New Mercedes E-Class estate even bigger now
Now in its seventh generation, the new E-Class does what all the rest did - classes up the concept of a big wagon
You know what to expect with an E-Class estate. It’s a load lugger, pure and simple. Mercedes caters for very nearly every other niche out there with the rest of the model range, now more than ever, so the wagon can focus on the most possible space for passengers, luggage, pets, musical instruments and whatever else needs to be carried. It’s always been that way, for 45 years and six generations; for as long as there continues to be an E-Class, hopefully, it’ll stay the same.
That the first line of the new S214 E-Class estate press release talks about dimensions shows that old habits very much die hard when it comes to Stuttgart station wagons. This is a wider car than before (by 28mm) with a longer wheelbase as well (+22mm, to 2,961mm), so it’s more accommodating inside: there’s more elbow, knee, and leg room for those on the rear bench. Boot capacity is a chunky 615 litres, expandable to 1,830 litres. For the plug-in hybrid model, those figures drop to 460-1,675 litres. Short of a Skoda Superb estate - everyone’s favourite wagon for comparison, with 660l/1,950l - there isn’t much more commodious out there. Well, maybe until there’s a new 5 Series Touring, that is…
That’s the important stuff. Also new for this estate is a ‘more dynamically designed roofline’ than before, though nobody’s going to mistake this for a swoopy shooting brake anytime soon. As with the saloon, there’s an EQ-like high gloss black panel up front, plus a rear light treatment familiar from the C-Class. Mercedes says the ‘overall appearance is progressive’. We’d says it’s quite nice to see an E-Class estate that just looks like an E-Class estate.
Wagon fans will be pleased to see an air-sprung rear axle as standard on all models, ideal for keeping an E-Class on an even keel when loaded up for a tip run or similar. Those who need to lug more about should be encouraged by a 2,100kg braked towing capacity, or an unbraked max of 750kg. The E-Class can even take e-bikes, thanks to a tongue weight of up to 84kg. For the ultimate in ride comfort and control, Airmaric with ADS+ continuously adjustable damping is an optional extra.
Otherwise, much will be familiar for this car from the tech bonanza that was the saloon reveal, including the MBUX Superscreen, software (rather than hardware) led electronics architecture, ‘Energizing Comfort’ anti-travel sickness programme, quicker automated parking, Digital Vent Control, a Digital Vehicle Key and - of course - a selfie and video camera in the dash. The four-door’s laudably low drag co-efficient has carried over to the estate, with a figure from 0.26 promising decent refinement and range.
Speaking of which, the load lugger launches with three engine choices: the 204hp mild hybrid E200 petrol, the 197hp mild hybrid E220d diesel, and the 308hp plug-in E300e. Once more, with upwards of 60 miles of EV running claimed for the PHEV, Mercedes reckons lots of the E300’s journeys as a wagon could happen without the ICE starting. Further mild hybrid models are coming, as well as - interestingly - additional plug-in hybrids with diesel power.
Mercedes hasn’t yet announced UK pricing or spec for the new E-Class estate, though with the saloon imminent this surely won’t be far behind. Given the outgoing car is still listed on MBUK’s site from £50,835 and the new C-Class equivalent kicks off at £47,115, we’d expect the S214 E to start at somewhere around £55k. The nation's labs will have never travelled in such luxury.
But inside, Merc has gone too far across the bling line for me. I’ve sat in current A, E and G class cars and they all feel plasticky although the latter does raise it’s game a little.
Just under 200bhp from the 4-pot diesel sounds poor - the 250cdi (2.2 diesel) that Merc put out generations ago put out more than that. They've had self levelling air suspension as standard on the rear of the estates for generations too so that's nothing new - air all round as standard would've been nice. The luggage capacity is actually slightly less than the S212 model of 2 generations ago, but I appreciate this one has more room for passengers. The gloss black trim on the grille and the outer of that mahoosive front bumper just looks like it'll get chipped and scratched in no time - this isn't a car for loading up for a weekend in the lakes.
Its a strange one for me - can't they do an E Class estate that dials down the shiny metal trimmed faux-AMG look just a tad, or is that what everyone but me wants these days?
Forums | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff