The Mercedes Benz E 350 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY could well be the pick of the new model lineup. It had a powerful yet extremely efficient V6 diesel engine, producing 170kW/540Nm mated to 7G-TRONIC 7-speed automatic transmission and sets the benchmark for active and passive safety in this class. In short it is brilliant. The E-Class is the most successful model in the Australian line up and it only gets better.

What are we Testing?

We took the Mercedes Benz E-350 CDI V6 sedan with the 7G-TRONIC 7-Speed Automatic for a brief drive. This all-new model was released in Australia in July 2009 and is the ninth generation of this popular sedan. The MLP of the Avantgarde is $131,900

What is it's purpose?

A Prestige family sedan that has style, presence and outstanding fuel economy.

What is Good and Not so Good?

Good?

·          The motor transmission combination is sublime

·          The squat purposeful style

·          Well just about everything else

Not so Good?

·          The centre dash controls can be a bit confusing and cluttered

·          The centre console lever that opens the arm rest gets in the way.

·          Um... still thinking?

Outside

First impressions of the E-350 CDI Avantgarde are that is has strong masculine lines that flow upwards from the classic twin-headlamp face to the contour of the rear wing. 

The slick interplay between lines and surfaces is a key trademark of contemporary Mercedes design. Perhaps the most alluring aspect of this design is its clarity and tranquillity. From the shoulder line and character line to the striking line contour of the rear wing the design flows effortlessly and seamlessly.  

Other aspects of the Avantgarde model are the 18-inch five-spoke light alloy wheels, Bi-xenon headlamps with Intelligent Light System, waistline trim strip in polished stainless steel, chrome trim strips on sides and rear bumper, sporty front bumper, automatically dimming chromed radiator grille with three louvres painted in high-gloss black and All-LED tail lights

The E-350 CDI has an overall length of 4868mm, wheelbase of 2874mm, width of 1854mm and height of 1471 mm. Tare mass is 1825kg and the turning circle is 11.25m.  The E-350 CDI rides on 18-inch alloy wheels and 245/40 R 18 front tyres and 265/35 R 18 rear tyres.

Inside Comfort & Features

There is an overriding impression of spaciousness and width, due in part to the horizontal lines of the dash. Immediately obvious is the quality of fit and fittings. There is no doubt that that interior of the E-Class is a space designed to promote wellbeing - exclusively appointed in which two aspects matter above all: comfort and relaxation  

There is handcrafted wood and leather everywhere from the thick rimmed electrically adjusted multi function steering wheel to the seats, arm rests and just about everywhere you can think of. 

The seats are worth a special mention, almost infinitely adjustable with multi contour; they could be the most comfortable seats I have ever experienced. The key is that they are as comfortable after 8 hours of driving, as they are when you first sit in them.

The hand-operated controller on the centre tunnel in the new E-Class puts a whole range of functions at the driver's fingertips. It is linked to the large colour display on the dashboard and allows operation of the navigation system, car radio, telephone, DVD player and other components of the infotainment system. It is very intuitive and easy to use. Except for the centre console opener getting in the way.

Rear seat passengers are not forgotten with individually shaped seats and plenty of storage areas. The new E-Class is marginally bigger than the model it replaces however looking at the figures alone cannot explain the practicality of the larger area.  

The design team have gone all out to maximise the useable space internally. This is especially noticeable in head and shoulder room, rear passenger knee room and boot space and practicality. 

Again we could go on and on about all the little features that make the interior such an inviting place but it is frankly too much.

Safety

The new E-Class is designed according to an extensive safety concept, making it arguably the safest car in its class. The philosophy now focuses more attention on actively avoiding crashes etc.  

When driving it is the little things that show this philosophy. Let me give just a couple of examples. 

The Blind Spot Assist function, the first time it beeps you wonder what it is, and then you realise just how fantastic it is. Secondly it is a strange feeling to jump onto a freeway, set the cruise control, and the DISTRONIC PLUS and Brake Assist PLUS will keep you a safe distance from the vehicle in front. The lane assist will warn you if you wander from your lane. Once you learn to trust it, it’s amazing.  

The list goes on and the true test is not while you are driving but when you jump into another car and all these safety features are missing. Then you notice just how good and unobtrusive the E-350 CDI safety features are. 

Its passive safety arsenal is vast.  

Examples include a 30 percent increase in the rigidity of the body shell, aluminium and steel alloy structures specifically designed to channel loads in an accident impact, the PRE-SAFE® anticipatory occupant protection system, nine airbags, and four seatbelt pre-tensioners as standard, NECK-PRO crash-responsive head restraints for the driver and front passenger. There is WAY TOO MUCH to mention here. 

The seat belt pretensioners are a little strange at first but again you get used to it very quickly. The new model underwent 150 in-house crash tests and 17,000 crash simulations before entering series production 

Active safety is extensive and sees innovative technologies appearing for the first time. 

These include: ATTENTION ASSIST driver fatigue detection system, Intelligent Light System with five different headlight functions, Adaptive Highbeam Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Blind Spot Assist (works brilliantly), DISTRONIC PLUS radar-guided cruise control, PRE-SAFE® Brake, Speed Limit Assist which can ‘read’ road-side speed zone signs (not yet available in Australia)  

It is probably fair to say that there isn’t a car in the road that does more to help the driver avoid a crash and is as safe if you’re in a crash. It’s got my vote.

Performance, Engine, Transmission & Suspension etc

The E-350 CDI is powered by the 3.5L V6 CDI motor, which produces power of 170 Kw @t 3800 rpm and torque of 540Nm @1600 – 2400rpm. The result of these figures is that the E-350 CDI turns out to be a veritable sports sedan with an electronically limited top speed of 210kmh.

The E-350 CDI can reach the 0-100 km/h mark in just 6.9 seconds; however it is also very efficient with average combined fuel consumption of just 6.9 litres per 100 kilometres. The E-350 CDI comes standard with 7G-TRONIC 7-Speed Automatic. It is very smooth, efficient and easy to drive.

Handling is very neutral for a car this size and most drivers would never reach anywhere its limits. Crazy if they do.

Summary

As you may have gathered we love the Mercedes Benz E-350 CDI Avantgarde Sedan. It can comfortable carry its passengers and luggage in supreme cocooned luxury. 

It will do the 0-100kmh bit in a touch under 7.0 seconds, has a top speed that is way beyond what most drivers will ever see and although it is fast and powerful it is still exceptionally economical. ..

Packed full of luxury and safety features the E-350CDI again pushes the boundaries of technology and safety and for the most part it is totally unobtrusive and works brilliantly.

There are some fiddly bits and cluttered centre controls but the minor faults are easily and very quickly overlooked when you take it for a long drive

It’s just a pleasure to drive and most drivers will come nowhere its limits 99.9% of the time 

Combine all this into what is arguably the best looking model ever and what more could you want? 

At the relatively bargain price of $131,900 MLP (say it quickly) the new E-Class is an absolute gem.  I really don’t understand why you would want to buy the more expensive petrol motor.

It’s on the shopping list for Christmas.   The friendly people at Mercedes Benz are you listening??????

AAG Ratings

Article Copyright © all rights reserved - Auto Alliance Group Pty. Ltd. 2010