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For the latest UAE Car Reviews checkout Motopedia.ae or our KZfaq channel Motopediauae.
Intro
One of the best corporate executive sedans is in the Motopedia's garage this week. The Mercedes E Class easily attracts up and coming executives but with the new Audi A6 and Infiniti Q70 in town, will the E Class feel threatened?
Exterior
The E class is really a Jekyll and Hyde of sorts. The front face reflects a mean, curvy snake like face with massive, gaping air vents to cool the engine and big, bold, one piece headlamps with a lot of tiny artistic details to give off that aggressive vibe. The sides and rear are a different story. Lots of angles, squarish cuts and horizontally divided tail lamps increase the width, but also subdue the car, almost making it feel a bit ordinary. We received the Avantgarde, E 300 model, the mid trim, which meant we got 17 inch wheels, twin integrated exhausts as well a front nose with the Mercedes badge embedded on the grille rather than on the hood.
Performance
The E 300 is equipped with a 3.5 liter 6 cylinder engine producing 252 horsepower and 340 newton meters of torque. On paper this can sound slightly disappointing as you expect it to near or cross the 300 horsepower mark like the competition. But in reality, you'll never feel short of power. The 7 speed automatic transmission is responsive, especially in the Sport mode using the paddle shifters, but even in comfort the car never feels lacking. The suspension is precise, changing form depending on your driving style but find the right balance between rigidity and comfort. Mercedes also gave us the super powerful AMG E63-S to drive over the weekend and we were impressed with both the power - it's a V8 5.5 liter twin turbo which produces 585hp and give you a rumbling 800 Nm of torque, Nice….- the beautiful exhaust notes, and its handling considering its longer wheelbase with the all wheel drive helps out .
Interior
The E class has an interior that almost clinical in its layout and use of refined materials. The ARTICO leather upholstery, analogue clock and rich carpeting deliver a timeless and classic look to the car, but for some it may come off as a tad old school. is A 3 tube instrument cluster showcases speed and other information while a simple rectangular block houses an rather large array of buttons from climate to phone to entertainment. On top rests the high resolution COMAND system that is not the most intuitive system on the market, and can be a bit time consuming. Final word, the E Class has an interior that is destined for a tailor made suit.
Comfort & Safety
The E rates high on comfort. The front passengers have deep footwells and the seats adjustments are numerous as one would expect. What you find is that that all round visibility is really extraordinary with an all round view camera for added security. Front passengers will revel in the luxury of fine finishings, while 3 adult rear passengers will have enough leg and head room to be comfortable for long journeys. Small-item storage is decent, with a two-tier glovebox sized just about right for an actual pair of gloves! What seems strange is the cupholders hidden under a slide forward console that really aren't circular. They don't seem like cup holders at all, and we can't get our head around this abnormality. Trunk space has been significantly increased.
The safety features on the E 300 includes up to 11 airbags, all round view cameras, attention assist to check if passengers should take a break, blind spot and adaptive cruise control.
Car Rating
Performance - 4
Styling - 4
Drive & Feel - 5
Technology - 4
Price - 3
Fuel Economy - 4
Summary
Pros
Edge Exterior Design
Powerful performance
Cons
Dated interior
Plastic materials
The E Class has only gotten better with age, and the 2015 model has something for ever type of driver, from those seeking simple luxury to those who crave performance. But keep topping up your wish list and the price can go out of control!
Who else is the competition? Audi A6, Infiniti Q70, BMW 5 series and the Lexus GS 350. See them on motopedia.ae!