2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Review: E300 Sedan

There was a time when the E-Class was in the middle of the Mercedes-Benz bread and butter zone. But more compact and affordable models from the German manufacturer, not to mention an avalanche of niche SUVs, have gradually relegated it to a still significant but smaller position in terms of volume and profile in the local three-pointed star lineup.

However, for lovers of more "traditional" Mercedes, this remains the only way out, and the current "W213" version has been updated for 2021 with exterior cosmetic tweaks, revised trim combinations, the latest generation of "MBUX" multimedia. redesigned system and steering wheel with updated capacitive touch controls for various on-board functions.

And despite its relatively traditional shape, the E 300 tested here boasts the latest in dynamics and safety technology the brand has to offer. So, let's step into the heart of Mercedes-Benz.

2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class: E300
Safety Rating
engine's type	2.0 L turbo
fuel type	Premium unleaded gasoline
Fuel efficiency	8l / 100km
Landing	5 Places
Price from	$93,400

Does it represent good value for money? What functions does it have? 8/10

With a list price (MSRP) of $117,900 (excluding travel expenses), the E 300 competes with the likes of the Audi A7 45 TFSI Sportback ($115,900), BMW 530i M Sport ($117,900), Genesis G80 . 3.5T Luxury ($112,900), Jaguar XF P300 Dynamic HSE ($102,500) and, as an exception, the entry-level Maserati Ghibli ($139,990).

And, as you might expect, the list of standard features is long. Aside from dynamic and safety tech, which will be covered later, highlights include: leather trim (also on the steering wheel), ambient interior lighting (with 64 color options!), velor floor mats, heated front seats, illuminated front door sills (with Mercedes-Benz lettering), electrically adjustable front seats (with memory for three positions per side), open-pore black ash trim, dual-zone climate control, 20" AMG light alloy wheels, AMG Line body kit , privacy glass (tinted from the C-pillar), keyless entry and start, and Parktronic parking assistance.

The sporty "AMG Line" look remains standard, including 20-inch 10-spoke AMG light alloy wheels. (Image: James Cleary)

In addition, there is a "widescreen" digital cockpit (dual 12.25-inch digital screens), a left-hand display with the MBUX infotainment system, and a right-hand screen with a customizable digital instrument cluster.

The standard audio system is a seven-speaker system (including subwoofer) with a quad amplifier, digital radio and smartphone integration, plus Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and Bluetooth connectivity.

There's also sat-nav, a wireless charging system, multi-beam LED headlights (with Adaptive High Beam Assist Plus), Air Body Control (air suspension), and metallic paint (our test car was painted in Graphite Gray Metallic). ).

With this update, the headlights are flatter and the grille and front bumper have also been redesigned. (Image: James Cleary)

That's a lot, even for a luxury car in a part of the world worth over $100, and a solid value indeed.

The only option fitted to our test E 300 was the "Vision Package" ($6600), which consists of a panoramic sunroof (with sunshade and thermal glass), a head-up display (with a virtual image projected onto the windshield), and a surround sound audio system. Burmester (with 13 speakers and 590 watts).

Is there anything interesting about its design? 8/10

Gorden Wagener, Daimler's longtime head of design, has been firmly committed to Mercedes-Benz's design direction in recent years. And if any car brand needs to carefully maintain the fine line between tradition and modernity, it's Merc.

Signature elements such as the three-pointed star on the grille and the overall proportions of this E-Class link it to its midsize ancestors. However, the tight-fitting body, angular (LED) headlights and dynamic personality of the E 300 also mean it fits in perfectly with its current siblings. 

Speaking of headlights, they get a flatter profile with this update, while the grille and front bumper have also been redesigned.

The tight-fitting bodywork, angular (LED) headlights and dynamic personality of the E 300 mean it fits in nicely with its current siblings. (Image: James Cleary)

The sporty 'AMG Line' exterior trim remains standard, offering touches such as dual longitudinal 'Power Domes' on the bonnet and 20-inch 10-spoke AMG alloy wheels.

The new generation taillights are now illuminated with an intricate LED pattern, while the bumper and trunk lid have been slightly redesigned.

So, on the outside, it's a case of smooth evolution rather than a bold revolution, and the result is an elegant, modern and instantly recognizable Mercedes-Benz.

Inside, the star of the show is the "Widescreen Cabin" - two 12.25-inch digital screens, now with Merc's latest "MBUX" multimedia interface on the left and customizable instruments on the right.

