2015 Mercedes-Benz E250 Reviews

A wagon that massages your ego with style and performance yet minimises your environmental footprint is a winner in any language. When that language is German, you're in for something special.Enter the Mercedes-Benz E250 CDI Estate, a 2.1-litre turbodiesel that justifies its six-figure cost with an engine that hits hard in every area except the fuel bowser. Toss in the fact it's a seven-seater and you have a high-performance people-mover.VALUEThe simple face is you pay a premium for anything with Audi, BMW or Mercedes badge. Status symbols are undoubtedly part of it, the world can see you're doing well, but under the sheet metal are safety and engineering technologies that won't filter down to Japanese or South Korean models for years.The E250 CDI is a classic example of "you get what you pay for". The wagon costs $105,500 plus on-roads, and I'd buy one tomorrow if I had the cash and needed to haul seven people. It's only competition comes from the SUV sector and they don't rate on looks or handling.TECHNOLOGYThe turbodiesel engine is from Mercedes' BlueEfficiency range and it's a pearler. It cranks out 150kW and 500Nm yet uses just 6.3 litres/100km. It uses a host of small, but smart improvements to do that, from an on-demand alternator to cut engine-load to a grille shutter that smooths out the airflow when the engine doesn't need cooling.Self-levelling rear suspension automatically compensates for whatever load is in the back, and with a class-leading 1950 litres of space, it can be a fair load, and the suspension's adaptive damping improves the ride no matter who or what is onboard.There's also a parking guidance system that recommends when and to what degree to turn the wheel when parallel parking. That's handy, given the estate is nudging 5m in length.STYLINGWagons have always been the practical cousins of their sedan counterparts, but the E-Class estates are good-looking transport in their own right. The windows taper towards the rear to help disguise the boxy shape and the tailgate is arched so it doesn't look square from behind. It's still a relatively conservative design, but why tinker with what works.It's the same inside, where returning customers will be reassured by the familiar layout. New owners will need a few days to familiarise themselves with the myriad of buttons and on-screen menus that help control everything from the airconditioning to the satnav system.SAFETYThe Benz is at its best when comparing safety systems. Bi-xenon headlights and daytime running lights ensure the E-Class stands out night or day. The airbags extend to the windows in the second row of seats, and the Pre-Safe occupant protection system that does everything from pre-tension the seatbelts to closing the windows when it detects and imminent crash.The ABS braking system has a drying function to maintain stopping power in the wet, a hill-start assist, brakeforce distribution and is linked to the e lectronic stability and traction control. Hit the anchors hard and the brake lights flash to provide extra warning to following cars. It sounds simple, but definitely grabs the attention of anyone travelling behind the wagon.Sensors monitor driver behaviour and advise, via an illuminated coffee cup in the display panel, when a break is needed. If a crash does occur, the headrests push forward to reduce the risk of whiplash and the steering wheel and pedals are designed to collapse to give the driver extra room.The rearwards-facing third-row seats have enought headroom and legroom to even toss a couple of adults in for cross-town commutes and they're nearly as comfortable as the second-row seats.DRIVINGHIT the start button and head out of town and the big wagon feels small. It more than holds its own in the city where the blind spot assist and lane departure warning systems give extra reassurance, but it is out on the open road where the 500Nm can be put to best use. With that much torque the five-speed auto box isn't the handicap it might be on paper, remind E350 owners about the fuel use if they start bragging about their seven-speed transmission.Acceleration from 60km/h up is jaw-droppingly quick for this type of car and it's only under full throttle that the diesel makes itself heard. The rest of the time is a fairly serene, but not uninvolved drive, irrespective of the speed. And even hooking in only pushes the fuel consumption into the low 7-litre range.The leather-upholstered seats cosset both front occupants without deadening seat-of-the-pants (or skirt) feedback. The adaptive dampers switch from plush to performance as the weight loads up to keep the car flat and poised even through hairpin turns. And unless you're doing something wrong, the six passengers won't notice a thing. And that's not bad for a people-mover, no matter the price.MERCEDES-BENZ E250 CDI ESTATEPrice: from $105,500Engine: 2.1-litre turbodieselPower: 150kW at 4200 revsTorque: 500Nm from 1600-1800 revsTransmission: Five-speed automatic, rear-wheel driveFuel type, tank: Diesel, 59 litresFuel use, CO2 emissions: 6.3 litres/100km, 153g/km

