In this week's test, the W214, aka the Mercedes-Benz E-class.
Some cars define their segment and often form the heart of the product range of the manufacturer in question. Mercedes-Benz has been building E-classes for 75 years and sold more than 16 million. With their A6 and 5 Series, Audi and BMW look very closely at the E, which is the benchmark in the class.
Nice sleek device
No crazy large grilles or difficult shapes, the W214 generation of the Mercedes-Benz E-class simply looks sleek. The new E-class has the proportions of a 'classic limousine' with a short front overhang and a long hood. The greenhouse is placed further back, which also hints at rear-wheel drive.
A Black Panel surface connects the grille to the headlights. The E-class has LED headlights as standard, but DIGITAL LIGHT is available as an option, with or without a projection function. A nice gimmick is that all daytime running light units have the shape of an eyebrow.
For the much-needed uberhol prestige, Mercedes-Benz has also opted for an illuminated grille. In the new E-Class, the grid is surrounded by an LED strip. It's probably not to everyone's taste, but it certainly stands out.
engines
European manufacturers are slowly cutting back on supply, but there is still plenty to choose from at Mercedes-Benz. There are four- and six-cylinder engines from Mercedes-Benz's current modular engine family, called FAME (Family of Modular Engines). By the way, half of all models available in Europe are fourth-generation plug-in hybrids, which in theory can travel about 100 km on electric power alone.
If you don't want to plug in, there are two other engines in the price list for the Mercedes-Benz E-class. The entry-level model is the E200, which has a 204 hp 2.0 turbo petrol engine (7.4s to 100 and 240 km/h). Diesel is also still allowed at Das Haus, the E220 CDI is available as rear-wheel drive or with 4Matic and has 197 hp. Both engines are mild hybrids with an electric motor that can help with a healthy 23 hp / 205 Nm.
The two six-cylinders bear the name E450 or E450d. The diesel has 367 hp, the petrol version 381 hp and a mild hybrid electric motor of 23 hp helps with both engines.
Plug-in hybrids E300e and E400e
There will initially be two plug-in hybrid variants. Both have a petrol engine, but Mercedes-Benz has already announced that there will also be diesel PHEVs. After testing the E300 of the previous generation, we were quite enthusiastic. That version may well come back, although the Dutch buyer will not be very enthusiastic about it.
Both E-class petrol PHEVs use a 1,999 cc four-cylinder engine with turbo. In the case of the E400e, the two-liter produces 252 hp and the system power is 380 hp.
We were given a Mercedes-Benz E300e (W214) for the test, which has a 204 hp and 320 Nm strong combustion engine. The electric motor produces 129 hp and a maximum of 440 Nm of torque. The quick calculators are still fooled here, because you are not allowed to simply add these figures together. The system power is 313 hp and the maximum torque is 550 Nm.
With these kinds of figures, the fairly simple conclusion is: it is sufficient, more than sufficient. Anyone who is not necessarily looking for an E-class AMG will not feel cheated with one of these E-class PHEVs. Just for the record, the performance figures: the E300e sprints to 100 in 6.4 seconds and reaches 236 km/h. The E400e seems a bit redundant, but it can reach 250 km/h and that still counts on the German Autobahn.
A large battery and ditto range
Finally, the plug-in hybrids are really becoming useful, even at Mercedes-Benz the battery capacity is growing with each model generation. The E300e and E400e both have a battery that is 25.4 kWh, to give you an idea: that is larger than a first generation Nissan Leaf.
A fully charged Mercedes not only offers the ultimate freedom, but you can also travel 95-118 km completely electrically. We can again look at the statistics about the European traveling an average of only 30 km per day, but that remains a lame comparison. It is true that for relatively many people, a range of about 100 km (70 in practice) will be sufficient for relatively many of the journeys. The performance is slightly less fully electric, because the electric motors deliver 95 kW (129 hp).
Intense, interactive and intelligent
For once, this text is not about the author, but according to Mercedes-Benz these are characteristics of the entertainment experience. Where did the time go when the standard radio was not even included, but sometimes the radio preparation was included (some plugs and an antenna).
Mercedes-Benz is setting the bar high again in terms of interiors. The materials are brilliant and the MB UX infotainment system works really well. If you also add the optional passenger display to the MBUX Superscreen, the screens fill the entire width of the car. There is also a selfie and video camera (for Webex, for example), which can only be used stationary.
Sublime comfort
Of course there are also tons of options in terms of bases, but the following applies to them all: the comfort is sublime. Long journeys, but also short journeys with many obstacles; the E-class does it like it's nothing. The smooth driving behavior of the new E-Class is due to the guidance of the front wheels by four wishbones per wheel. At the rear axle, an optimized and independent multi-link rear suspension with five wishbones ensures excellent wheel control and equally convincing straight-line stability.
The mild hybrids have steel springs as standard, but you can really enjoy it with AIRMATIC air suspension with infinitely adjustable damping ADS+. Then immediately order the rear axle steering, which has a steering angle of 4.5°. This reduces the turning circle to 90 cm and makes maneuvering the large E-class a lot easier.
Price and conclusion
If I tell you that new prices for cars in the Netherlands have risen sharply, I am probably not telling you anything new. And it is no surprise that a Mercedes-Benz is not among the price packers. The E300e is available from 71,704 euros, the AMG line costs 5 grand more. The Mercedes-Benz E-class W214 in the test also included the Premium Plus package worth 11.5 grand and some goodies: the total damage amounted to more than ninety-four thousand euros.
It's a lot of money, but you undeniably get a lot of car in return. And with competition it is hardly cheaper.
This article Mercedes-Benz E300e W214 – test and video first appeared on Autoblog.nl.
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