Inside, the star of the show is the Widescreen Cabin, two 12.25-inch digital screens. (Image: James Cleary)

MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) uses artificial intelligence to match your preferences and can be accessed via touch screen, touch pad and "Hey Mercedes" voice control. Pretty much the best in the business right now.

The new three-spoke steering wheel looks and feels great, which can't be said for the latest iteration of the small capacitive controllers it contains. To quote my road test notes: “Tiny moves suck!”

The small touch pads on each of the steering wheel's horizontal spokes are designed to be moved by the thumb, replacing the small raised nodes in the previous generation of this technology.

A practical alternative to the touchpad on the center console, they can control a range of on-board functions, from multimedia to instrument layout and data readout. But I found them inaccurate and clumsy.

All E-Class models feature ambient lighting, heated front seats, power front seats with memory on both sides. (Image: James Cleary)

Overall, however, the interior is a piece of carefully crafted design, blended with the necessary intensity of style.

Open pore black ash wood trim and brushed metal accents underscore the carefully controlled combination of the smooth curves of the instrument panel and wide front center console.

Distinctive features such as multiple circular vents and ambient lighting add extra visual interest and warmth. Everything is thought out and implemented with skill.

How practical is the interior space? 8/10

With almost five meters in length, the current E-Class is a large vehicle, and almost three meters of this length is accounted for by the distance between the axles. Thus, there are ample opportunities to accommodate passengers so that they have enough room to breathe. That's exactly what Benz did.

There's plenty of head, leg, and shoulder room for the driver and front passenger, and in terms of storage, there's a pair of cupholders on the center console sitting in a lidded compartment that also holds a wireless charging mat for (compatible) mobile phones, a 12V outlet, and a USB port. -C to connect to Apple CarPlay/Android Auto.

A spacious central storage/armrest box includes a pair of USB-C charging-only connectors, large door drawers provide space for bottles, and a decent-sized glove box.

Behind the driver's seat, which is sized for my height of 183 cm (6'0"), there is plenty of legroom and overhead. (Image: James Cleary)

In the back, sitting behind the driver's seat set for my 183cm (6ft 0in) height, there's plenty of legroom and overhead. But the back door opening is surprisingly cramped, to the point where I had difficulty getting in and out.

Once in place, rear-seat passengers get a fold-down center armrest including a lidded and lined compartment, as well as two retractable cupholders that exit at the front.

Of course, the center rear passenger knocks that out, and while it's a short straw for legroom thanks to the driveshaft tunnel in the floor, (adult) shoulder room is reasonable.

Adjustable vents at the rear of the front center console are a nice touch, as is a 12V outlet and another pair of USB-C ports that sit in a drawer underneath. In addition, there is also space for bottles in the luggage compartments of the rear doors.

The trunk has a volume of 540 liters (VDA), which means that it is able to swallow our set of three hard suitcases (124 l, 95 l, 36 l) with extra space or a substantial Cars Guide pram, or the biggest suitcase and pram combined!

The 40/20/40 folding rear seat back gives you even more room, while load hooks help secure cargo.

The maximum drawbar pull is 2100kg for a trailer with brakes (750kg without brakes), but don't bother looking for any type of replacement parts, Goodyear tires won't get damaged.

What are the main characteristics of the engine and transmission? 8/10

The E 300 is powered by a version of the 264-litre Benz M2.0 turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine, an all-alloy unit with direct injection, variable valve timing (intake side) and a single, twin engine. scroll turbo, to produce 190 kW at 5500-6100 rpm and 370 Nm at 1650-4000 rpm.

Drive is sent to the rear wheels via a nine-speed 9G-Tronic automatic transmission with a next-generation multi-core processor.

The E 300 is powered by a version of the 264-litre Benz M2.0 turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine. (Image: James Cleary)

Будьте в курсе carsweekly guide newsletter

How much fuel does it consume? 8/10

Claimed fuel economy for the combined (ADR 81/02 - urban, extra-urban) cycle is 8.0 l/100 km, while the E 300 emits 180 g/km CO2.

For a week of driving around the city, suburbs and some freeways, we recorded (indicated by a dash) an average consumption of 9.1 l / 100 km. Thanks in part to the standard stop-and-go feature, that number isn't too far off the factory mark, which isn't bad for a 1.7-tonne luxury sedan.

The recommended fuel is 98 octane premium unleaded gasoline (although it will work on 95 in a pinch), and you'll need 66 liters to fill the tank. This capacity corresponds to a range of 825 km according to the factory statement and 725 km using our actual result.

