Mercedes-Benz E-Class Saloon E200 Elegance Review: E for Excellence

What we like:

Aggressive front fascia that departs from the traditional stoic looks of the older model.

What we dislike:

Spongy brake pedal.

The new E200 is equipped with the new M274 2.0-litre turbocharged inline four which is essentially the previous 1.8-litre with a longer stroke, boasting better consumption and improved efficiency. The same unit is used in the E250 though tuned differently for slightly more power.

Here the 184bhp unit gets the 1.6 ton saloon off the line reasonably quick with the century sprint over in just under 8 seconds. In Eco mode, the engine suffers from noticeable lag below 2,000rpm but surges forward once revs build. The lag is minimized in ‘Sport’ mode helped by a more sensitive throttle.

However efficiency is the strong point for this new engine which boasts a combined figure of 17km/L as opposed to the BMW 520i’s 15km/L.

Designed as a stately sedan, the car is uncomfortable when forced to take bends with aplomb and has a tendency to push wide with too much speed. That said, the steering rack is accurate and provides adequate feedback.

Driven sedately, the softer brake pedal would suffice for most situations but would require a firm input (almost to the floor) to access the powerful brakes.

The facelifted E-class retains the same platform and suspension geometry of the W212 which means much of the positive characteristics are retained. On the expressway, the sedan remains a supremely comfortable place to be with minimum wind and tyre noise intruding into the cabin.

A slew of safety systems have been introduced into this facelift with much of it derived from the new S-class due to be launched later this year.

The most interesting however are the Lane Keeping Assist, Parking Assist and Steering Assist. These systems work in conjunction with the electrical steering rack and onboard RADAR to either park the vehicle or actively steer the vehicle out of harm’s way.

And to guard against rear end collisions, the E-class features an optional PRE-SAFE PLUS system that prepares the car for an impending rear end collision. Once a fast approaching vehicle is detected, the system warns the approaching driver by flashing the hazard lights at a high frequency. At the same time, the system tensions the seat belts and locks the vehicle’s brakes to guard against secondary impacts.

Amid the heightened competition posed by the latest models from BMW and Audi, Mercedes-Benz has made a measured move to guard against looking dated next to its competitors.

Instead of pouring more resources into building an all-new platform, they’ve opted to improve the safety and efficiency of the last E-class further and with great result.

But it remains to be seen if their top selling E200 model can maintain its dominance in the luxury sedan market amid the tough loan regulations.

Special thanks to the National Museum of Singapore for kindly providing us with the location for our photoshoot.

Credits: Story and Photos by Benjamin G. Kline