What were Mercedes Benz thinking when they put a diesel engine into their sexy E250 Cabriolet?  Remarkably good thinking as it turns out.  The engine is quiet, gives bucketloads of torque at low revs, and delivers sporty performance when asked.Add to that the build quality and attention to detail that have been the hallmark of Mercedes Benz in recent years, and you have a car that’s easy to drive around town and on the freeway, fun on the twisty back roads, and won’t punish your wallet when you come to fill up.VALUEIf you’re shopping for a Mercedes you’re shopping at the luxury end of the car market, right?  So stop messing around, decide that you want the Mercedes, look at the sticker…. then buy it anyway.The E250 Cabriolet has a ticket price from $94,762 in the petrol version (CGI), with the CDI (diesel) version starting at $101,202.That’s not cheap, and you have to weigh up what you get – which includes the gunsight badge – against rivals like the Lexus I250 and BMW 330D convertible.TECHNOLOGYBuy a German car, and you can be sure that latest technology will be the main course, not just a side salad.  What Mercedes have got right is making this easily accessible to the driver.  The satnav is fairly intuitive and easy to operate with the central knob that also controls radio, phone and information.All of the controls were easily reachable from the drivers seat, labelling was clear and easy to understand.  And the big win was having a mute button on the dashboard to silence the satnav voice, although she sulked after that and refused to continue the conversation. Admittedly, a little time spent with the manual might have coaxed her back.BlueEfficiency is the name Mercedes gives to both the petrol and diesel engines in the E-Class.  The 250E CDI is a four-cylinder 2143cc unit, producing 150kW at 4200rpm.  More impressive is the torque, with 500Nm delivered at between 1600 and 1800rpm. In comparison, the  petrol engine also delivers 150kW, but at 5500rpm, and it only manages 310Nm of torque.  Fuel consumption is 5.8-6.0 l/100km with emissions of 148g/km of CO2 (Mercedes official figures)DESIGNThe black car we drove had tan leather seats; the leather trim continued into the door panels set these off beautifully.  The range of materials available to manufacturers now means that having acres of plastic on the dashboard was disappointing.Seating is comfortable and an adult could be shoehorned into the rear, but the Cabriolet roof takes up most of the boot space.  Think about carry-on, but no checked baggage on this trip.SAFETYMercedes has long stressed their commitment to passenger safety, and no less than nine air bags are provided within the passenger cell.  An active bonnet is standard equipment, the aim of which is to reduce injury to pedestrians or cyclists by raising the rear of the bonnet by 5cmStandard equipment includes ‘Attention Assist’ -- the Mercedes ‘drowsiness detection’ system, or really the ultimate ‘Driver Reviver’.  If your driving makes the car think that you are nodding off it will remind you to take a break – by popping a coffee cup up on the driver’s display. Or at least, the image of a cuppa. Perhaps future development in Stuttgart will see a steaming mug of the real thing delivered onto the dash.Available as optional equipment are a lane tracking package that uses the white lines on the road to warn you if you are using more than your share of the road, and ‘Distronic Plus’ -- a forward looking radar that will hit the brakes for you before you hit the car in front.DRIVINGSitting in the E250 is more like being in a cockpit than a cabin - the car wraps itself around you.The turbocharged engine delivers loads of torque down low, and if you’re gentle with the throttle makes for a sedate drive.  That’s compounded if you’re in the full auto mode, where it puts more emphasis on fuel economy than fun driving.But if you give the pedal a nudge – or better still, slip it into sports mode and start using the shifter – it gives snappier response, although there is a slight delay as the revs come up, the turbo boost chimes in, and the car picks up its heels and takes off. But it gets away from the lights at a very respectable pace, and the steering is precise and accurate.And the cabin is surprisingly quiet, given that the folding roof is a cloth one. We drove this through an unseasonal downpour – which might be deafening in other softops – and found that the thrumming was muted enough to not impact on normal conversation.The speedo is large and easy to read, with numbers wrapped around an LED display for the cruise control – flick this minder on, and the arc of LEDs lights up to show the speed that you’ve set.VERDICTThe diesel may not be the engine of choice for everyone, and it carries a hefty price tag, but the improvement in economy and CO2 emission reductions are significant.MERCEDES-BENZ E250 CDI DIESEL CABRIOLETEngine: 2.1-litre 4-cylinder turbo dieselPower: 150kWTorque: 500NmTransmission: 5-speed automaticFuel consumption: 5.9L/100km (combined cycle)Wheels: 17-inch 5-spoke alloys

