Performance – The E220d debuts a new OM654 4-cylinder turbocharged 2.0-litre diesel motor that is sure to keep NGT’s unexpected mood swings at bay. The 2.0-litre diesel mill produces 194 HP of power at 3800 RPM and 400 Nm of torque at 1600-2800 RPM. The previous E220d made 170 HP and 400 Nm. Yes, the power output is considerably higher and we’re happy about that. The previous generation (ninth) E-Class, the E250d which was sold in India produced 204 HP and 500 Nm. We got a 0-100 km/hr timing of 8.52 seconds, which is pretty impressive for a car of this size! The powerplant comes mated to a 9-speed automatic gearbox and this thing works like a charm. Gear shifts are super smooth. Cruising is the forte of this engine and gearbox combination. Till 130 km/hr, 9th gear cannot be engaged and when the 9th gear is engaged, the engine spins at under 2000 RPM at 130 km/hr.
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The E220d is one awesome cruiser; can do triple digit speeds for long hours
The E220d does 0-100 km/hr in just 8.52 seconds, making it slower than the E350d by around 2 seconds
The motor pulls cleanly and the refinement levels are just great (up there with the V6 engines). It does get audible at higher revs but it’s nothing like an ugly clatter. There is no low-end lag and the powertrain feels very punchy with a strong mid-range. There are the usual driving modes on offer – Eco, Comfort, Sport, Sport+ and Manual. Eco mode helps you extract few more kms per tank of diesel while Comfort mode is adequate for daily usage. Sport and Sport+ are the ones to be used when you are behind the wheel on a weekend drive. The manual mode makes the drive engaging but not very much as the gearbox will intervene if you don’t upshift at the right RPM. The ARAI claimed mileage for the E220d is 10 km/l.
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The vehicle handles well only in the Sport and Sport+ modes
Driving Dynamics – Apart from the engine, the E220d is also different from the E350d in terms of the suspension setup as well. The former gets standard steel springs instead of the air suspension and also loses out on adjustable dampers which means you can’t raise the ground clearance at the touch of a button. Though the soft pillowy magic carpet-like ride from the E350d is missed, the steel springs in the E220d do their job pretty well. The steering is ultra light at low speeds and weighs up quite well as speeds build but lacks feel and feedback. We particularly felt the ride to be slightly better only in the Sport and Sport+ modes. Stopping power is impressive as the brakes do a fantastic job and the grip from the 17-inch tyres is great.
