2019 Mercedes E220d Review
Car Tested: 2019 Mercedes E220d Exclusive; Road Test No. 1120; Test Location: Mumbai
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 75,45,078/-
Mercedes has improved its high-selling luxury sedan, the E-Class, with more features and a BS6-compliant powertrain
India has a lucrative luxury car market and it seems Mercedes-Benz has understood it better than anyone else. They have a diverse range of cars at all price points and the company does not shy away from launching more and more every year. Despite the crowded model line-up, the E-Class, once the bread and butter model for Mercedes in India, has stood its ground rather well. The latest generation of E-Class gets what most luxury car buyers in India look for – space. The long-wheelbase only E-Class comfortably outsells all its key competitors. The company has given the E-Class another update this time. The E220d now comes with a far cleaner BS6-compliant diesel engine along with a new variant. How far does that go in making the already desirable saloon more desirable? Let us find out.
Motor Quest: Mercedes-Benz, as we all know, was the first luxury brand to come to India. The brand came with the E-Class in 1994 and since then the sedan has been the bread and butter model for Mercedes in India. The car helped the brand establish a premium image and has been the de-facto choice for wealthy car buyers since then. The rising competition and the rage of SUVs in the recent past seem to have little effect on the E-Class. The latest generation comes in long-wheelbase only and that has opened doors for a wider audience. Additionally, the relatively good value, excellent build quality, comfort and the prestige that comes with the E-Class badge, has made it a favourite amongst the buyers of this class.
The E-Class resembles the S-Class from a lot of angles
Exteriors – The E-Class retains that long and regal look which sometimes fools the untrained eye into believing it to be an S-Class. The design is superbly executed with the stance going a long way to enhance the premium feeling of the car. The front is complete with a dominating grille and a huge three-pointed star, sculpted bumpers and the trademark split headlight design. Speaking of the headlights, the C-Class has a single streak of DRL, the S-Class has three and the E-Class, which sits in the middle, has two. This is one way of differentiating between the Mercedes’ look-alike saloons!
The design gives out a premium and elegant vibe
At over 5-metres long, the E-Class looks absolutely graceful and sophisticated
As we said before, the long-wheelbase makes the side profile look elegant. The alloy wheel design complements the side of the E-Class. We also like that the rear seat space is liberated behind the rear door, meaning the door does not look wide and disproportionate. The rear looks pretty identical to the S-Class but the sportier tail light design and narrower boot are the things that tell you it is not.
The E-Class’ cabin feels spacious and premium
Interiors – The E220d now comes with a new ‘Exclusive’ variant that sits above the ‘Expression’ (formerly known as the Avantgarde) variant. The new trim adds some much-needed equipment to the list. The doors now come with soft-close function increasing the luxury quotient of the saloon. Sit inside and you will notice the very premium looking brown shade that looks richer than the usual beige and black. The wood finish is also new. The driver is greeted to a brand new 10.2-inch all-digital instrument cluster which looks and feels much better than the analogue version.
As always, the quality of materials used is outstanding
The new Exclusive trim of the E-Class gets some more features including a Burmester audio system and soft close doors
The rest of the cabin is the usual E-Class stuff. Translate it as a high quality, sumptuous, relaxing and tech-loaded place to be. The seats are supremely comfortable with ample space upfront. Ergonomics are spot on too. The infotainment system however lacks the innovativeness of the BMW’s iDrive. That said you get the basics like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Exclusive variant also adds the brilliantly sounding Burmester premium audio system.
The E-Class has the most rear seat space in its segment
The rear seat remains the place to be in, in the E-Class. Mercedes did pull a masterstroke by launching the E-Class only in the long-wheelbase variant. The space at the back is significantly more than any of its rivals and there are many gizmos to keep you entertained. The seats offer high levels of comfort, not only by how well-cushioned they are but also by the level of adjustment that is on offer. The back seats can be electrically adjustable with a 37-degree reclining angle. The seats are also complete with memory functions. Noteworthy additions for this new trim include a tablet system that lets you control stuff like climate and ambient lighting and a wireless charging pad for smartphones, both housed on the armrest.
The brown upholstery along with wood inserts looks very classy
The rear seat is extremely spacious, comfortable and can also be reclined
No doubt, the interior of the E-Class pleases on multiple levels but there are some shortcomings. We found the air-conditioning to be less effective. We think that is due to the larger cabin volume. We also wish Mercedes-Benz had a memory function for the front seats.