Mercedes-Benz has drawn a full house for its E-Class family with the arrival of the soft-top convertible. The final member of the E stable joins the sedan, coupe and wagon to give those who enjoy open-top touring an option that doesn't involve any risk to a loose-fitting toupee.Like the Coupe, the Cabriolet owes a good deal of its DNA to the C-Class platform rather than the larger and newer E-Class underpinnings. However, again like the Coupe, there is little lost in the exchange and in the case of the drop-top much gained by way of new comfort features.The headline technology for the Cabriolet is the all-new Aircap which joins the company's proven Airscarf system to keep occupants snug and unruffled through even the coldest weather. While the Airscarf (unveiled in the SLK a couple of years ago) blows warm air across the back of the neck from vents in the top of the seats, Aircap works by creating a virtual roof with directed airflow from the top of the windscreen over the passenger compartment. This is facilitated by a mini wing which rises 6cm from the top of the windscreen at the touch of a button to ensure cold external air is forced up and over the passenger compartment.An additional benefit is that the less disturbed air flowing through the cabin reduces wind and road noise, making it easier for occupants to carry on a conversation.Mercedes-Benz Australia spokesman David McCarthy says the decision to develop the E-Class Cabriolet with a soft-top rather than the more up-market folding metal roof, pioneered by Mercedes-Benz six years ago and now favoured by many manufacturers, was driven by customers."Customers told us that they wanted a soft-top to differentiate the car more clearly from the Coupe," McCarthy says. "The customers wanted it and we wanted to satisfy those needs."The four-layer roof developed for the E-Class is as good, if not better, than any on the market. Noise insulation is excellent, the styling in no way detracts from the look of the car with smooth flow lines across the roof and an elegant storage solution into its own compartment behind the rear seats that allows a couple of airline roll-on bags and several soft sportsbags to be comfortably stowed in the boot. At 20 seconds to stow or deploy it is not the quickest available but it can be operated up to 40km/h.Across the range the cabriolet is serviced by a brake package that is both strong and durable. A run through Victoria's twisting alpine roads showed that even in the nose-heavy V8 the last application of the brakes was as effective as the first.The speed sensitive rack and pinion steering in both cars has a nice meatiness and a comforting directness that transmits input from the driver to the wheels in as timely a manner as feedback is sent in the other direction. It is not as sharp as the BMWs but more than adequate for what will mostly be a boulevard cruiser.On the safety front the Cabriolet wants for nothing with a full suite of active and passive acronyms. There are nine airbags, electronic stability control, brake assist, adaptive brake lights (which glow brighter in an emergency stop), Pre-Safe (which prepares the car for a collision when sensors deem one unavoidable), adaptive high beams and distronic plus cruise control.Not a personal gripe, but some drivers with smaller hands may find the steering wheel a bit chunky.Mercedes will launch the E-Class Cabriolet in Australia with two models, the 285kW and 530Nm 5.5-litre V8 E500 ($186,950) and the 200kW and 350Nm 3.5-litre V6 E350 ($139,950). A 1.8-litre turbo four-cylinder petrol version, the 150kW and 310Nm E250 CGi will arrive in May for $105,950 while a 150kW and 500Nm 2.1-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel completes the engine linup when it arrives in July."Demand for the diesel engines is definitely growing," McCarthy says. "In the SUV models diesel makes up the majority of sales while for the passenger vehicles it is up to almost a quarter of all cars sold."At the first Australian drive of the Cabriolet in Melbourne this week the Cabriolet's new comfort technology was given a stern test on a cold and wet Victorian morning. It passed with flying colours. There is a noticeable decrease in wind buffeting within the cockpit with the window-mounted deflector deployed and a consequent improvement in the ability to hold a conversation. It is not quiet, but it is quieter.While the comfort factor of the roofless E-Class is the wow factor being pushed by Mercedes, the driving synamics of the car are being allowed to slip quietly through ... and that's a mistake because this is one of the best examples of just how to make a convertible behave like a coupe.A coupe-like construction philosophy for the body — strength and more strength with a traditional b-pillar construction up to the waistline of the car, extra stiffening of the windscreen frame to rollover standard — which works in concert with the pop-up rollbars behind the passengers, and stronger chassis cross-bracing all culminate in an ability to toss the E-Class freely into corners without fear of body or chassis torque threatening to unload the wheels.The only engines on hand for test this week were the V6 and V8, of which the eight is certainly the pick for any with a need for power and deep pockets to match. The seven-speed automatic box is a good match to both engines, for differing reasons.In the V8 fat torque curve means that maximum attack is never too far away and the ability to dump a couple of ratios quickly gives the cabriolet a lightness of being that belies its rather hefty 1840kg kerb weight. In the V6 the call to action is not as immediate but the ability to cruise effortlessly in the higher gearing does mean the hit at the bowser is not as severe with an average combined economy of 9.8 litres per 100km seemingly very achievable.

