Any discussion about the Mercedes-Benz E-Class will without fail include a mention of its eternal rival, the BMW 5-Series. Never mind the Audi A6 or Lexus GS, the folks at Stuttgart must have long accepted the inevitable E versus 5 comparison people will make. But actually, it need not be that way, for both German execs are different cars for different folks, as we find out in this report.
Continue reading after the jump!
Many of us who are younger (read below 40) or belong in the “car enthusiast fraternity” will never ever consider a Benz, which has built itself an old-man’s car image throughout the years. This trend has not gone unnoticed within the four walls of Stuttgart, and the attempt to inject dynamism in their core range started with the current C-Class. The W204 looks good and drives well, which is why it’s making an impression among yuppies who would otherwise have bought a 3-Series. Personally, I’m seduced enough by the C200K to choose it over the 320i.
The visual leap from peanut light C-Class to the W204 was huge, and Merc’s range renewal continues with this – the W212 E-Class. Ditching its predecessor’s organic shape for a sharper, more chiseled look, the W212 is a distinct three-box sedan with a classic outline but there are lots of visual tricks and details going on. The front design retains the four eyed look but the lights are now sharp edged and the overall look aggressive. Today’s must-have LED running lights aren’t integrated into the main units but are built into the lower bumper – an afterthought perhaps?
Run your eyes along the E-Class’ profile and you’ll see “arrows” shooting up from the front. There’s one that emerges after the front wheelarch, slicing through the door handles before fading away after the rear door. Another lower line goes in the same direction, but the highlight is the crease above the rear wheelarch, inspired by the Ponton saloon of the 1950s. Disrupts the elegance a bit, I feel. Although it totally doesn’t look the part, the W212′s drag coefficient of only 0.25 means it’s as aerodynamic as the Toyota Prius and more slippery than most sports cars!
So far so good, but if you first spot a new E-Class from the rear, chances are that you’ll think of something else, something less premium perhaps. Some say Sonata, some say old Corolla, some just say not nice, but while it’s not offending, the look is rather nondescript and doesn’t match up to rest of the car’s visual appeal.
The new E-Class is a big car, and appears obviously larger than its predecessor. Its length, width and height of 4868mm/1854mm/1471mm eclipses that of the E60 5-Series, itself not petite. The BMW’s wheelbase, at 2888mm, is slightly longer than the Merc’s 2874mm though, but that doesn’t mean its cabin is a better lounge, more the other way around.
Open the W212′s doors, and you’ll find a cabin that’s warm and inviting, perhaps the best feature of this E. Compared to the technical feel of the A6, the Camry feel of the GS and the sombre, business-like ambience of the E60, the Mercedes cabin feels like home, and a major reason are the colour schemes. The E200 Elegance has grey or brown hues (we much prefer the latter) while the E300 Avantgarde comes with a black dash, grey seats and headlining – in no way will Mercedes sell you an all-black cabin (unless you custom order and pay extra).
The resulting airiness emphasizes the Merc’s generously spaced interior and puts driver and occupants at ease. The dash design is pleasant and ergonomically perfect. Tasteful dark wood trim and bits of silver work well together, and the instruments, stacked Porsche style, are classy and legible. I found my perfect driving position and liked the seats, but Paul couldn’t get comfortable, so it’s not “one size fits all” – we’ll let your butt be the judge.
Rear quarters? Good leg and headroom that betters its classmates, while the 540-litre boot goes very deep. Big boots aren’t friendly to small cargo, so Mercedes incorporated a retractable drop down “basket” which I found to be very useful. Just as well, because stuff rolling and knocking around in the boot irritates me like nothing else. My three days worth of luggage fitted in the basket neatly!
Sharper design and a nice cabin isn’t enough to win over “non-fans”, and the meat is in the drive. If you come in with pre-conceptions of “how a Mercedes would drive” or have driven the W211 before, a surprise is in store.
