German Car Zone

New Mercedes-Benz E-class is a return to form, but driving thrills are in short ration

Rating:


The three-pointed star is glinting proudly in the Spanish sun. And it has every reason to – it’s surmounting the bonnet of the all-new E-class, Merc’s statement car, the car that defines the brand: solid, sensible, engineered and built like no other.

Trouble is, in recent years it hasn’t quite worked out like that; Mercedes lost focus for a while and quality suffered. This one gets it back on track. It’s nothing to do with the new bland-cubism styling, but the sense of wellbeing you get from being in it. Horrible word admittedly, but it accurately conveys the sense of comfort and security the latest E-class imparts.

Madrid rush hour is as bad as you’d imagine, and yet, urged gently along by a 5.5-litre V8, cushioned by air suspension and idiot-proofed by systems that monitor my blind spots, the lane I’m in, the current speed limit (it really does read the road signs) and even whether I’m paying attention, the vagaries of Spanish driving are nothing more than a remote niggle.


Full Article: EVO - Mercedes-Benz E500


M

Interesting. I wonder if his "no heart and soul" comments would also describe M-B's of yore or if they're exclusive mostly to this car. I'm assuming as history has told us already, since this car is a testament to what M-B is all about, BMW, XF, etc. fans will find it too muted, coddling and conservative.

LMAO @ "bland cubism styling". I personally couldn't agree more.

Just some useless opinion on the writer of the article...

Ollie Marriage is fairly new to the EVO pages - having joined when Meaden and Bovingdon split for Drivers Republic. He wears ugly jeans and has strange taste in shoes and he seems more to be one of those "cut and thrust" drivers out there. So, it's highly unlikely that the E500 would've struck a chord with him.

Perhaps if David-I-look-like-an-alien-with-a-beard-Vivian did the test (he's more experienced with luxury car assessment) the E500 would've gotten a higher rating. Maybe even Harry Metcalfe would view it in a more positive light.

As it stands, the E500 shouldn't really appeal to those types espousing "The Thrill of Driving" so take it from whence it comes. Let's see what Clarkson has to say about the E500. [If he hasn't already]

*Yawn*

Yet another journalist who gets behind an E-Class with completely wrong expectations. If the car was thrilling and exciting then it wouldn't be an E-Class. This is Mercedes most important car when it comes to sales and thus conservatism has a priority over adventure and change. What's next? Stepping into a facelifted GT3 and whining about it not absorbing road bumps well enough?

I don't know how this one drives but I found the W211 E500 to be an excellent car. Comfort was off course up to notch and the air suspension mode in sport did offer some for road feedback. The steering feel was good too and the car was capable of slalom around cones and dodge bullet if you wanted it too. So it did have some athleticism in there ready to be used when needed. This buffoon for a auto journalist need to look at the car from a different angle.

Haha, I always get pissed when I read these Articles saying how [enter about any M-B Sedan ever] feels "disconnected" or too "boring" to drive or whatever.... THAT IS WHAT M-B IS ALL ABOUT!! I would personally be very pissed if they went the route of BMW, and think that they stretched that even a bit with this W212, as IMO it seems to be more BMW influenced than any prior E if anything (stylistically speaking at least).

For me, driving excitement isn't about performance, it's about Luxury, style, refinement, coddling, attention to detail, elegance, sport, etc. all mixed. I like to feel like I'm in a nice, plush cruiser that is isolated and Safe, and has a Sporty aesthetic to it. I feel like the good M-B's nail this.

Now, now... I wouldn't call him a buffoon. He actually knows a crapload about cars mechanically speaking. It's just a simple case of wrong car for the type of magazine that it is.

I guess one's judgement does get a bit biased from constantly witting behind the wheel of rear wheel drive 400hp+ road demons.

As a BMW fanatic I have too agree 100% !!!!!
This new E-class is what EVERY previous Merc E-class owner wanted it to be!
Luxury and a conservative typical Merc etc. So shall and must every E be!
On this forum we can make fun of each others brands, but being crown up an realistic... Their is no two brands that cater for more different needs than BMW & Merc, they both made a success on building what made the strong in the past!

I just hate motoring journalists...They 'think' they know....THEY DON'T!

Merc has steyed true with tradition! Nice and Elegant.

You just had to chuck that rear wheel drive phrase into your post didn't you, Luw?

Anyhow, to belabour the point:

It's EVO - The Thrill of Driving
They didn't find the E500 thrilling
Which it's not meant to be in any case
End of Story

^^
Sorry, I had to tease.