Dirty, dozy diesels are well and truly a thing of the past. Today's modern high-tech diesels, like the Mercedes-Benz BlueEfficiency range, hum like a bee yet still have plenty of sting in their tail when you need some serious performance.The latest 2.1-litre BlueEfficiency powerplants in the E-Class range may be smaller in size than previous engines, but direct injection and high-tech turbocharging have increased efficiency and performance.DrivetrainsThe newest four-cylinder Mercedes turbodiesels are the first four-cylinder diesel E-Class sedans to be sold here.  Despite having the same 2.1-litre capacity, each BlueEfficiency E-Class gets a different state of tune.The E220 manages 125kW/400Nm while the 2.1-litre E250 delivers 150kW/500Nm, the type of performance figures once the domain of hot petrol engines.  Two BlueEfficiency models are available, the E220 CDI and E250 CDI, as well as a more conventional 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 in the E350 CDI that develops 170kW/540Nm.The 2.1-litre uses an upgraded common-rail injection system with high-precision piezo-injectors and a new turbocharger.  To make the engine operate more efficiently there are newly-developed fast-acting ceramic glowplugs and twin balancing shafts for smoother idling.Both are frugal. The E220 CDI has a combined fuel economy of 6.1 litres/100km while the E250 CDI uses 5.3 litres/100km.  The engines are significantly stronger, yet at the same time thriftier and emit less carbon than older turbo-diesels.But BlueEfficiency is just part of the new E-Class story.  Apart from the turbodiesels, three petrol models bring the E-Class sedan count up to six, not including the super-hot E63 AMG V8 muscle car.Fuel-saving measuresApart from six-cylinder petrol-like performance and four-cylinder economy, the BlueEfficiency pair gain a variety of econo-measures to reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gases.  There are newly developed tyres designed to reduce friction and energy-saving generator, fuel pump, air conditioning compressor and power steering.As well `intelligent' aerodynamic aids allow the cars to slip through the air more easily.  There is underbody paneling to streamline airflow under the car and a partially covered grille helps smooth out the car's shape and lower wind resistance.Pricing and variantsAcross the new E range, each variant gets more equipment yet prices have effectively dropped while more standard equipment has been added to better match the E-Class's German rivals from BMW and Audi.Mercedes-Benz Australia says the E350 is $2965 less than the outgoing model, with more than $10,000 in extra standard equipment. The E500 has risen by $11,232 but gets about $21,000 worth of additional standard gear.  The range starts with the $80,900 E220 CDI and $96,900 E250 CDI, with the range topping CDI being the $131,900 E350 CDI V6.The petrol mix consists of the $128,900 E350 V6, high-tech $93,900 E250 CGI and $178,900 E500 V8. The E350 develops 200kW/350Nm and the E500 ups the ante with 285kW/530Nm.  The surprise package is the new 1.8-litre four cylinder E250 CGI, which requires more than a second glance. It uses turbo-charging, variable valve timing and direct injection, to pump up the performance to 150kW/310Nm.  This translates into a fuel economy figure of 7.6 litres/100km and greenhouse gase emissions of 179 g/km.The E350, which is expected to be the volume model, gets front and rear parking sensors with parking guidance, seven-speed G-tronic automatic, the lane-keeping package with blind-spot alarm, attention assist, 18-inch alloys, bi-xenon headlights with adaptive high-beam assist and cruise control.  