Overall rating:

The aims of the engineers working on the latest Mercedes-Benz E-Class can be summed up in one word: efficiency. Engine updates and a new automatic gearbox mean significant improvements in economy and emissions. There's also a snazzy new infotainment system.

Key Facts

Mercedes-Benz E 220 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY
Engine: 2.1-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel
Transmission: six-speed manual, rear-wheel drive (seven-speed automatic available)
Body style: four-door saloon (estate available)
Rivals: BMW 520d, Audi A6 2.0 TDI, Saab 9-5 TTiD
CO₂ emissions: 130 - 139g/km
Combined economy: 53.3 - 56.5mpg
Top speed: 142mph
0-62mph: 8.7 seconds
Power: 168bhp at 3,000 - 4,200rpm
Torque: 295lb.ft at 1,400 - 2,800rpm

Mercedes-Benz E 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY
Engine: 2.1-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel
Transmission: six-speed manual, rear-wheel drive (seven-speed automatic available)
Body style: four-door saloon (estate available)
Rivals: BMW 520d, Audi A6 2.0 TDI, Saab 9-5 TTiD
CO₂ emissions: 130 - 139g/km
Combined economy: 53.3 - 56.5mpg
Top speed: 149mph
0-62mph: 7.7 seconds
Power: 210bhp at 4,200rpm
Torque: 369lb.ft at 1,600 - 1,800rpm

Mercedes-Benz E 500 BlueEFFICIENCY
Engine: 4.7-litre biturbo V8 petrol engine
Transmission: seven-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive
Body style: four-door saloon (estate available)
Rivals: BMW 550i, Jaguar XF 5.0 V8, Infiniti M35h
CO₂ emissions: 209g/km
Combined economy: 31.7mpg
Top speed: 155mph - electronically limited
0-62mph: 5.2 seconds
Power: 402bhp at 5,000 - 5,750rpm
Torque: 443lb.ft at 1,800 - 4,750rpm

In the Metal:

Not much has changed. The Mercedes-Benz E-Class is extremely colour and wheel sensitive. It looks best on larger alloys in bright metallic hues, in which case the unusual rear wheelarch contours make sense. It's less attractive in a dull colour on small wheels.

Likewise, the appearance of the interior depends on how you specify it. We like the natural wood finish available. Regardless, it's beautifully put together and there's loads of space for passengers and luggage. Switchgear is tactile too.

Driving it:

We tried the cars detailed above on a mix of German autobahn, smooth country roads and urban streets. The E 500 is a wonderful thing, but seeing as only a handful will be sold in the UK there's no point dwelling on it. Suffice to say its 402bhp is more than ample and despite twin turbocharging there's a distinctive V8 note from the exhaust. It's a junior AMG car essentially, and a subtly brilliant one at that. Its buyers probably won't notice that it's about 20 per cent more efficient than before.

Of more importance to buyers are the four-cylinder turbodiesel models. The E 200, E 220 and E 250 CDI all share the same basic 2.1-litre engine, tuned to produce varying levels of performance and emissions. The diesel thrum is commendably muted most of the time and there's plenty of effortless urge available, though the figures suggest that the E 200 will feel a little underwhelming next to the other pair.

A key change to the new E-Class is the addition of a seven-speed automatic gearbox. It's far superior in every way to the outgoing five-speed item and is responsible for a lot of the efficiency gains Mercedes quotes.

Worth Noting

A major part of the upgrade package is stop-start as standard across the Mercedes E-Class line-up. It's called 'ECO' and can of course be switched off. Even the automatic cars feature the fuel-saving measure, which can mean you pull up to a T-junction waiting for a gap and the engine cuts out. It's quick to restart thankfully. In the petrol models the starting motor is helped with something called Direct Start, where fuel is injected into the most appropriate cylinder to speed up starting.

Summary

There was little wrong with the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, though virtually all reviews of it in the past surmised that BMW had it beaten in terms of efficiency. The 5 Series and new Audi A6 are indeed impressively efficient, but the new measures Mercedes has applied to its E-Class put it back in contention. That aside, the new automatic gearbox transforms the driving experience.