Mercedes E280 CDI Avantgarde

Classically styled three-pointed star is the comfort-oriented choice.

Auto Express Car Reviews

February 2008

With Jaguar having abandoned the retro looks of the S-Type and given the XF a bold new design, the E-Class is probably the most dated and conventional-looking car in this class. The twin oval headlights, classically shaped grille and bonnet-mounted three-pointed star badge are all trademark Mercedes saloon features.

The E-Class blends these with smooth but unremarkable lines, and in this company it doesn’t stand out. It certainly fails to make a statement like the modern Jaguar or sporty BMW.

Many Mercedes owners love this understated elegance, though, and it’s a similar story inside. While the E-Class hasn’t got the glitzy charm of the Jaguar, overall it’s simpler to get on with and easier on the eye than the BMW’s cabin.

The low, swooping dashboard and narrow A-pillars give you a great view forward, plus the driving position provides a decent range of adjustment. And although the seats are not as heavily bolstered as those in the BMW, they are just as comfortable on long trips.

In fact, comfort is a real ace in the E-Class’s hand, particularly because the E280 engine is such a gem. With 190bhp, it doesn’t offer quite the same thrust as the BMW powerplant, but it delivers its 440Nm of torque in a relaxed manner, and feels marginally punchier than the Jaguar low in the revs – hardly surprising, given that the peak output arrives 500rpm lower, at only 1,400rpm.

Nevertheless, both the Jaguar and BMW are faster in the 0-60mph sprint; they also respond quicker to throttle inputs in the mid range. The E-Class’s standard automatic gearbox is partly responsible for this because it doesn’t afford the manual control of the XF’s transmission. It’s prone to kicking down, whereas in the Jaguar you can remain in the same gear and allow the engine’s torque to do the work.

Yet while the seven-speed transmission in the Mercedes will frustrate keen drivers, the shifts between gears are barely detectable. And when you’re not pushing on, this adds to the incredibly relaxing feel you get at the wheel of the E-Class. The trouble is, on more demanding roads, it’s hard to brake progressively towards a corner as the pedal oscillates back and forth under your foot. The E280 took 35.9 metres to stop from 60mph – over two metres more than the XF.

On top of that, the chassis isn’t as finely honed as its rivals’, the body lurches and rolls through bends and on a twisting road the Mercedes simply isn’t that rewarding. In short, it copes with bends rather than delivering much enjoyment.

It feels vague over crests, and the softness in the suspension means the E-Class doesn’t react that quickly on the entry to corners. The steering also lacks the precision and sharpness of the set-ups in the Jaguar and BMW. As a result, this isn’t a car to be hustled – although as long as you don’t ask too much of it, it’s very well mannered. And on the motorway, nothing can match the Merc’s ability to soak up miles. This is an area in which we thought the new Jaguar would have the edge, but it doesn’t quite.

Although the E-Class suffers a tiny bit of the body shake which is absent from the stiffer BMW and the composed XF, it has the best ride and the least road noise. The small 17-inch wheels and soft suspension help. Driven smoothly, it’s a swift and capable car that offers excellent levels of comfort.

What lets it down is the price. The E280 CDI is the most expensive car, at £35,697, and if you add options, costs can quickly spiral. The question is whether that’s enough to hold the Merc back.

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DETAILS

Price:

£35,697

Chart position:

3rd

WHY? For comfort and refinement, nothing touches the E-Class. Can the Jag match its cruising ability?

AT A GLANCE: We expected the XF to be more like the E-Class – placing the emphasis on comfort and refinement. On long journeys, the Mercedes is still the best choice. However, it falls down elsewhere.

SCORES

Styling/image:

Interior/quality:

Practicality:

Driving experience:

Ownership costs:

Green rating:

ECONOMY

while the E280 managed a respectable 34.5mpg, it was still the only car not to cover 500 miles on a tankful of diesel. A larger fuel tank can be specified – this provides an extra 15 litres, and boosts the range by 114 miles.

RESIDUALS

After three years, all these cars will be worth around £16,000. The E280 – the priciest model to buy by over £1,500 – has the most to lose. No wonder it costs 10 pence per mile more to run than the Jag, at 93.5ppm

SERVICING

Despite Mercedes’ prestige brand status, its dealers could only manage a lowly 18th in Driver Power 2007. High prices were a big gripe for owners – and this is true for the E280 CDI, as three check-ups cost £1,096.

TAX

to run the E280 CDI, business users earning in the higher band will have to shell out more than £4,100 a year. It puts out identical CO2 to the Jag, and suffers the same three per cent diesel surcharge, but is £1,797 more to buy.