Mercedes E350
Luxury estate is proving to be a prized asset – and a real winner when it comes to fuel consumption
Our long-term E-Class enjoyed a starring role at our Product Awards bash this month. The event was held in Birmingham, and you’ll have to wait until the 8 June issue for the results – but this year’s event was the best yet, and it simply wouldn’t have been the same without the big Mercedes.
Why? Well, it didn’t quite take centre stage, but it was used to transport our highly prized trophies to the event.
Its comfortable ride carried passengers and glassware in total comfort and security, and it gave me the chance to play my favourite driving game: fuel station roulette.
In case you’ve never played, it’s very simple. You wait until your car is running on fumes, and start driving past fuel stations. Every fibre of your being might be screaming at you to pull in and juice up, but to be a top player you have to learn to ignore the urge.
Running out of fuel is obviously not the aim of the game. Calculating your range to the exact last mile is. You can make it more exciting by choosing to play it on the way to an important meeting – or perhaps when you’re running late for a flight. Of course, the universal development of range predictors has taken the edge off the thrill but, as I discovered the other day, you can still have fun.
Used - available now
2020 Mercedes
E Class
25,738 milesAutomaticDiesel2.0L
Cash £22,724
2020 Mercedes
E Class
53,294 milesAutomaticDiesel2.0L
Cash £19,370
2022 Mercedes
E Class
64,470 milesAutomaticDiesel2.0L
Cash £29,200
2018 Mercedes
E Class
59,742 milesAutomaticPetrol3.0L
Cash £26,203Our diesel-engined Mercedes E350 CDI simply displays a digital image of a refuelling SL (not an E-Class, inexplicably) once your predicted range drops below five miles, leaving you completely in the dark as to when the flow of fuel might end. Now, I don’t want to advocate irresponsible behaviour, and I know running out of fuel is a dangerous thing to do. But with diesel around £1.40 a litre, there has never been a better time to start thinking about improving your fuel consumption.
All the usual laws apply: don’t brake suddenly, drive smoothly, plan ahead and keep your foot away from the throttle for as long as possible. Over recent months, I’ve been following my own advice, which has resulted in a net 2.5mpg improvement in the overall performance of the E350. That doesn’t sound like much, but it means I get an extra 44 miles from its 80-litre tank.
And with a little over 7,000 miles on the clock, the engine is loosening up nicely, running more smoothly and quietly than before – this car is without doubt the most comfortable motorway cruiser on the extensive Auto Express long-term fleet.
Finally, with the hot weather upon us, the E-Class is set to go from trophy transporter to holiday holdall as the Strong family gears up for a camping trip in Norfolk. You can find out how I get on in our next update... assuming I haven’t run out of fuel in a remote part of East Anglia.
Extra Info
“When my parents came to stay in London for the weekend and needed ferrying about, there was only one choice for me – the E-Class. It was posh enough to impress the folks, and they loved its soothing ride and whisper-quiet road manners.”