The media test drive programme started from Subang Jaya to Tanjong Jara in Terengganu, and the route we took passed by the Karak Highway to cross the main range, before veering off to the Jabor-Jerangau highway, turning right at Batu Buruk on the way to Dungun. The earlier section showed off the E’s ability to cover big miles with ease. I sat behind while my teammates drove, and from the boss’ seat the E’s ride comfort was very soothing. I barely felt the highway expansion joints and the car remained relatively flat even in the bigger corners; no boat like wallowing here. However, we thought that the Conti SportContact3 tyres were generating a little too much noise, which isn’t in tune with the E’s fine cruising ability.
I woke up in time for the fun part of the drive. Getting out of the East-West Highway, it was fast B-roads all the way to Dungun. The road surface left much to be desired, which was ideal to test a car’s suspension. For long stretches, the inside half of the road was patchy and uneven while the outside was normal, so it was to the Merc’s credit that it stayed composed throughout. There were a few mid-corner crests that I didn’t anticipate, and the way the E-Class settled after the rebound was impressive. The so called “Direct Control” adaptive damping system (fully auto, no selectable presets) evened out rough patches while taking the edge off bigger bumps. The setup is tuned for comfort, so the body does move around more than a 5-Series would, but it’s well controlled and never unsettling.
This milder approach relative to the BMW is also noticed from the Merc’s controls. The steering is precise and feels more natural than its predecessor’s helm, but is lighter and less rich in feedback compared to the car from Munich. Ditto the brakes, which feel quite soft, the opposite of some rivals’ over-servoed anchors. Some could take these to mean that the E-Class is less fun-to-drive and a less capable handler than the BMW, but it’s really just a different approach. The latest E-Class can flow through a B-road at high speeds and is satisfying in its own way.
For us, the E200 CGI BlueEfficiency was more satisfying than the E300 and is the better car. It may be “just a 1.8-litre” but the E200′s Charged Gasoline Injection motor combines direct injection, VVT and turbocharging to good effect. A replacement for Merc’s long serving Kompressor engine, it serves up 184 bhp and 270 Nm of torque. As a comparison, the 2.5-litre inline-six in the BMW 523i has 190 bhp and 230 Nm – even the 525i has only 250 Nm.
Yes, Merc’s four-pot will never rev as sweetly as that famed inline-six, but the amount of usable performance on tap is good compensation. In cut and thrust driving, or on B-roads where lots of overtaking is needed, I’m confident the E200 CGI will be swifter than the entry level 5-Series. As a bonus, it’s more well mannered and fuel efficient (by up to 23%, it is claimed) than the Kompressor of old.
It’s the same reasons why we prefer the E200 over the E300, which uses Merc’s old V6 engine. Duck out of a slow lorry to overtake, give the V6 full throttle and you’ll encounter a delay in the power delivery that could be embarassing. The lack of low-down punch plus the not exactly immediate reactions of the 7G-Tronic ‘box means you have to anticipate better and downshift into the right gear (why do you need seven ratios when six well chosen ones will do?) before making a move. It does climb the speedo very rapidly once you’re into triple digits though, and the burly soundtrack is more evocative than the CGI’s gruffy vocals. The E300 also gets shift paddles and a steering column mounted shift lever, as opposed to the conventional location of the E200′s five-speed auto.
Downsizing is all the rage in Europe at the moment, with manufacturers scrambling to lower their corporate CO2 output, and Mercedes calls its movement BlueEfficiency. The CGI engine is a major component of BlueEfficiency, which works with the 0.25 Cd and other smaller measures to offer better economy and lower emissions. The two locally assembled models we tested don’t come with engine stop-start, brake energy regeneration and low rolling resistance tyres, but have on-demand steering pump, fuel pump and alternator.
So it’s essentially a half baked BlueEfficiency, but that’s still better than nothing, especially when claimed combined fuel consumption is an impressive 12.7 to 13.3 km/l. And if the proposed fuel subsidy based on engine capacity plan takes off, E200 CGI owners can line up with Peroduas at the “cheap lane” and incite anger at petrol stations!