It also has split/fold rear seats, cupholders, cable for the iPod input, multi-contour front seats and multi-zone climate control airconditioning.The E500 ups the ante with keyless entry and go, more luxurious front seats, alarm and sunblinds for the rear window and side rear windows.Driving — PAUL GOVERWhat's not to like about the new E250, short of the pricetag? It's as creamy as a bar of lovely, Swiss Lindt chocolate, supremely safe and the sort of car you would happily use to cruise from Melbourne to Sydney or beyond. With a terrrific fuel consumption as the sidebar bonus.Ok, the front-end styling is a bit chunky and it takes a while to learn to like the creases and folds in the body panels. That's typical of Benz, which comes late to a styling trend — BMW has been doing this sort of stuff for a generation — and then goes its own way with the sort of look that will endure for at least 10 years.The new E-Class is a little confronting, though still nowhere near the latest Subaru Liberty, to make it stand out in traffic, but the cabin is terrific and relaxing and effective and . . . nice.  My first shock is the 250's engine. At first I'm not convinced it's a diesel, and I still struggle to believe it is so small. And a four-pot.  It has terrific shove from a standing start, great overtaking power, and will easily run 6L/100km economy on the highway.It's not a match for something like the Mini D or the miserly petrol-powered Suzuki Alto, but the car is also big and luxurious and the  engine must be working harder than it would in a city runabout. I don't care about the BlueEfficiency tag because you don't need to label something that gives great go with sensible overall economy in the 7.2L/100km range just to get my attention.The test car comes loaded with stuff that takes its price past $100,000 and that's not good, but do you really need a sunroof and keyless starting and the other fripperies? For me, any car where you don't have to put the key into the dash — with the potential to misplace the key or leave it in the car when you park — is annoying and a step too far on the luxury path. And that's the new E  . . .There is good space for five in the new E and the overall package is exactly the sort of thing that first won me to the mid-sized Benz, back in the 1980s. It is more refined than ever, with more gear than ever, but still the same basic deal.  The boot is roomy, the car is easy to park, and it's surprisingly good to drive.Yes, the E rolls a bit in corners, but it holds a good line and will cover a twisty road with surprising pace and balance. It has abilities most owners will never tap.  Compared with a 5-Series or A6, the Mercedes feels bigger than the BMW and more solid and impressive than the Audi. You expect that in an all-new model, but I also know the Benz will keep on keeping on.It's now also commendably quiet, has a useful new dashboard screen for things like sound and satnav — with a brilliant surround sound package in the test car — and a safety package that matches or betters the best in the world. The attention-assist system alone, which reminds you to break long journeys, is a huge deal for Australia where fatigue is an unrecognised problem for most people.The latest E does not rate any maximum scores, except on safety, but it is a 9-from-10 car in just about everything. That makes it sensible, sublime and a star. It is so good it qualifies easily for our Car of the Year contest, and would be my first choice — for the money — for any interstate or holiday run.  And I still cannot believe that punchy diesel engine is only a four.Score 83/100BOTTOM LINE: More of the good stuff in a mid-sized BenzMercedes-Benz E250 CDI BlueEfficiencyPRICE From $96,900ENGINE 2.1-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinderPOWER  150kW at 4200 revsTORQUE 500Nm from 1600 revsTRANSMISSION Five-speed automaticFUEL CONSUMPTION 7.2/100km combinedCO2 EMISSIONS 139g/kmRivalsBMW 530d 79/100 (from $116,250)Audi A6 2.7 TDI 77/100 (from $84,500)Jaguar XF 3.0 V6D 78/100 (from $116,250)

