Monthly Motor - September 2014

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Santiusae COMPARATIVE demrae REVIEW Used Luxury Saloons: Mercedes-Benz E-Class vs BMW 5 Series vs Audi A6 vs Jaguar XF By Evan Reddy Mercedes-Benz E-Class What It Is Before Audi and Jaguar gate-crashed the party, your choice of German family saloon was simple: for the ultimate driving machine, you bought the BMW 5-series; for the ultimate in comfort, you headed to the Mercedes dealership for an E-class. It was a simple formula, and it still applies today. Focusing on comfort has made the E-class the linchpin of the Mercedes line-up: a favourite with German taxi drivers, executives, seasoned pilots, and the family with a holiday’s-worth of luggage who need the vast estate version. The current used E-class is based on the model that was launched in 2009. Revised in 2013, it has been redesigned without the “four-eyed” headlamps, and now comes with the option of more electronic gadgetry. This includes the useful, but far-from essential, allround cameras that provide a bird’s eye view of the car and its surroundings on the dashboard screen, as well as an active parking function where the car controls the steering and brakes, enabling it to slot itself into a bay or parallel space. 48 MOTOR SEPTEMBER <strong>2014</strong>
Mercedes describes the potential options as “limitless” and the range extends from a 168bhp diesel engine to a turbocharged V8 petrol engine in the E63 AMG S with 577bhp. In total, there are two four-cylinder diesels, as well as a V6 and diesel hybrid. Petrol buyers can choose two versions of the 2-litre four-cylinder unit, the V8 in the E63 AMG or the more highly tuned version in the E63 AMG S. So what you want and can afford you can get locally at an auto dealer or specially import. There are now only two trim levels: SE, which offers luxuries including an automatic parking system, three-tone ambient lighting and DAB radio, and AMG Sport, which adds a body kit, improved brakes, sport suspension and a Nappa-leather steering wheel. The Drive Cruising on the highway in virtual silence, enveloped in the leather seats, with barely a vibration from the road surface below, the temptation is to simply close your eyes and drift off. Or at least it would be if the standard “Attention Assist” tiredness warning system wasn’t ready to sound an alarm the instant you do so. There are few more relaxing cars to drive this side of a Rolls-Royce, especially if you opt for the optional Airmatic air suspension. Even on the twistiest upcountry roads, the big E-class remains composed and flat while cornering. The smaller-engined diesel models are particularly well-balanced. The steering on all models is precise, despite lacking some feel. In its own way, the E-class is enormously satisfying to drive. The seven-speed automatic gearbox is excellent, delivering smooth shifts at the right time. The same level of praise can’t be applied to Mercedes’ manual gearboxes, which are generally best avoided. If you’re not seeking the unhinged E63 AMG models, the 168bhp E220 CDI diesel model stands out for its impressive performance and frugal economy on the official combined cycle. Although it may be tempting to “upgrade” to the E250 CDI, our testers have found it to be harsher and less refined. Pick the V6 petrol engine in the E350 and you’ll be able to summon what feels like vast reserves of power, as if from a ship’s engine room, sending the car surging forward smoothly. It fits the car’s character perfectly, although there’s a price to pay in real-world driving. The Interior It’s not just the exterior of the E-class that was updated in 2013; the interior received a minor redesign, too, which has tidied it up and improved quality. The car doesn’t just feel like it has returned to the hewn-from-granite Mercedes standard, last seen in the 20th century, but the evidence suggests that it has. The previous version of the E-class has achieved good reliability scores and this should continue with the current car. The dashboard display isn’t as simple to operate as those offered by Mercedes’ German rivals but it’s fairly easy to use once you are familiar with it. A dial in the centre console is used to select functions on the screen at the top of the dashboard, controlling sat-nav, phone and radio functions among other things. The most impressive part of the cabin has nothing to do with technology but is all about its sheer space, with generous legroom for rear seat passengers. Put the seats down in the estate and there’s space for 1,950 litres of luggage, or in other words, everything including the kitchen sink. It’s around 300 litres larger than the estate versions of the Audi A6, BMW 5-series and Jaguar XF. Mercedes offers several options to fill it, including two (small) rear-facing seats, to make the E-class into a seven-seater, as well as storage options to keep luggage in place instead of wallowing around the cavernous boot. It’s easy to get carried away with the options list, which offers equipment ranging from a larger fuel tank to heated rear seats. The 360-degree camera, which offers a bird’s-eye view of the car’s surroundings, is useful for avoiding parking bumps. The ventilated seats, which are fitted with cooling fans, make a big difference on long journeys. You may struggle to resist he optional keyless entry system, which now allows hands-free access to the boot. You open it by waving your foot underneath the bumper, leaving your key in your pocket or bag. The E-class has a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating. As well as two ISOFIX child seat mounts, safety equipment includes nine airbags as standard, as well as a collision warning system, tiredness monitor and automatic emergency braking. What to look out for After a big dip in quality a few years ago, Mercedes has improved its production processes and the E-class is generally as reliable as you’d expect of a car carrying the three-pointed star. The only issue that’s cropped up so far is with the diesel engine’s fuel injectors, which can need replacing after surprisingly low mileages. Although E-class owners are generally a happy bunch, this generation of the model, has MOTOR SEPTEMBER <strong>2014</strong> 49
Page 1: MONTHLY KSH 350/- SEPTEMBER 2014 AL
Page 4 and 5: from the publisher Checking Yoursel
Page 6 and 7: CONTENTS Santiusae demrae Volume 22
Page 8: Santiusae HEADLIGHT demrae Checklis
Page 11 and 12: Now I realise that a sample of two
Page 14 and 15: Santiusae TEST DRIVE demrae AUDI S3
Page 16 and 17: TEST DRIVE litres. We all know car
Page 18 and 19: FIRST IMPRESSION Hyundai Elantra Ke
Page 20 and 21: Santiusae FIRST IMPRESSION demrae T
Page 22 and 23: WISH LIST Alfa 4C Feisty Italian Sc
Page 24 and 25: READERS’ CHOICE JEEP CHEROKEE Ref
Page 26: Santiusae READERS’ CHOICE demrae
Page 29 and 30: the test - I looked at the typical
Page 32 and 33: Santiusae REVIEW demrae Hyundai Gra
Page 34: REVIEW between the front and rear a
Page 37 and 38: sion out of the way, let’s take a
Page 39 and 40: ENGINES For the time being, the Qas
Page 41 and 42: For extra bling you can order the D
Page 43 and 44: model due to its 220mm ground clear
Page 45 and 46: EXPERIENCE THE BENCHMARK IN ONLINE
Page 47 and 48: features will assist with trying to
Page 49: The new X1 will be offered as a cho
Page 53 and 54: already been recalled four times. T
Page 55 and 56: Verdict Even though BMW has concent
Page 57 and 58: Acceleration: 0-100kph in 8.7sec T
Page 59 and 60: many cat faces while serenading the
Page 61 and 62: But sometimes it pays to look aroun
Page 63 and 64: plenty of electric adjustment, incl
Page 65 and 66: modes to choose from, plus paddles.

Monthly Motor - September 2014

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