The Mercedes E-class has maintained its leadership in the executive class sedan segment for decades, staying ahead in an increasingly competitive market. For Mercedes India, the E-class continues to outsell all other models the German company offers.

The E220d is cheaper than its stronger twin the E350d but maintains the same external design and is also available only in the longwheel base version, which kind of takes away the cost reduction a tad bit. But that’s the point Mercedes is trying to make in the market — that there will be no compromise on comfort to cut down cost.

And if early numbers are any indicator, the strategy is working in their favour. The launch of the E-class helped Mercedes rake up sales by 40 per cent in June compared with last year’s numbers, continuing to be the largest selling model for the company in India.

So what does the new E220d feel like from behind the wheel?

Design and interiors

The new E-class extends the consistent design philosophy of Mercedes-Benz. Its design resonates with both the C-class as well as S-class sedans.

It is the 2017 model’s cabin that really is where the story is. Mercedes has added an extra 140 mm of length to the E-Class’ wheelbase, making it 3,079 mm as compared to the normal E-class sold in other markets. And those numbers do show up when you enter the car. Even when the driver seat is pushed all the way to the rear, a tall rear passenger can be seated comfortably.

The seats made from Artico leather are comfortable and for the first time, Mercedes has added adjustable rear seats, which can be reclined 37 degrees. Mercedes has also added a massive speaker grille with speakers inside on the dash. The in-car entertainment system comes with an integrated 12-inch COMAND screen in the dashboard, which however lacks touch capabilities.

Mercedes has integrated both Android Auto as well as Apple CarPlay into the system but the problem arises when trying to connect through CarPlay. Mercedes seems to have missed adding maps to CarPlay, which means you cannot access Apple maps or Google maps on your phone for navigation, nor does the system allow you to connect to the in-car navigation system while you’ve connected your iPhone or iPad. The same is however not true with Android Auto, where Google maps works perfectly. The cabin offers a vintage look with a plush finish. The boot is big enough, but the additional spare wheel does compromise the luggage space.

The drive

The new E220d comes with an all-aluminium made-in-India engine OM 654, making it 17 per cent lighter and it burns 13 per cent lesser fuel than its predecessor. The 1,950 cc engine churns out 191 hp of peak power and offers 400 Nm of torque between 1,600 and 2,800 rpm. This engine’s performance numbers wane in comparison with the E350d, which comes with a 2,987 cc V6 diesel engine that produces a peak power of 254 bhp and a peak torque of 620 Nm from 1,600 rpm.

Yet, the lighter weight of the E220d adds to its advantage. The two-litre mill is refined and quiet keeping the cabin serene. The new E220d too comes with the 9G-Tronic gearbox and there are five driving modes to choose from — Eco, Comfort, Sport and Sport Plus. Also, there is the individual customisable mode.

To make the drive a little more fun, the Sport and Sport Plus mode offer quicker shifts later in the engine rpm range, and also lower the suspension by 15 mm and increase steering precision.

The fun addition to the E220d is the park assist feature, which lets you get a sneak peek into the future of autonomous driving. All you have to do is press a button and start driving slowly in the parking lot. The car will automatically detect a vacant spot and then all you have to do is to take your hands off the steering, legs off the pedal and watch the car park itself.

Bottomline

The new E-class is undoubtedly the most comfortable car in the segment and will give you the feeling of a sedan from a segment above. The new Merc E220d combines the best bits of the new E-Class and an equipment level that is still mouth watering at a price of ₹55.5 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). Keeping an eye at competition, Mercedes is offering extended warranty for as much as 10 years (of course for a price).

Corrections

The reference to Bose speaker system has been removed as the model actually uses standard Mercedes audio system. It was mentioned that the car did not have a standard spare wheel, but Mercedes has clarified that it does. The report previously said that "As with previous generation models, e220d comes with a 9G-tronic gear box. The reference to the previous models has been deleted as some of them had 7G-tronic gear box.