unruffled and comfortable, despite its sticky optional low profile tyres. Aesthetically appealing and lending the E200 a more grounded, assertive and sporting flavour, it optional tyres would seem to be a preference for many customers. On rougher Jordanian they can feel slightly and occasionally feel firmer than idea for such a large comfortable car.

With quick and clinically precise steering that nevertheless retains good directional stability at speed, the E200 is eager and tidy into corners, with its optional 245/40R19 front tyres gripping well. With well-controlled weight shift through corners for a large and luxurious car, balanced and predictable chassis and handling, the E200’s relatively long wheelbase and wide low profile 275/35R19 rear tyres provide reassuring road-holding through corners when leaned on.

However, and like other Mercedes saloons in recent years, suspension tuning seems to favour agile turn-in, while mechanical rear grip is looser at lower speeds, with permanently active electric stability control intervening sometimes subtly, and other times more noticeably to sort things out.

Advanced and luxurious

Smooth and settled, the E200 felt buttoned down on rebound, while comfort levels are generally high, one feels that more forgiving non-AMG Line wheels and tyres with a slimmer tread and taller provide would add fluency and suppleness over some of Jordan’s rougher road surfaces. Highly comfortable inside with terrific driving position adjustability and control layouts, the E-class also benefits from good visibility, tight turning circle and rear view monitor for agile manoeuvrability in tight confines, belying its large size. Seating and luggage room are accommodatingly generous in all directions, but based on anecdotal evidence, one felt that the previous E-Class, with its taller and less sloping roof provided better headroom.

A satisfyingly refined, comfortable, quiet spacious and indulgent car to drive, the new E-Class’ cabin is a more luxuriously appointed, aesthetically pleasing and elegant environment than its predecessors. Kitted in classy Avantegard spec with brown leather and wood trim as driven, the E200 features a horizontal emphasis with a wide centre console, four round centre air vents and a wide and cowled single instrument display and infotainment housing, able to accommodate two optional 12.3-inch screens.

Specified with plenty of convenience, luxury and safety systems including steering mounted touch pad controllers and blind spot and braking assistance, the E-Class can also optionally be had with Mercedes’ most advanced semi-automated driver assistance systems.

Such optional systems include Intelligent Pilot, which can negotiate bends on highways while maintaining distance from the car ahead, and Steering Pilot, which maintains lane discipline even in the absence of lane markings. Other systems include car-to-car communication, Evasive Steering assistance and numerous other features.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Engine: 2-litre, turbocharged, in-line 4-cylinders

Bore x stroke: 83 x 92mm

Compression ratio: 9.8:1

Valve-train: 16-valve, DOHC, variable timing, direct injection

Gearbox: 9-speed automatic, rear-wheel-drive

Ratios: 1st 5.35; 2nd 3.24; 3rd 2.25; 4th 1.64; 5th 1.21; 6th 1; 7th 0.86; 8th 0.72; 9th 0.6

Reverse/final drive ratios: 4.8/3.07

Power, BHP (PS) [kW]: 181 (184) [135] @5500rpm

Specific power: 90.9BHP/litre

Power-to-weight: 112.7BHP/tonne

Torque, lb/ft (Nm): 221 (300) @1200-4000rpm