A wagon that massages your ego with style and performance yet minimises your
environmental footprint is a winner in any language. When that language is German,
you're in for something special.
Enter the Mercedes-Benz E250 CDI Estate, a 2.1-litre turbodiesel that justifies its
six-figure cost with an engine that hits hard in every area except the fuel bowser.
Toss in the fact it's a seven-seater and you have a high-performance people-mover.
VALUE
The simple face is you pay a premium for anything with Audi, BMW or Mercedes badge.
Status symbols are undoubtedly part of it, the world can see you're doing well, but
under the sheet metal are safety and engineering technologies that won't filter down to
Japanese or South Korean models for years.
The E250 CDI is a classic example of "you get what you pay for". The wagon costs
$105,500 plus on-roads, and I'd buy one tomorrow if I had the cash and needed to haul
seven people. It's only competition comes from the SUV sector and they don't rate on
looks or handling.
TECHNOLOGY
The turbodiesel engine is from Mercedes' BlueEfficiency range and it's a pearler. It
cranks out 150kW and 500Nm yet uses just 6.3 litres/100km. It uses a host of small, but
smart improvements to do that, from an on-demand alternator to cut engine-load to a
grille shutter that smooths out the airflow when the engine doesn't need cooling.
Self-levelling rear suspension automatically compensates for whatever load is in the
back, and with a class-leading 1950 litres of space, it can be a fair load, and the
suspension's adaptive damping improves the ride no matter who or what is onboard.
There's also a parking guidance system that recommends when and to what degree to turn
the wheel when parallel parking. That's handy, given the estate is nudging 5m in
length.
STYLING
Wagons have always been the practical cousins of their sedan counterparts, but the E-
Class estates are good-looking transport in their own right. The windows taper towards
the rear to help disguise the boxy shape and the tailgate is arched so it doesn't look
square from behind. It's still a relatively conservative design, but why tinker with
what works.
It's the same inside, where returning customers will be reassured by the familiar
layout. New owners will need a few days to familiarise themselves with the myriad of
buttons and on-screen menus that help control everything from the airconditioning to
the satnav system.
SAFETY
The Benz is at its best when comparing safety systems. Bi-xenon headlights and daytime
running lights ensure the E-Class stands out night or day. The airbags extend to the
windows in the second row of seats, and the Pre-Safe occupant protection system that
does everything from pre-tension the seatbelts to closing the windows when it detects
and imminent crash.
The ABS braking system has a drying function to maintain stopping power in the wet, a
hill-start assist, brakeforce distribution and is linked to the e lectronic stability
and traction control. Hit the anchors hard and the brake lights flash to provide extra
warning to following cars. It sounds simple, but definitely grabs the attention of
anyone travelling behind the wagon.
Sensors monitor driver behaviour and advise, via an illuminated coffee cup in the
display panel, when a break is needed. If a crash does occur, the headrests push
forward to reduce the risk of whiplash and the steering wheel and pedals are designed
to collapse to give the driver extra room.
The rearwards-facing third-row seats have enought headroom and legroom to even toss a
couple of adults in for cross-town commutes and they're nearly as comfortable as the
second-row seats.
DRIVING
HIT the start button and head out of town and the big wagon feels small. It more than
holds its own in the city where the blind spot assist and lane departure warning
systems give extra reassurance, but it is out on the open road where the 500Nm can be
put to best use. With that much torque the five-speed auto box isn't the handicap it
might be on paper, remind E350 owners about the fuel use if they start bragging about
their seven-speed transmission.
Acceleration from 60km/h up is jaw-droppingly quick for this type of car and it's only
under full throttle that the diesel makes itself heard. The rest of the time is a
fairly serene, but not uninvolved drive, irrespective of the speed. And even hooking in
only pushes the fuel consumption into the low 7-litre range.
The leather-upholstered seats cosset both front occupants without deadening seat-of-
the-pants (or skirt) feedback. The adaptive dampers switch from plush to performance as
the weight loads up to keep the car flat and poised even through hairpin turns. And
unless you're doing something wrong, the six passengers won't notice a thing. And
that's not bad for a people-mover, no matter the price.
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