The T-Model of the E-Class has stood for family-friendly space and brand-typical solidity for years. This also applies to the current model, although the expensive E 400d variant also has other strengths. But the combination icon is not entirely free of weaknesses either.
A friend, a good friend, that is not only the best there is in the world, but unfortunately it has also become rare today. At least as a good automobile friend, the Swabian we recently got to test for two weeks in front of the door appeared: an E-Class Mercedes, as a T-model with the powerful diesel, which always includes all-wheel drive and air suspension at the rear.
German luxury
Although every good friendship has to withstand loads, in this case it would have primarily been a load on the bank account. Because if a sales contract had been signed, this, i.e. the bank account, would have been reduced by at least 70.000 euros, the test car was well and happily another 20.000 euros more expensive. Not really surprising for a German business class luxury product. The only thing that is noteworthy is that this vehicle, which is equipped with all zipp and zaps, does not include the keyless entry and steering wheel heating. What was only annoying now and then in the first case, but in the second case meant that we only got into this Mercedes with gloves on, as it was our companion during the coldest time of this winter.
On the other hand, the station wagon was able to demonstrate its capabilities in this weather and on icy roads. Stoic straight-line stability and foolproof cornering behavior should be mentioned here as two of the most important positive properties. The diesel, which only hummed slightly in cold running, turned out to be a real stunner, powerful with 700 Newton meters of torque just above idle and perhaps precisely because of that it was surprisingly economical. For a vehicle almost 5 meters in length, with an unladen weight of almost 2 tons, which was also required on longer stages, less than 7,5 liters of diesel are noticeable as an average consumption. If you want to, you can bring the six-cylinder of this E-Class close to the standard consumption of around 6,5 liters without having to take too much back. Another proof that, unfortunately, the diesel was written off in Germany far too early.
Was easier to use
In addition to its dynamic qualities, which can be seen in a sprint time of 5,3 seconds and a top speed of 250 km / h as well as handiness and agility that is surprising for a vehicle of this size, the five-door also impresses in the categories that are usual and typical for Mercedes. As if there was a great ride comfort, without being too gentle, and a processing apparently intended to last forever, in which every joint fits, absolutely nothing wobbles or crackles and the entire interior, including the outstanding seats, seems to be designed for a world tour .
Is that applied too thickly now? Not at all. Is there nothing to complain about apart from the price? But, surprisingly, Mercedes makes one or two faux pas in the actual Swabian specialty of user-friendliness. Not everything is immediately accessible to the new Mercedes driver here, some things - such as volume control via wiping technology using the smallest boxes on the steering wheel - even turn out to be a matter of luck. And even with the highly acclaimed MBUX system, we had the feeling that the lady behind the dashboard would have understood our questions and instructions in other models better and faster. But maybe that was just because of our husky voice.
But now we want to come back to one of the great strengths of the vehicle, or rather the entire series. The E-model, especially in its station wagon version as a T-model, offers more space than almost any other car. Space in the front, space in the back seats and, last but not least, space in the trunk. Here the Swabian remains king of his and all other classes. With a trunk volume of 640 liters, which can be expanded to 1.820 liters, with a reasonable payload of 680 kilograms and at least 2,1 tons of braked trailer load, the Mercedes is also friendly to larger families, smaller sports teams or elaborate hobbies such as horses could have done.
A vehicle with almost no faults and faults, but one that you have to be able to afford: the price, maintenance and workshop costs are alarmingly high and the stingy two-year guarantee is simply not appropriate for a real buddy. On the other hand, we refrain from criticizing the minor operating weaknesses in a very friendly manner. And the tick for the steering wheel heating can also be ticked somewhere in the long list of options.
Technical data
Five-door, five-seat sedan in the upper middle class, length: 4,95 meters, width: 1,85 meters (width with exterior mirrors: 2,07 meters), height: 1,47 meters, wheelbase: 2,94 meters, trunk volume: 640 - 1.820 liters
2,0-liter in-line six-cylinder turbodiesel; 243 kW / 330 PS, maximum torque: 700 Nm at 1.200 rpm, 9-speed automatic, all-wheel drive, rear air suspension, 0-100 km / h: 5,3 s, Vmax: 250 km / h, standard consumption per 100 Kilometers: 6,3 - 6,6 liters, CO2 emissions: 166 - 174 g / km, emission class: B, emissions standard: Euro 6d-ISC-FCM, test consumption per 100 kilometers: 7,4 liters
Price: from € 70.215
In brief
Why: comfortable; lots of space; agile for the size; economical for the performance offered
Why not: expensive; Operation and instrumentation not perfect
What else: Audi S6 TDI Quattro; BMW 540d xDrive; Volvo V90D5 AWD
