Is time running so fast? Mercedes-Benz is presenting a new E-Class, and when you look at the calendar and the road, the question inevitably arises as to whether the current one is really that old. In any case, the new one rolls up in autumn, initially as a sedan, followed by the station wagon, which is particularly popular in Germany, at the turn of the year. The Stuttgart-based company initially supplied four-cylinder and later six-cylinder engines, gasoline and diesel, basically with mild hybrids, plus plug-in hybrids with gasoline and diesel engines. There should therefore be something for everyone, the variety is remarkable.

Holger Appel

Editor in the economy, responsible for "Technology and Engine".

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At market launch, the range extends from the 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 197 hp to the plug-in with 380 hp system output. All-wheel drive can be ordered. All of them reach a top speed of at least 230 km/h, with standard acceleration between 5.3 and 7.8 seconds. The plug-in hybrids have electric ranges of 95 to 118 kilometers according to the standard, in reality this should be 80 to 100 kilometers. To put this into perspective, the all-electric EQE is on a different platform and continues to drive as usual, while the new E-Class uses the basis on which the fresh C-Class and GLC are also based.

The E-Class is 4.95 meters long and is stockier because the track has been widened at the front and rear. A long version will be offered in China. Rear-axle steering is optional on board, which provides better maneuverability with an angle of 4.5 degrees. Assisted parking and driving succeeds to a certain extent and at certain speeds, in technical terms there is talk of Level 2 plus. So even the latest model is a long way from the idea of fully automatic locomotion, fortunately it is a car again, not a subway.

Animated stars as rear light

A few sharp edges have been drawn into the line, which is dominated by large surfaces and the long hood, and the appearance is intended to combine elegance, status and sportiness. The headlights are more closely interwoven with the radiator grille, which in turn is now backlit, something like this is becoming fashionable throughout the industry. The more classic versions have a star on the hood, the more dynamically oriented ones come with a badge. At the rear, animated stars always appear as rear lights. In the trunk, the step that was previously annoying in the plug-in hybrid has been designed away, it holds up to 540 liters. Of course, if you really want to load, you are waiting for the station wagon.

According to the developers, they have attached great importance to even more comfort, noise insulation and driving precision, which should prove itself in particular in the responsiveness of the steering. The E-Class was initially shown statically, we will report after the first test drive towards the summer. The drag coefficient shows what is now possible in the wind tunnel, namely 0.23. This is achieved, among other things, with door handles flush on the outside, and if you don't like them, you can order traditional handles.

Not as spectacular as in the S-Class

Inside, the Swabians present either a layout with a speedometer and screen in the middle or, for an extra charge, one with two screens next to each other in the middle across the entire width. The arrangement is not as expansive and spectacular as in the S-Class, but it is not as steep, which is conducive to a sense of space and readability. The composition, however, looks more winding. As is now customary, the center console is powerful, it installs the driver and front passenger, offers plenty of storage space and, for the first time, a cable duct for docking the mobile phone. Remarkably, the steering wheel, which is still equipped with the suboptimal touch-sensitive control surfaces, is now exactly in the middle of the driver and no longer slightly shifted out of the axle as before. Sensitive natures have always been bothered by this, many will hardly have noticed it, but the new construction is more pleasant in any case.

Apparently inevitably, Mercedes turns to things that some will consider to be fuss. A selfie camera is enthroned on the dashboard, which can also be used for video conferences when stationary. There are apps for streaming, advanced speech recognition, more powerful software and ambient lighting that can be combined with rhythmic shaking in the seat back if desired and flickers like a disco ball to the music from the Burmester sound boxes.

Perhaps more decisive for the clientele located in the upper middle of society is quality, as in recent times it has been necessary to cope with bad news. In JD Power's important American customer barometer, Mercedes only landed in 27th place out of 32. The E-Class will not be able to afford such a thing, it will be built in Sindelfingen. Mercedes-Benz is not yet saying anything about pricing, we suspect noticeably rising tariffs, which will be calculated tolerably by the fact that in the future packages will already be included, which the clientele has mostly ordered anyway.