Both E300 Avantgarde (background) and E200 CGI Elegance wear 245/45 R17 wheels
Priced at RM366,888, the E200 CGI BlueEfficiency is priced between the BMW 523i and 523i SE. The E300 will cost you RM455,888 (prices are OTR without insurance) but it will buy you a panaromic glass roof and a rear entertainment system with two LCD screens. Coming soon is the E250 CGI BlueEfficiency, which should have all that’s good about the E200 but with more poke – 204 bhp/310 Nm to be exact. That should be the pick of the range, if the price is right.
All in all, a great effort from Mercedes, proving that there’s not just one template to make a great mid-sized exec.
Good review, any chance of them bringing in the E 250 CDI since BMW Malaysia has its 520d in its line up. Any news on the latest 5-Series debut in Malaysia?
Nice car!!! 1st comment
the front looks much nicer than the rear.sure to sell well with the merc name especially with the towkays.
Just tested the E200…. Response is not as quick as the C200… although it’s turbocharged edi… But still, Mercedes is all about comfort and agility. Nice review, Paul!
hmm..really nice.but the rear kind of a turn off.my dad changed his mind from buying a E200 CGI to a reconditioned CLS350 coz of the rear~Wonder if he made the right choice,but the CLS looks sleeker.
nope..still old-man’s car.
Well rounded….but still no excitement, im not sure why, perhaps the design is not as controversial as bangle, play safe
1st impression of exterior was so so only, i think the previous gen Merc exterior look more attractive IMO!
both new e and 5 looks equally awful, old ones are better…
The side-indicator design looks weird. Looks cheap.
CLS fierce stuff even if it is 3 years old.
The rear lights are a let down.
Such a big car with such a small engine, turbo or no-turbo, as long as it moves gracefully I think most people can live with that.
And it is a Merc! We don’t live forever, can imagine the tauke’s and CEOs lining up for one for this year.
Alr had 600+ orders during pre-launch, no idea now. I think gotta wait more than 4 months to buy one
Hey danny, is MBM selling the E250CGI as well, they dont list that on their website and they dont have the price as well.
Old one W211 is much better looking externally. It shows genuine E-Class image which nobody could ever copy. Especially it’s Front Head Light & Grills. W212 resembles the latest generation Honda Accord if you look sideway. I would stick with W211 because that model would last even 20 years from now if you can afford to maintain it.
CLS already 6years old…i think the new E is good looking but not with this wheels.
What’s so bad about the rear?? I see no problem…
I like it… but it’s a pity only M271 evo engine available (E200 & E250 CGI)
Would be better if the M272 Evo can be used in our country..
e class is very nice and good, but my dad already bought the new e class brabus.., the fastest car in the world…
Nice, but I think the only merc I prefer and looks “young” is the current C class. The rest still are not my taste.
i still cant get over the rear…but the coupe is nice
NICE CAR!!! Looks cool. It’s weird if ppl think its an old man car. In westrn, ppl thinks different!!!
oliver chantk, MBM has announced that it will bring in diesels this year, so the E 250 CDI is a possibility
BeemerFreak: E 250 CGI is a certainty, it will be coming soon
Harry said,
January 24, 2010 @ 10:42 pm
e class is very nice and good, but my dad already bought the new e class brabus.., the fastest car in the world…
Care to mention which Brabus model your dad bought?
Cause Brabus got lots of models even for E class.
side like accord
rear like sonata
Alpha i think your dad made a good choice!
I love Mercedes…it’s my dream car. I drove one once, and it was amazing. It’s like no one can touch you.
Respect!
funny a 6 year old CLS looks much timeless compared to a newly launched E class .. however the cabin of E class does look exquisite…
Even if they bring in the CDI, I doubt it is the best in their range, we’re probably looking at a older engine. With Malaysia’s sucky diesel standards, its unlikely they would bring in the latest diesel engine. I say this because, they brought in a C250 CDI a few weeks ago with their own supply tanks of diesel fuel from Singapore! Btw, I had a chance to test drive it… orgasms much!
