Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate outed

The covers have been whipped off Mercedes-Benz' new-generation E-Class Estate. Codenamed S213 (the sedan is W213), introducing a fresh look, new engines and a number of semi-autonomous tech upgrades to the wagon segment.

Offered with three diesel and four petrol engines, topping out with the Mercedes-AMG E43 model – a 295kW, 520Nm turbo-petrol V6 – the all-new E-Class Estate will be coming to Australia mid-2017 in both petrol and diesel guises.

All seven engines are unlikely to be offered here, as the wagon is a niche seller in Australia at present – and will likely continue to be so.

David McCarthy, Mercedes-Benz Australia's Senior Manager for Public Relations, Product and Corporate Communications, told motoring.com.au that the E-Class wagon traditionally sells around 10 vehicles per month, or roughly 120 per annum.

The E-Class sedan sells about 10 times that many per year.

"It's a niche vehicle for us but we think it's an important vehicle for the brand. We have a small customer base for that vehicle," McCarthy said, confirming the importer's intent to bring the wagon here in mid-2017.

Mercedes-Benz Australia currently offers the E200, E400 and E250d wagons in Australia, commanding a premium of between $7500 and $10,000 above the sedan. It's likely the new-generation models will mirror the prices and line-up come 2017.

Current prices range between $87,900 and $138,510, but if the recent E-Class sedan price list is anything to go by, expect a $10,000 increase again.

The German prestige wagon will come standard with an Easy-Pack powered tailgate and seven seats, with third-row passengers facing backwards. Boot space is 670 litres, expanding to 1820 with the middle-row 40:20:40 splitting seats folded away.

Other features expected to make the cut in Australia include the new touch-sensitive steering wheel controls and a pair of massive 12.3-inch high-definition instrument screens.

Several semi-autonomous driving technology aids are on the cards too, able to accelerate, brake and steer the car in traffic and on the highway. A nine-speed automatic transmission will be standard, as will leather upholstery and climate control.

Mercedes-Benz has not yet confirmed whether the range will build up to the top-spec, V8-powered AMG E63 wagon, and McCarthy said the low volume nature of such vehicles makes them difficult to import to Australia.

"We tried AMG [E-Class wagons] in the past and it's not easy," he said.

The Mercedes Australia exec mentioned AMG versions of the CLS Shooting Brake were also a hard sell in this country and although a V8-powered AMG E-Class wagon was certainly on the wish list, and would rival the Audi RS6, it's by no means a sure thing.

"Audi does well with the RS6, but this segment is hard," observed McCarthy.

Before the new E-Class Estate arrives in Australia mid-2017, the sedan will be launched here in July, 2016.