Zoom along the centre lane on the autobahn out of Stuttgart in Mercedes new coupe and glance at the clinical LCD speedo in disbelief.It’s telling you 140km/h as you wind up the speed to overtake the crazy man in a Smart. They let anyone on an autobahn. Yet the tachometer is at 2100rpm and there’s simply no noise — nothing from the wind and nothing from the engine.That’s remarkable in itself but the sealer is that this E-Class Coupe is a diesel and the engine is a four-cylinder of only 2.1 litres.This is the world’s most aerodynamic production car with a co-efficient of drag (cD) of 0.24 in a motoring world of averages in the low 0.30s. The lower, the better.It has an awesome 500Nm of torque that seamlessly slingshots the car forward through the gears. It saw 200km/h with ease on the unrestricted zone of the autobahn and when switched off two hours later, showed a mere 6.4 litres/100km on the trip computer.The E250 CDI is one of five engines slotted into the muscular E-Class Coupe for its Australian debut in July. In fact, two models — the E350 diesel and E500 petrol — come in July. And the others: E350 petrol and E250 petrol and diesel, get here in September.The four-cylinder models have five-speed automatic transmissions and the six and eight cylinder versions have seven-speed autos.The new coupe ostensibly replaces the CLK. But a quiet chat to Mercedes reps and it seems the CLK — which was basically made of parts from a few different models — may reappear to be sandwiched between the E Coupe and the cheaper CLC.The E Coupe is based heavily on the E-Class sedan with about 100mm sliced out of the wheelbase. It shares some interior features — but not items such as the two-door’s superb seats — and no external panels.Engines and transmissions are identical, though its lighter weight means the Coupe can boast fuel savings of up to 17 per cent over the outgoing CLK.An example is the E250 CDI that officially is rated at 5.1 l/100km yet accelerates from rest to 100km/h in a brisk 7.4 seconds.The E350 CDI drinks at 6.8 l/100km and sprints to 100km/h in 6.7 seconds and the new direct petrol-injection E350 CGI posts 8.5 l/100km and 6.5 seconds.It may be substantially more economical and quicker than its predecessor, but Mercedes-Benz sees its latest coupe’s allure as being its captivating style.It is tailored specifically to lure buyers with its sleek, rounded tapered lines much in the same way as the feminine curves of the CLK made it a top seller.Project manager of the E Coupe, Rainer Tiefenbacher, says the appeal of the styling was balanced by the sophistication of the engineering.“When we asked groups of people what, for them, defined driving pleasure, 80 per cent answered it was a car’s comfort,” he says.“Only 10 per cent felt driving pleasure when going fast. So the E Coupe focuses on the look, the features and the comfort.“But,” he says with a smile, “we would never compromise performance.”The E Coupe gets a sophisticated Agility Control suspension system as standard. This has variable shock absorbers to provide the comfort or sporty handling depending on road conditions.But for the more enthusiastic owner, options include either a sports suspension system or a dynamic handling package. The latter has electronic shocks, two-mode ride levels and automatically sharpens throttle and gearshift responses.The bucket seats for the front occupants are beautifully sculptured and perfectly bolstered for the Coupes varied roles. Optional is seat air pumps to modify the cushions to suit varying body shapes.There is seating for two (not tall) adults in the rear and extended front seat travel to make easy entry and egress to the back seats.The E Coupe gets a surprisingly large boot, fold down rear seat backs and — for the Australian market — a full-size spare tyre. Incidentally, Mercedes Australia has specified a full-size spare for its E-Class sedan and S-Class range on the basis that it considers them safer than space-saver spares.Buyers can request AMG updates but these do not include engine enhancements. Mercedes has yet to officially reject a full-blown AMG Coupe — there was one in the CLK but it appears it won’t happen. It may be the future CLK reincarnate that will become the AMG model.Pricing is yet to be finalised though don’t expect much of a change from the CLK prices. The E250 diesel and petrol models, for example, will likely to be the same price which makes the diesel a low-cost entry to the brand.