And the comfortability of the E beats the 5 any way round.
The rear is so not Mercedes.
i gotta try the e200 cgi…. i like that instant power of the old e200k n especially peanut eye c200k black top……. but seeing the review above, gotta try it out n see if really need ‘ ANOTHER’ new years ‘RESOLUTION’ again…
Paul…. u poison us alot……hahaha… happy CNY… let the tiger ROAR!!
ignore the whatever-like butt lahh..this car is really nice what,simply proves merc has always been good in this business..(except for the go-to-dump old a-class)
W212 @ copycat BMW dashboard
W212 @ copycat BMW Navigation
W212 @ E 200@ pricing priced at 366k+ whereas 523i is priced somewhere around 343+K
W212 @ E300 same old engine with a different shell, better get the older one itself, save money lagi…haha
Bottom line : Merc, still the same old man’s car with a japanese curvy edge design… haha..:P
how much is (new e300 2010)it?
If I were to pay above 300k, at least must go for six-pot, four-pot is so lame.
The interior matching materials not to my liking. Why black dash with white seat. Should have been a darker shade. Its easier to maintain a darker interior especially the seats.
Just have a look at those old merc W124.. those with grey interior are very obvious to dirt and dust while those with dark blue tend to look better.
Those German obviously didnt do much homework for the asian market.
HI Paul,
Perhaps you can do a comparison between the C200k and the new E200 as both using the same engine?? Do you know if the c200k will be facelifted this year?Heard from salesman that current stock is 2009 and new 2010 will only be available in April or May not sure if that is facelifted.
dem… the rear from far can be mistaken for a hyundai sonata!
Nice car but not for me(the car is too unkerish for me)…. waiting for the F10 535i, hehe…
the look will take awhile to sit in….can’t wait for bodykits.
If my early 30′s boys like it, will consider.
i wonder what the brabus version of malaysia looks like
Been driving the E200 CGI for 10 days. Wonderful car. Too many toys to play with in the car. Have not stepped on it too much yet and it still moves well. Fuel consumption is great.
old n kertu design, tk handsome langsung.
ur comment is good..so what is is suitable fo you?
i think saga BLM
Juara perhaps?
Wow, I wonder what kind of money you will need to pay for maintenance of this executive barge?
Maintenance should be standard, i.e. service every 12000 kms and costs should be less than RM1,000 per time until non-routine things need changing. However, the tyres will be expensive. Certain items like the stereo system costs a bomb to fix outside warranty, so we have to be prepared if you want to buy this kind of car. So far, the fuel consumption has been excellent after 2800 kms of usage and the power is very good.
My main complaint is that the rims are difficult to clean ! Too many spokes !
hi there, had test driven the new e-class recently, ie. an e200cgi and i must say that it is truly a revelation! it is a much better car than its predecessor..the engine is strong, responsive, powerful and refine..as for the handling, it still trails behind a beemer..will wait for the new f10 5er to be released before making further comments and comparisons..currently am owners of both brands, summary of ownership, driving satisafction when in a beemer and owning satisfcation when inside a mercedes..
KL dude, this E200 CGI handles miles better than the standard E200K previously. Reason I said standard is because they used to come with Good Year NCT 5 tyres and the suspension was like a boat. The last units came with 18 inch rims and Continental CSC2 tyres, so I dunno how well it handled.
I just came back from a rainy drive and the CSC3 are fantastic in the wet. The grip around corners is also miles better than the E200K. To me, the E200 CGI is not worse in handling than the E60 523i. The 525i should handle better as it has the MSport suspension and 18 inch rims. Only problem with the E200 CGI is the engine not being silky smooth like the BMW 6 cylinder cars.
the 300 in my mind is still a better engine. sure its not as responsive as the smaller ones, but in a saloon like that you want a car too waft and not to accelerate with neck wrenching ability. but if for what ever reason you do want to drive with a bit of enthusiasm, the only thing need done is to be in the right gear at the right time, which drivers of considerable experience should be able to anticipate, and do with the help of the paddles. after testing all three models i did finally opt for the 300, because it just feels more refined, less tiring, and in a, what we would call luxury saloon here, that’s all we need. if you do have the money to buy a car like this then you should have money to buy a nice little sports car, for those b roads. but if you do opt for a coupe version, and you are tight on budget (not being able to afford a v8 version) then id advise a more responsive, direct injected four pot.
Lucky it has a 3 pointed star on the hood to help its image. Designers trying too hard to make it sporty on the exterior while too little to make it elegant in the interior … looks like a korean car – And the rims are plain ugly! thumbs down to E class this time !
What a DISTORTED design ! The front, side profile and rear design is a nitemare.
No design cohesiveness nor elegance whatsoever – Looks like a cut-and-paste job from 3 different designers working in isolation
MBLover, Looks like you cannot afford one !
Hey guys! Which would u buy if u have 400k, Mercedes E class, BMW 5 series or a Lexus GS300?
haha… i’ll definitely buy a new e-class.. its so grand and sexy.. the rear was abit turn off initially. but sturtgartt has their own plan for designing this rear.. and i can accept th rear design. its unique to put it on a luxurious car. good try MB!!
i tink the rear is good..at least better than s-class and most of the luxurious brand.. its unique yet daring..
For my point of view, the car is that ugly,bulky even uglier than its predecessor 211, oh my god. What Merc designer team has done????? Apparently the new F10 looks much much more better than this one. Totally cannot accept since launched until now.
hi guys! i thought i reserved my comments until i have tested the f10 bmw 5 series..
in a bit of a conundrum now..having the 3 years itch to buy another car again for next year..yes, the exterior of the f10 looks absolutely gorgeous and elegant as compared to the w212..the interior is also miles ahead of the w212 in terms of aesthetics…but the w212 feels and looks more solidly robust and longer lasting..as for technology, yes it is true the f10′s engine is creamy smooth with a very intoxicating purr when we put pedal to the metal, but somehow driving the f10, i felt the oomph was just not there as compared to the w212. the w212 was very responsive eventhough it was only a 1.8 litre engine with 4 cyclinders, come to think of it, quite amazing..yes, the w212 loses out in terms of looks, engine and transmission but more than compensates for it by having a better resale value, perceived prestige and less maintenance in the long run..yes, the f10 looks absolutely amazing in flesh, great exterior and interior plus smooth engine with an 8 speed transmission, truly superior technologically but somehow i feel that when the need arises for us to overtake a slow lorry on a trunk road, the instant response of the w212 would be more satisfying than the f10..which leaves me equally confused and none the wiser actually as the heart says f10 but the head says w212…ps. i also did a rear passenger comfort test and the result was the f10 rear seat base was flatter and not that comfortable as compared to the w212, which supported the rear end better and had more comfort…decisions decisions decisions!!! Its like choosing a new wife..haha
IT IS choosing a new wife ! I have owned a W212 E200 for 12,000 kms now having migrated from an E46 beemer. I feel the interiors are very comparable and the W212 has navigation which is so useful to me. The acceleration to 100 is about the same with the E200 but the E250 will be quicker than the F10 523i. Also, the W212 has normal tyres, so should be more comfortable on the road. However, the full size spare tyre is big and heavy. I like the 523′s 4 way adjustable suspension. All-in-all, my conclusion is that they are both very good cars with equal pluses and minuses when compared to each other. Therefore, I would go for the value proposition. The E200 is cheaper than the 523. If you are comparing with E250 because the price is similar, I would easily take the E250 being more powerful and better equiped as well. If you are comparing with E200, then you are saving more than RM30k if you are looking at a CBU 523. I have found the E200 more than good enough power and equipment wise. Like in choosing a wife, it’s now down to the chemistry between you and the girl (car).
i dont want the clock to be with my tacho and speedo meter, it looks weird…