The E220d is now BS6 compliant
Performance – The major difference to the BS6 E220d is the change in tune of the 2.0-litre motor. Although the output from the engine remains the same at 194 HP and 400 Nm, the overall performance has been made more linear. Hardware changes include a diesel particulate filter and a selective catalytic reduction process done with the addition of AdBlue fluid (which is tanked up every service). This is to make the E-Class comply with BS6 emission norms on BS4 grade fuel. Due to BS6, the oil burner isn’t as quick in the mid-range and 0-100 km/hr times have tumbled by half a second to 9.3 seconds.
The 9-speed gearbox delivers smooth shifts without any lag
Refinement levels are exceptional and the E220d delivers smooth performance
That aside, the Mercedes E220d is a terrifically refined car with some sound creeping into the cabin once you get past the mid-range. It’s not a fast-revving mill but turbo lag is almost not felt, so drivability is really good although top-end is lacking, the car redlining at around 4500 RPM. The 9G-Tronic gearbox is smooth shifting and quite quick too but if you want to use 8th and 9th gear, you have to be above the ton. The E-Class is still a couple of seconds slower than the now-discontinued E350d but is more frugal, returning between 10-15 km/l of fuel economy.
Ride quality is fantastic and the E-Class has amazing high speed stability
Driving Dynamics – The Mercedes E-Class has a long-wheelbase which along with the soft suspension, makes it a car which isn’t dynamic by any means. However, you will be surprised by the composure of the vehicle at high speeds as well as through corners as body roll is well contained. The surprise here is the steering wheel which is light at low speeds but weighs up brilliantly at high speeds, giving good feedback to the driver. But there is no escaping from the soft suspension which makes the car bouncy at higher speeds over bad roads. The plus side is the ride quality, it’s excellent (even without air suspension) and only real sharp bumps affect the car. The brakes offer great stopping power and the COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST uses radars to automatically apply brakes if it senses you are too close to the vehicle ahead.
Safety and service in check for this Mercedes
Safety and After Sales Service – Mercedes-Benz is known for making some of the safest cars in the world. The E-Class has scored top marks and comes loaded with a lot of safety equipment including 7 airbags and adaptive braking system. Service is likely to be best in class, with many service plans offered by Mercedes-Benz.
The E-Class is the car for chauffeur driven owners
Verdict – The E220d gives buyers what they exactly want. And that is, a lot of space at the rear, a rich cabin, smooth & efficient engine, and a badge that speaks of prestige. The fact that the E220d is now BS6 complaint shows Mercedes’ commitment to always delivering the best. Add in the new variant with extra features, the already excellent E-Class gets even more compelling. However, the Exclusive variant costs about Rs. 4 lakhs more than the lower variant. At Rs 75.5 lakhs, on-road, Mumbai, the E220d Exclusive is amongst the more expensive cars in the segment. However, its compelling mix of technology, comfort, features and performance makes the E-Class hard to beat.
This tablet can control various functions of this Mercedes
What’s Cool
* Elegant and stylish looks
* Spacious and feature-loaded interior
* BS6 compliant smooth and refined diesel engine
* Comes with a ton of safety tech
What’s Not So Cool
* Interior still lacks some features
* Pricier than its competition
Alternatives: – BMW 6-Series GT, Jaguar XF, Audi A6, Volvo S90, Lexus ES 300h
The new all-digital instrument cluster looks very modern
2019 Mercedes E220d Specifications
* Engine: 1950cc, 4-Cyl, Diesel
* Power: 194 HP @ 3800 RPM
* Torque: 400 Nm @ 1600-2800 RPM
* Transmission: 9-Speed AT
* 0-100 km/hr: 9.3 seconds
* Fuel Consumption: 10-15 km/l
* Fuel Type: Diesel
* Tyre Size: 245/45/17 (Front & Rear)
* Suspension: Direct Control (Front & Rear)
* Brakes: Ventilated Disc (Front), Disc (Rear)
* Safety: 7 Airbags, ABS with EBD, ESP
2019 Mercedes E220d Dimensions
* Overall length x width x height: 5063 mm X 2065 mm X 1494 mm
* Wheelbase: 3079 mm
* Turning Radius: 6.0-metres
* Fuel Tank Capacity: 80-litres
The E-Class is the king of its segment
Further Reading –
2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Review
2018 Mercedes-Benz E220d Review
2018 Mercedes-Benz E-Class All-Terrain Review2018 Mercedes-AMG E63S Review
Testers’ Note:
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