Mercedes E-Class adds tech, deletes spare

While it's traditionally been the chosen vehicle of graziers and country doctors, that hasn't stopped Mercedes-Benz swapping the new E-Class to run-flat tyres for the first time, and launching it without a spare tyre.

But based on previous experience there seems little prospect of the landed gentry rising up in protest, says Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific.

The first models in the new luxury saloon range – the turbo-petrol and diesel four-cylinder $89,900 E 200 and $92,900 E 220 d – were launched to the Australian media this week and you can read our first review from midnight.

The $134,900 E 350 d V6 diesel is also now on sale, while the powered-up 2.0-litre E 300 and all-wheel drive twin-turbo V6 E 400 4Matic also join the range before Christmas. Their pricing has been confirmed this week at $107,900 and $139,900 respectively.

The E 350 e petrol-electric plug-in hybrid is also expected on sale before Christmas, but pricing is yet to be announced. The same applies to AMG E 43 4Matic, which goes on sale early in the new year. The range-topping AMG E 63 doesn't arrive until later in the year.

The pricing announced so far has climbed by around $10,000, compared to the old model range, as we have previously reported here.

Sophisticated new driving assist systems, the upper-spec 'Widescreen cockpit' and a nine-speed automatic transmission are standard across the range and highlights of the equipment list, which Benz is arguing improves or at least neutralises the value equation.

As part of the overhaul the E-Class range now rides on a choice of 18-, 19- and 20-inch tyres, all of which are run-flats. No model is offered with a spare tyre, although an emergency spare is being investigated as a local option.

But MB Au/P Senior Manager of Public Relations, Product and Corporate Communications David McCarthy told motoring.com.au the company won't go to the effort of creating space in the cargo bay and offering a full-size spare like it did in the ML-class SUV, which came from the factory with only a temporary spare.

"We made a different rear floor for that car and offered a full-size spare tyre. You know how many we sold? Three or four.

"We went through a period of also dealers stocking wheels and tyres for GLs because the tyres were an unusual size and everything. And we sold about two.

"But I am not denying for some buyers it is an issue," he added. "We will look for a solution.

"But it hasn't come back as feedback from our dealers, and believe me, they feed lots of stuff back."

The E-Class is no longer the sales key within the local Mercedes-Benz range it was in the 1990s when it claimed around 40 per cent of volume. While it continues to sell roughly 1500-2000 in a good year, overall Benz sales have climbed 700 per cent as small cars and SUVs have been introduced.

Benz customer profiling suggests plenty of former E-Class customers are now driving SUVs, but McCarthy insisted the E-class remained a key model.

"It's still very important," he insisted.  "E-Class has a lot of traditional buyers, but that is changing, E-class has become our technology leader so it demonstrates our technology.

"We have led the segment other than the odd month or so throughout the last generation and we now intend to do the same."

The arrival of the W213 E-Class signals a new round in the traditional luxury car battle between the three Germans as new generations of the BMW 5 Series and Audi A6 should be on sale in 2017.

The E 200 and E 220 d come standard with artificial leather upholstery, ambient interior lighting with 64 different colour choices, the Comand infotainment system (including sat-nav and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration), DAB+ digital radio, dual-zone climate control, 18-inch wheels, passive suspension, LED headlights and auto parking.

Safety features include a 360-degree camera, nine airbags and a new feature designed to stabilise the car in crosswinds. But the key technology is the driver assistance package which includes radar cruise control, steering assistance to evade objects on the road, including pedestrians and animals, blind spot and lane keeping assist and new Pre-Safe functions that are designed to move the front passengers inboard if a side impact is sensed and even protect eardrums in a collision.

This combination of driver assist systems also provides the E-Class with a higher level of semi-autonomous driving ability than Benz has delivered previously.

Compared to the equipment list of the E200 and E220 d, the E 300, which replaces the previous E 250, adds heated front seats, illuminated door sill panels, leather upholstery, 20-inch wheels, air suspension and adaptive Multibeam LED headlights with 84 individual LEDs.

The E400 lines up with the E350 d, adding Burmester surround sound, a head-up display, metallic paint and a panoramic glass sunroof.

The E 200 is available initially with an $1880 Launch Edition pack that swaps to 19-inch alloys and adds illuminated door sill panels, privacy glass and leather upholstery.

The E200's engine makes 135kW and 300Nm, averages 6.4L/100km and 144g CO2/km. The 0-100km/h acceleration claim is 7.7 sec. The E 220 d is powered by a new generation engine coded OM654 that is part of a modular family that will also include a new generation of inline petrol and diesel sixes. The diesel makes 143kW/400Nm, averages 4.1L/100km/108g CO2/km and achieves a 7.3 sec 0-100km/h time.

The E300 develops 180kW/370Nm, but its performance figures have yet to be confirmed. The 190kW/620Nm E350d averages 5.6L/100km/147g CO2/km and the E400 offers 245kW/480Nm, a TBA on fuel consumption and a range-leading – for now – 5.2 sec 0-100km/h time.

Benz expects the E200 to lead the sales charts initially with the E300 emerging as the long-term mainstay.

2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class pricing:
E 200 – $89,990
E 220 d – $92,900
E 300 - $107,900
E 350 d – $134,900
E 400 - $139,900