Say hello to the brand-new Mercedes E-Class! This car is longer, wider, and more luxurious than ever before. It’s packed with all sorts of new technology that’s been taken from Mercedes’ flagship saloon, the S-Class. In this article, we’ll go over all the details you need to know about this fantastic vehicle.

Design

Distinguishing the new E-Class from the old model is a breeze, especially when examining the front end. The old car had a rounded grille with a chrome bar across the middle and a few shiny inserts. In contrast, the new car features a much taller grille with a chunky silver frame all the way around.

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Buyers can choose from two different designs depending on their preference for chrome. The AMG line showcases a big Mercedes badge, a horizontal chrome bar, and hundreds of tiny three-pointed stars. The exclusive trim offers a more retro vibe with three chrome bars across the grille and an old-school Mercedes badge protruding from the bonnet.

The first design is arguably more attractive because, without the big badge in the middle of the grille, the large black plastic panel housing all the autonomous sensors stands out and looks odd. However, you can distract people’s eyes from this blemish by opting for LED strips that run along the edges of the grille. These strips, though, might make the car appear less classy and more showy.

The new LED headlamps are quite cool, featuring a double bubble shape with two new separate strips of daytime running lights underneath. This design gives them an aggressive appearance. The black surrounds, which blend into a surround for the grille, create a Batman mask-like effect. Mercedes claims this mask feature takes inspiration from the EQS and EQE electric cars, but it looks a bit peculiar on a car with an actual radiator grille.

It’s harder to spot the design upgrades on the side of the new E-Class. However, the car boasts pop-out door handles, similar to the new S-Class, and a crease under the windows split into two halves with a gap in the middle part of the car left completely smooth. These changes are subtle but noteworthy.

The new E-Class also offers a range of new alloy wheels, with sizes ranging from 17 inches, which might be too small, up to 21 inches. At the back, the brake lights have a similar double bubble design to the headlights, and each light features a three-pointed star design inside. Additionally, there’s a full-width chrome strip reminiscent of the old S-Class coupe.

While the chrome is generally appealing, the fake exhaust trim on the lower bumper is not. It’s unclear if the real exhausts are hidden within or if the surrounds are entirely fake. Overall, the new E-Class boasts a modernized yet conservative and elegant look, staying true to its predecessors.

So, what are your thoughts on the new car’s design? Do you love it, or do you prefer the BMW 5 Series or Audi A6? Let us know your favorite posh German saloon.

Infotainment

The new Mercedes E-Class comes packed with loads of new technology that the old model could only dream of. One striking feature is the huge screen, which Mercedes has branded as the “Super Screen.” While not as large as the “hyper screen” in the new EQS, it still boasts impressive capabilities.

For an additional cost, you can opt for a third display for the front passenger as part of the Entertainment Plus pack, which also includes 5G connectivity. This enables the front passenger to watch TV, YouTube, or TikTok without using their phone. However, Mercedes has thoughtfully addressed potential driver distraction. The passenger screen only works if the car detects someone sitting in the actual passenger seat, and there are five interior cameras that monitor the driver. If the driver is found looking over at the passenger screen, the car will automatically dim it.

Another new feature for the E-Class is the interior mood lighting, which can flash and change color in time with the music playing on the stereo. While this feature is a paid-for optional extra, it’s worth noting that similar technology is already available in the new BYD Atto 3 Small Chinese SUV.

Engines

The new E-Class offers a range of petrol, diesel, and plug-in hybrid engines, with every version of the car coming standard with a nine-speed automatic gearbox. The lineup begins with a couple of mild hybrid cars, featuring 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engines, and new batteries that give their electric motors more power and torque than the outgoing E-Class mild hybrids.

Additionally, there are a couple of new plug-in hybrid models with similar 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engines. These cars come with a new 25kWh battery pack that can be fully charged in half an hour, thanks to 55kW DC charging capabilities. The new electric motor boasts 129hp, which is enough to power the new E-Class up to 87mph without any internal combustion engine intervention. However, driving at those speeds using the motor alone may significantly reduce the electric-only range, which is claimed to be 62 miles.

As for a high-performance AMG hybrid, Mercedes hasn’t confirmed anything yet, but it has mentioned plans to build a flagship six-cylinder E-Class. This could potentially become a new AMG E63, using the same hybrid technology as the four-cylinder C63 and the V8 S63, with a six-cylinder petrol engine serving as the ICE component.

Performance

The new E-Class engines offer a range of performance levels. The diesel E220D has 197 horsepower and reaches 0-60 mph in 7.6 seconds with a rear-wheel drive version, while the 4MATIC all-wheel drive model is slightly slower at 7.8 seconds. The 204 horsepower E 200 petrol, available only with rear-wheel drive, does 0-60 in 7.5 seconds. The E 300 E plug-in hybrid has 313 horsepower and achieves 0-60 in 6.4 seconds for the rear-wheel drive model and 6.5 seconds for the all-wheel drive car. The quickest E-Class from launch is the E400E, with 381 horsepower and standard all-wheel drive, reaching 0-60 mph in 5.3 seconds.

Chassis

Mercedes has also rebuilt the entire chassis for the new E-Class to make the car more luxurious and easier to live with. The old E-Class chassis has been stretched, resulting in 22mm more room between the front and rear wheels, with most of this extra length benefiting the back seats, where passengers now have 17mm more legroom. The new E-Class also offers 25mm more room for occupants’ elbows, providing nearly the same amount of shoulder room as an S-Class.

Suspension

The new Mercedes E-Class comes with standard coil spring suspension, but you can opt for adaptive air suspension if desired. What sets the new model apart is the optional rear-wheel steering for the first time ever, similar to what’s available on the S-Class and EQS. This feature allows the rear wheels to turn up to 4.5 degrees, reducing the turning circle of the car by 90cm, which is particularly useful for city driving or parking in tight spaces.

Interior

The new E-Class cabin features design elements inspired by the larger S-Class, including a raised center console and a touch-sensitive steering wheel. The cabin can be customized with various materials, colors, and inlays. Entry-level cars have seats made from recycled foam and undyed alpaca wool, but leather is also available. You can opt for an open-pore wood or piano black plastic finish for the center console.

Driving

The new E-Class is equipped with technology aimed at making driving easier and stress-free. Adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assistance, and speed limit detection come as standard. The latest version of Mercedes Park Assist allows for faster parallel and bay parking.

The car also features Intelligent Parking Pilot, enabling valet parking without a driver. However, this technology is subject to legal restrictions and requires a specially mapped car park. An accompanying app allows you to maneuver the car in and out of tight spaces remotely.

Technology

The new E-Class offers many high-tech features, with several available via over-the-air software updates. Options include trailer assist, LED headlights that project warning symbols onto the road, traffic sign recognition, and augmented reality satellite navigation.

The car also incorporates AI technology to learn your daily routine and automatically enable frequently used features. A built-in dashboard camera allows for video calls and selfies through the car’s infotainment system.

Price

The new E-Class is set to go on sale in Europe this summer, with prices expected to be higher than the outgoing model due to new engines and technology upgrades. Entry-level E200 models will likely cost over £50,000. An estate version will be available later in 2023, with a premium added to the price range.