Benz brings E-class Estate

MERCEDES-BENZ has marked the Australian release of its new 212-series E-class Estate by slashing the E350 wagon price while adding a claimed $8400 worth of new standard equipment.

Although the new pricetag of the E350 Estate is just $439 less than before, Mercedes says the new model is 2.4 per cent cheaper than the last 211-series examples sold here with sports packages fitted.

At $138,100, however, the new E350 remains almost $15,000 more expensive than its most direct rival, BMW’s 530i Touring ($123,179).

First deliveries of the E350 Estate - the first version of Benz’s fifth-generation family wagon to arrive here – have commenced, with the first shipment of vehicles already spoken for.

Replacements for the superseded E280, E280 CDI, E500 and E63 AMG Estate variants are yet to arrive. Three further petrol engines and, including the upcoming E350 Bluetec’s “world’s cleanest” EU6 emissions-compliant engine, four diesels are available in Europe.

The all-new (CLK-replacing) E-class Cabriolet will become the final body derivative of the 212-series large-car range available in Australia, in April.



As with the E350 Avantgarde Coupe ($127,500) and E350 Avantgarde sedan ($128,900), both of which were released locally in August, the E350 Estate is powered by the German brand’s familiar 200kW/350Nm petrol V6.

Coupled to Mercedes’ 7GTronic seven-speed automatic transmission, it returns average fuel consumption of 9.9L/100km in the E350 Estate, which is claimed to offer a class-leading cargo capacity of 695 litres with the rear seats up – stretching to 1950 litres with them folded down.

That’s 300 litres more than BMWs 530i Touring and 266 litres more than the same brand’s new 5 Series GT, which goes on sale here next month – before factoring in the additional 112 litres of load space under the car’s floor.

Standard equipment includes nine airbags, four seatbelt pretensioners and belt-force limiters, Neck-Pro crash-responsive head restraints, Attention Assist drowsiness detection, Adaptive High Beam Assist, an active bonnet, new LED tail-lights, air suspension with adaptive damping and self-levelling at the rear, Easy-Pack automatic tailgate opening, a cargo cover and net, and all-electric front seats with memory function.

Options include Distronic Plus radar cruise control, the Pre-Safe Brake collision preparation system and the unique-in-class folding rear bench seat, which accommodates two additional passengers weighing up to 50kg in weight and up to 140cm tall.