Mercedes E220 CDI SE

ANY executive model that wears a three-pointed star on its nose has to cope with high expectations. For many buyers, the badge represents the best in refinement, quality and engineering.

But the latest E-Class saloon has suffered mixed fortunes since it first appeared in our showrooms last year.

That doesn’t mean you should discount the Mercedes, because the E220 CDI is arguably the sweet spot of the four-door line-up. With low CO2 emissions, a powerful 2.0-litre diesel engine and plenty of company car kudos, it’s a formidable opponent.

An imposing grille and upright stance give the E-Class more road presence than the Volvo and Audi. Unfortunately, the visual appeal is marred by questionable detailing, including the fussy character lines down the flanks and over the rear wheelarch. The £565 optional 17-inch polished alloy wheels also raise our test model’s profile, as the standard 16-inch rims look too small.

Inside, the design is functional but short on flair. Apart from the increase in space, you could easily mistake the interior for the smaller and cheaper C-Class. It’s generously equipped, although Mercedes’ trademark Artico fake leather simply isn’t as special as the real stuff found in the other cars.

Classy

The rest of the materials look and feel classy, while the solid build is on par with the luxurious S-Class limousine. You also get a big load bay, with the E swallowing
540 litres of luggage – in this company, only the Audi’s 546-litre boot is bigger.

Twist the key in the ignition and the 2.1-litre diesel engine clatters noisily into life, temporarily shattering the E220’s executive car aspirations. Once you’re on the move, the slightly gruff unit becomes much less intrusive – and besides, any concerns about refinement are offset by the car’s strong pace. When fitted with the slick-shifting optional five-speed automatic gearbox, the Mercedes blasted from 0-60mph in 8.4 seconds – a mere three-tenths down on the more powerful, manual BMW.

But what really marks out the E-Class is its scorching mid-range urge, which allows drivers to breeze past slower traffic with ease.

If only the hot hatch performance was backed up by similar agility. Point the Mercedes’ nose at a series of corners, and it feels all at sea, the soft suspension causing plenty of body roll. There is also precious little feedback from the controls. And while the E-Class deals with big bumps well, it can fidget over smaller imperfections and crash into potholes.

These limited sporting pretensions will draw some buyers to the Mercedes, while its refinement and 24-carat image are as big a part of the appeal as ever. Better still, the manual emits 139g/km of CO2, and our auto returned a decent 34.5mpg. Add robust residuals, and the E220 claws back the ground lost by its uninspiring looks and uninvolving handling.

Details

Chart position: 2
WHY: Few brands command as much prestige as Mercedes. We find out if the latest E-Class lives up to the premium legend.