Long-term test review: Mercedes E-Class Estate ~ station of gear

Mercedes E-Class Estate long term - first report header

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21 May, 2017 11:00am Tom Barnard

First report: it looks like our new executive Mercedes E-Class Estate is off to a dazzling start

Mileage: 7,707
Economy: 40.6mpg

It’s the time of year when most of us are waking up in daylight and getting back home before the sun has set. It’s blissful. And yet, I’m a little sad, as I’m not getting to use my favourite gadget on our new Mercedes E-Class Estate.

The big wagon is packed with technology, but it’s the clever headlamps which have really dazzled us. There’s no need to munch on carrots to be able to see in the dark when you’re driving the Mercedes, as they can almost turn the night into day.

The lamps use 84 LEDs, each controlled by a camera and sat-nav data to make sure the maximum amount of light is spread around and that it’s not dazzling to other road users. It’s – quite literally – brilliant.

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Mercedes E-Class Estate long term - first report boot open

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The headlamps are just one of the options on my car. The various packages and goodies have added nearly £10,000 to the £41,170 list price of the E 220 d AMG Line Estate. Some of them have been wise investments, others are more difficult to recommend. Perhaps the most surprising is the need to pay £1,595 to have real leather upholstery. The car comes as standard with artificial hide, but actually, Mercedes’ fake leather feels posher than the real cow you get in cheaper cars.

We spent the savings here on Drive Pilot, a gadget which means the E-Class will almost drive itself. Once you have mastered the bewildering steering column stalk layout, you can set the cruise control knowing that the car will steer in traffic up to your set speed without having to touch the pedals. It’s an encouraging step towards a fully autonomous car and – almost – works perfectly.

It tries to save your licence by reading speed limit signs too, and changing the set speed to match the posted maximum. It’s got an alarming glitch though, as the camera often misinterprets random numbers from other signs as a speed limit. More than once I’ve been overtaking a lorry with a “This Vehicle Is Limited To 52mph” sticker and the car has read that and suddenly cut the power.

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Mercedes E-Class Estate long term - first report Tom Barnard

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Another self-driving gadget that’s less useful but still a great party trick is Mercedes’ app that lets you extract the car from a parking space using your phone. My only gripe is that Mercedes makes you pay for a subscription. I took the £14 three-month option just to try it out, but it’s unlikely I’ll renew.

A less sophisticated option are the 20-inch alloys. Every time I see the car from the outside I think the £595 Night Package that they’re part of was money well spent. But inside I curse the harsher ride which results from having gossamer-thin 30-profile tyres. It’s bearable on slightly rippled roads, but even the smallest pothole sends a crash through the cabin.

With all the technology it’s easy to overlook old-fashioned things like the engine. The 2.0-litre diesel is a technical tour-de-force, with strong performance which almost matches the sporty AMG Line bodykit. The figures claim it should be returning 61.4mpg, but of course it’s not getting anywhere close. In mixed driving we are only just breaking 40mpg, despite using the ‘Eco’ setting for most journeys.

While we’re talking of filling up, an estate owner is always going to want to know about the boot. It’s big, of course, at 640 litres, and with the holiday season approaching, the E220 is set to be packed to the roof and pointed across the Channel for some European adventures.

*Insurance quote from AA (0800 107 0680) for a 42-year-old in Banbury, Oxon, with three points.

I love the looks of the Mercedes, and its huge practicality too. It effortlessly takes on motorway journeys, helped by a suite of amazing tech and more than 700 miles of cruising range. I just wish the ride was a little more compliant on country lanes.

Model: Mercedes-Benz E 220 D AMG Line Estate
On fleet since: March 2017
Price: £41,170
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbodiesel, 191bhp
CO2/tax: 120g/km/£450
Options: Metallic paint (£645), Driving Assistance Plus package (£1,695), Premium Plus Pack (£3,895), COMAND Online system (£1,495), Widescreen cockpit display (£495), 360-degree camera (£335)

Options cont: Night Package incl 20-inch alloy wheels (£595), Thermotronic climate control (£750)
Insurance: Group: 31/Quote: £923
Mileage: 7,707
Economy: 40.6mpg
Any problems?: None so far

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