 |
Okay, they may not have won the World Cup this year (although they did finish third, beating Australia along the way). But if there’s one thing the Germans are successful at, it’s designing and building luxury motor cars.
Having driven the award-winning S-Class a few months ago, I was intrigued to compare it to the E350, regarded by some as the best business saloon in the world. This all-new sedan is the ninth generation of the long-running E-Class series, which has been a fixture in the Mercedes-Benz catalogue for more than 60 years.
Although it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of the S-Class, the E350 still has enough toys to keep the boys happy.
Climbing into the driver’s seat is like sinking into your favourite armchair – although this armchair is capable of travelling at 210kph. But as there’s nowhere in this part of the world where you can go that fast, just sit back and enjoy the powerful ride from the 3.5litre, V6 engine.
And enjoy it you will. Because with the touch of several buttons, you can adjust the chair until it hugs you in places only your partner or GP get to touch. Backwards, forwards, up and down – you could play with the seat for hours. While the natural beige and black tan interior wouldn’t have been my choice (kids, milkshakes and light colours do not mix), there’s no doubting the comfort it exudes.
What will surprise you about this car is how quickly it picks up speed. Sprightly on its wheels for such a big car, the E350 handles like a speedboat, not a brick. A slight twitch in the right foot and you get that wonderful back-into-the-chair feeling as the engine shows off some of its 0-100 in 6.4seconds potential. I’m told that also has something to do with the seven-speed automatic gearbox that used to be reserved for the expensive models but is now appearing further down the range.
Back to those toys I mentioned earlier. The E350 comes with rear parking camera, lane keeping and blind spot assist, LINGUATRONICS voice-controlled navigation and entertainment systems, and THERMOTRONIC climate control for all and sundry within the car.
For golfers, where the E350 really impresses is in the boot. Where I had to take the driver and 3-wood out of the golf bag to get them in the boot of the S-Class, this model swallows them whole and still asks for more. You almost need a stepladder to reach the back of this baby’s boot.
But despite its Tardis-like qualities, the boot doesn’t cramp the rear compartment. My back seat passengers reported no less comfort than the S-Class. A great design feat by the boffins at Mercedes.
The smallest of small quibbles. Occasionally, and no doubt due to my own clumsiness, I did manage to nudge the car into cruise control when I meant to be indicating – the levers are awfully close to one another. And while front visibility is like a cinema screen, the back-to-front sloping design of the car did make it quite hard to keep track of the back, particularly at night when the green-tint on the side and rear windows made it appear even darker than usual.
But really, those are just small specks on the anthill of perfection. This is another great car from a great carmaker. As you would expect from any car with the famous Silver Star on the bonnet, the E350 has the three Q’s covered...it’s quiet, it’s quick and it’s all quality.
By Jon Underwood.
at a glance
The Mercedes-Benz E350 Avantgarde
Engine: V6 petrol engine delivering 200kW @ 6000rpm. Total displacement 3498cc
Torque: 350Nm@2400-5100 rpm
Compression ratio: 10.7
0-100kph: 6.4 secs
Max speed: 210kph (limited)
Kerb weight: 1711kg
Perm. GVW: 2280kg
Turning circle: 11.25m
Fuel tank: 80 litres
Fuel economy: 9.4l/100km
Safety: PRE-SAFE anticipatory occupant protection system, ATTENTION ASSIST driver fatigue detection system, Blind Spot Assist, five headlight functions for safer night-time driving
Other features: DISTRONIC PLUS radar-guided cruise control (optional), Adaptive Highbeam Assist for maximum road illumination at night, PRE-SAFE® Brake autonomous emergency braking system (optional).
MLP: $130,800. Excludes on-road costs and dealer delivery.
|
Comments
|
|
|
|
|