What safety equipment is installed? What is the safety rating? 10/10

The current E-Class received the maximum five-star ANCAP rating in 2016, and while the scoring criteria have tightened since then, it's hard to blame the 2021 version of the car.

A wide range of active safety technologies designed to keep you out of trouble, including front and rear AEB (with pedestrian, cyclist and cross-traffic detection), traffic sign recognition, Attention Assist, Active Blind Spot Assist , Active Distance Assist, Adaptive High Beam Assist Plus, Active Lane Change Assist, Active Lane Keeping Assist and Steering Evasion Assist.

There is also a warning system for a drop in tire pressure, as well as a brake bleeding function (monitors the speed of releasing the accelerator pedal, moving the pads partially closer to the discs if necessary) and brake drying (when the wipers are active, the system works periodically). enough brake pressure to wipe water off the brake discs to optimize efficiency in wet weather).

But if an impact is unavoidable, the E 300 is equipped with nine airbags (dual front, front side (chest and pelvis), second row side and driver's knee).

On top of that, the Pre-Safe Plus system is able to recognize an imminent rear-end collision and turn on the rear hazard lights (at a high frequency) to warn oncoming traffic. It also reliably applies the brakes when the car comes to a stop to minimize the risk of whiplash if the car is then hit from behind.

If a potential collision occurs from the side, Pre-Safe Impulse inflates the airbags in the side bolsters of the front seatback (within a fraction of a second), moving the passenger towards the center of the car, away from the impact zone.

There's an active hood to minimize pedestrian injury, an automatic emergency call feature, "collision emergency lighting", even a first aid kit and reflective vests for all passengers.

The rear seat has three hooks for top insurance, and at the two extreme points there are ISOFIX mounts for the safe installation of child capsules or child seats.

Warranty and safety rating

Basic Warranty

5 years / unlimited mileage


guarantee

ANCAP Safety Rating

How much does it cost to own? What kind of guarantee is provided? 8/10

The new Mercedes-Benz range in Australia is covered by a five-year unlimited mileage warranty, including XNUMX/XNUMX roadside assistance and accident assistance for the duration of the warranty.

The recommended service interval is 12 months or 25,000 km, with a 2450-year (prepaid) plan priced at $550 for an overall savings of $XNUMX compared to a XNUMX-year pay-as-you-go plan. program.

And if you're willing to shell out a little more, there's a four-year service for $3200 and five years for $4800.

What is it like to drive? 9/10

Weighing almost 1.7 tons, the E 300 is pretty neat for its size, especially given the level of standard equipment and safety technology. But the ability to accelerate from 0 to 100 km / h in less than seven seconds is still impressive.

The 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol-four produces maximum torque (370 Nm) on a wide plateau from 1650 to 4000 rpm, and with nine ratios in a smooth-shifting automatic transmission, it usually runs somewhere in this Goldilocks zone.

As such, mid-range throttle response is strong, and the twin-scroll turbo provides fast and linear power delivery both in and out of gear. The only strange sensation is the power of the six-cylinder engine, accompanied by the relatively high soundtrack of the four-cylinder engine under vigorous acceleration.

The double wishbone front suspension and multi-link rear suspension are classic E-Class, and thanks in no small part to the selective damping system and standard air suspension, the ride quality (especially in Comfort mode) is exceptional.

All E-Class models feature ambient lighting, heated front seats, power front seats with memory on both sides. (Image: James Cleary)

Despite 20-inch rims and Goodyear Eagle (245/35fr / 275/30rr) sport tires, the E 300 smooths out small bumps as well as larger bumps and ruts effortlessly.

The electric power steering points accurately and turns gradually (it's not too harsh or harsh, for example), and road feel is good. The brakes (342mm front / 300mm rear) are progressive and very powerful.

Some car brands are famous for good seats (Peugeot, I'm looking at you) and Mercedes-Benz is one of them. The front seats of the E 300 somehow combine long-distance comfort with good support and lateral stability, and the rear seats (at least the outer pair) are neatly sculpted as well.

In a word, this is a quiet, comfortable, long-range tourist car, as well as a civilized urban and suburban version of a luxury sedan.

Verdict

It may not be the shining star that sales once were, but the Mercedes-Benz E-Class boasts refinement, equipment, safety and performance. It's beautifully built and technically impressive - an elegant update to the traditional midsize Benz formula.