2026 E class - no retracting door handles?

[foreverfalling]

I’ve just received an E300DE urban edition. When I saw one in the showroom it had retracting door handles but the car I have received doesn’t.

Is that a new thing? Thanks

[Robertb]

foreverfalling said:

I ve just received an E300DE urban edition. When I saw one in the showroom it had retracting door handles but the car I have received doesn t.

Is that a new thing? Thanks

Maybe talking bks but retracting handles have been banned in China for safety reasons, after occupants died when rescuers couldnt open the doors after crashes and so maybe Merc have decided to not offer them anywhere for production simplicity?

[Dewi 2]

foreverfalling said:

I ve just received an E300DE urban edition. When I saw one in the showroom it had retracting door handles but the car I have received doesn t.

Is that a new thing? Thanks

That is interesting.

After initially being interested in the new E Class W214, I was told that the specification I wanted is not available in the UK. My further research revealed that the W214 is not actually an all new model, but a facelift of the W213 facelift.
Several of the 'improvements' I did not like, one of which being the door handles.
I subsequently found a nearly new W213 facelift. Remarkably, it only cost half as much as a new W214.

You will be familiar, but these photos show the different door handles.

W213 - Conventional - They were available as chrome, or painted body colour.



W214 - Pop Out.


I wonder whether Mercedes-Benz have changed back to the older type door handles?
Some online reviews have shown the door handles not working as expected at times.
If they have changed back, that means using the older design doors.