X213 Mercedes-Benz E-Class All-Terrain arrives, set to take on Audi A6 Allroad and Volvo V90 Cross Country

If you fancied an upmarket station wagon that is taller riding than the usual, there was the Audi A6 Allroad and previously the Volvo XC70. More recently with the introduction of the Volvo V90 Cross Country, Mercedes-Benz has now finally joined the fray with the E-Class All-Terrain, which is set to go on display at the Paris Motor Show next month.

In form, it is essentially a raised E-Class station wagon, with added dark plastic body cladding on the wheel arches plus front and rear skid plates for added underbody protection. There’s also the chunkier looking front grille to distinguish itself from the standard E-Class.

The E-Class All-Terrain comes standard with 4Matic all-wheel-drive as well as Air Body Control air suspension to further its rough-roading ability, while three new sets of wheels measuring 19 and 20 inches in diameter have been designed specifically for this model.

Inside, aluminium-carbon look trim sets the All-Terrain apart from its other E-Class siblings, along with stainless steel pedals and “All-Terrain” lettering on the floor mats. Cabin equipment for the All-Terrain is based on the Avantgarde trim line, while Exclusive and designo line options will be available to customers in the United Kingdom.

Under the hood, the E-Class all-Terrain will debut with the 194 hp/400 Nm four-cylinder turbodiesel in E220d 4Matic guise, which will propel the toughened-up estate from a standstill to 100 km/h in eight seconds, while top speed is rated at 232 km/h.

For those after an even beefier powerplant, the larger, six-cylinder turbodiesel is expected to debut in the All-Terrain next year. In both powertrain forms, Mercedes’ latest nine-speed 9G-Tronic automatic transmission will come as standard.

Mercedes-Benz E-Class All-Terrain; outdoor; 2016; interior: napp leather macchiato beige/esspresso brown;

Now for the rough-roading part: the E-Class All-Terrain gets Dynamic Select as standard, which will give drivers five driving modes to choose from. The All-Terrain mode is derived from the GLE SUV, which will raise the car by 20 mm; this can be done at speed of up to 35 km/h. The suspension can be raised even further, up to an additional 35 mm thanks to three driver-selectable ride heights from the air suspension.

The result of the this chassis adjustability, according to Mercedes-Benz, is a variable ground clearance of between 121 and 156 mm, depending on the level selected. However, both the Audi A6 Allroad and Volvo V90 Cross Country ride 29 mm higher than the E-Class All-Terrain. Full specifications and pricing details are expected early in 2017.

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