Sitting between the C-Class and S-Class the mid-sized luxury saloon has the task of sweeping up those buyers looking for more rewards than the junior sedan can offer yet not yet ready for the uber-luxury - and price - of the top-end saloon.With more than 50 years of history and 12 million predecedents the E-Class is a key plank in the Mercedes world and not surprisingly the company has pulled out all stops to make the latest generation worthy of its history."The claims to (this car) being the best in class are not drawn from thin air but from six decades of experience," Joachim Lindau, head engineer for testing and development of the E-Class, said at last week's launch drive of the car in Spain."This is a benchmark ... we have new engines, new suspension. It's a completely new car.The first tranche of new E-Class models to reach Australia in July will be the V6 E350 and V8 E500 petrol models - both carry-over engines from the current cars - in both sedan and Coupe body styles.The first of the new range of super-efficient BlueEfficiency engines won't arrive until October or November when the 4-cylinder E220 CDi, E250 CGi turbo direct injection petrol and E250 CDi bi-turbo diesel land.They will be joined at the same time by the hero engine of the range, the V6 E350 CDi turbo diesel which boasts a stump-pulling 540Nm of torque while sipping a miserly 6.8 litre per 100km.An AMG E63 sedan is scheduled for early next year and at this stage there is no sign of an E63 Coupe.Pricing and specification levels have still to be settled but Mercedes-Benz Australia suggest that the value equation will improve over the outgoing models - that means more standard equipment at a similar price.In developing the eighth generation of the E-Class Mercedes built some 700 prototypes, drove them 36 million test kilometres - the highest for any Mercedes passenger car, performed 150 real crash tests and 17,500 digital ones."Safety and comfort are the foundations of this car, a car created for the long distances," Lindau says. "Making this car comfortable for the driver is part of what we call `conditional safety'. A relaxed driver is a safe driver."While the E-Class bristles with a complex combination of safety, comfort and consideration for the environment not all of the features are going to make it to Australia.Likely standard equipment includes the Attention Assist system developed to monitor a driver's behaviour and provide a wake-up call if sensors detect the possibility of a micro-sleep, Lane Keep Assist and Blind Spot Assist, nine airbags including a knee bag and the usual array of brake and stability programs as well as the pre-safe crash preparation program.Optional offers will include a reversing camera, Night View Assist which enhances low-light conditions, an adaptive high beam and intelligent light system which automatically dips the beam for approaching traffic and adjust the light pattern depending on surround conditions and Distronic Plus (active cruise control).Definitely off the menu for Australia is the fuel-saving stop/go engine shut-down technology, the Speed Limit Assist which can read speed signs and display the posted speed on the dashboard and the pedestrian safety active bonnet."Unfortunately the Speed Limit Assist technology can not read Australian speed signs as they are a different shape to those used in Europe," Mercedes-Benz Australia's Peter Fadeyev says. "the stop/go feature will also not be available as it is only on manual four-cylinder models at the moment and we have no plans to bring the manual to Australia."Mercedes is working on extending the technology to automatic cars and Fadeyev says that when that happens it would most likely become a fixture for Australia.It is not until you get behind the wheel of the new E-Class that much of what has been spruiked about the new car begins to ring true.The interior styling is richer, closer to an S-Class than a C-Class as had been the case in the previous generation. The lines are straighter, the surfaces flatter and more functional yet the ambiance retains a richness from the quality of materials used and precision of the layout.The seats are comfortable - spacious and supportive and with the extra padding of the restyled contruction evident immediately.All very nice, but fire up the new 3.0-litre V6 diesel and the experience takes on a different level of appreciation.This is an engine that Mercedes can be justly proud of. Its strength is that the 540Nm - or a greater proportion of it - is ready for instant action from anything above idle.Tap the accelerator and go, jump on it and go harder - and all without the least hint of harshness. The balance between the engine, the seven-speed automatic gearbox and the active dynamics of the car's suspension and steering is a treat.The direct-steer variable ratio steering never descends into vagueness, something that can not be said of all such systems and whether punting through twisting mountain roads or sruising along an open motorway the feeling is one of directness and precision.Ride quality is what you would expect from this level of automobile - no more, no less. The active damping works well, seamlessly adjusting from comfort on a gentle cruise to a more sporting stiffness when pushed.A unexpected delight is how little drive enjoyment is given away by dropping from the hero engine to either of the new-generation four-cylinder offerings.While the 2.1-litre direct injection turbocharged E250 CGI is an absolute sweetie with its 150kW and 310Nm it is the equivalent diesel, the E250 CDI, that will have you out of the car and counting the cylinders.With 150kW and a thumping 500Nm of torque squeezed out of the four cylinders by the twin-stage turbocharger this one is destined to be a star. Delivery is a little more peaky than the V6 with the torque dropping away around 600rpm earlier at 1800rpm, but you would be really hard to please if it didn't bring a smile to your face.And if there is any need to seal the deal, a combined fuel efficiency rating of 5.3L/100km should be just the ticket.