2004 Mercedes E-Class
If you are in need of a heavy load carrying vehicle, but aren’t wanting to sacrifice on image then there really are a few options on the marketplace at present. Audi’s A6 is a fine car; capable and with good value too; however, it may not have that last ounce of breeding required in this rarefied sector.
BMW’s 5-series Touring is sure to press all the buttons and check off all the boxes in our eyes, but its looks divide opinion, and many consumers will more likely look to its German rival, the E-class Estate reviewed here. The E-class Estate range is a diverse vehicle that is starting at as little as £29,000, rising to £66,000 for the E55 AMG, the fastest estate car in production at the time.
Four (E220 CDI) and five-cylinder (E270 CDI) diesel variants are also available, and the derv range is now topped by a 272bhp V6 (E350). The E320 CDI packs an inline six featuring the latest generation high-pressure common rail injection system.
Given that the BMW that was tested was in Sport guise, the E-class Estate pictured should not be compared too closely. In Elegance trim, the E-class is restrained and quite traditional in the use of materials, if not the technology and design itself. Externally, the E-class is a striking car, but could never be described as pretty. The saloon has some elegance, but the Estate is just imposing.
Many buyers in the target market will have already decided that the E-class is for them before they even take a test drive, but people should get behind the large steering wheel to see how the Merc compares with the supposedly driver-orientated BMW 5-series. First off, they will find the steering surprisingly heavy in the E-class, but not actually endowed with a lot of feel, despite modestly profiled tyres.
The brake pedal initially has an unusual, inconsistent feel, but the stoppers themselves are flawless, hauling the big Estate down from high speed time and again without much protest, which bodes well for towing heavy loads.
It does not quite engage as much as the 5-series, but it is certainly as capable, and just as importantly to its buyers, as safe. People were a little disappointed though to find that the car’s ride was a little compromised to this end, though it could not be described as uncomfortable