Mercedes has long held a reputation for quality that other carmakers have envied. Even in the furthest reaches of the globe, as far away from Germany as you could be, most people know the brand instantly. The new 2013 Mercedes E-Class is apparently one of the best cars they have produced, according to them of course. However, it has a lot of features that makes it more than a viable proposition for anyone who has the finances to afford one. They are pricey when compared to other mid range luxury vehicles, but we think that the sheer value you get for your money outweighs any concerns about cost.
First up, you get a choice of four body styles. You can take your pick from a salon, an estate, a coupe or a convertible, all of these fitting quite neatly into stereotypes for car drivers today. On top of that choice in design, you also get a staggering ten engines to choose from, five on the diesel side and five on the petrol side. This means that if you want a new Mercedes, you have a great feast of options available to you.
The Looks and Styling
We think that, looks-wise, the saloon has not really made any great strides forward. It still looks a little boxy, but it’s a Mercedes and you can forgive this for the kudos of the name alone. However the coupe, estate and convertible have a little more zing about them looks wise, some good news.
Inside, we liked what we saw. There is nothing here that jumps out at you, but the controls of the cars are very well positioned, bringing a sophisticated functionality to the auto as a whole.
Practical
This is important, because you get the feeling that the company hasn’t tried to dazzle you with anything too fancy, Instead, you are sitting in a seat that has everything you need right there, exactly where you want it.
Comfort?
There is still a huge concession for comfort though, and we like the fact that the rear of the car has more legroom than you would expect, and that is in all models including the saloon. Mercedes never disappoint with comfort, and they have not let us down here. We think that the comfort levels alone are key features of this model.
Power
We like the E250 CDI model the most because of the level of power and refinement in the drive. The 250 CDI is probably the most popular choice for today’s driver, but the E250 thrills more. This is perhaps best exemplified by the fact that the E250 CDI creates the least amount of outside noise noticeable inside the car.
Noise Levels
The aerodynamics are incredible and you really feel like you are travelling in a hushed environment. When it comes to the ride, the dampening is superior, another key feature we think. You don’t feel a bump when you are driving, even on back roads. Mark our words, this will win out eventually as a preferred model, and it will be interesting to see if it comes through as an option on car leasing and contract hire arrangements, for example, because it is a real winner and may push people to sell your old car.
Economy?
Economy wise, the E300 BlueTec Hybrid is your best choice, with a reported 67.3 mpg on the saloon model. We think it is most definitely possible, and this makes it a competitive saloon at this level for fuel costs.
This car is not so much fun as refined. It’s comfortable, has superior handing, great fuel economy possibilities, and strong engines that make it a real contender for best mid-level luxury vehicle.
Cormac Reynolds writes fpr http://www.sellyouroldcar.co.uk/ UK car scrap company and has a long history of car reviewing
