Mercedes-Benz unveils refreshed E-Class range

MERCEDES-BENZ has ripped the covers off its updated E-Class large sedan and wagon range, which is set to touch down in local showrooms in the fourth quarter of the year with udapted styling and technology.

Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific is yet to detail which variants are set to make it Down Under, however with a range of mild and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) grades introduced, there is a possibility that the local E-Class range will become greener.

The updated large car range is distinguished by some mild styling changes, starting with the standard LED headlights that feature a slightly squarer design, with Multibeam LED lights included as an option.

Front bumper and grille design have also been tweaked, while the tail-light design has also changed to look more similar to its GLE SUV sibling.

Furthermore, the All-Terrain soft-road wagon offered locally in 220d guise has had its design altered to better match that of Mercedes’ SUV stable.

The E-Class’ trim levels including Avantgarde Line and AMG Line have been updated, while three new paint colours have been added to the E-Class’ palette.

Safety has been taken to a new level with the adoption of a number of updated driver-assist technologies, including Active Distance Assist Distronic, which uses data from live traffic updates to predict when the car will need to slow down.

Active Speed Limit Assist also uses traffic sign assist to respond to changes in the speed limit, and can also react to changes in the road such as bends, intersections, roundabouts and toll booths.

Active Stop and Go Assist can autonomously move in traffic at speeds of up to 60km/h, while the lane-keep assist function now has a new setting for letting emergency vehicles pass by causing the vehicle to stay off-centre in the lane.

Blind spot assist can now detect bicycles and warn drivers when getting out of the car, while the parking assistance technology is enhanced to allow for autonomous parking in a greater range of situations.

The global range of powertrains has been refreshed with seven PHEV grades available across petrol and diesel engines, sedan and wagon styles and rear or all-wheel layouts.

A 1.5-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine with 48V starter-alternator has been added to the range, while the 48V tech has also been fitted to the new inline six-cylinder turbo-petrol engine which debuts in the E-Class for the first time.

Hybrid grades have also seen a change to the nine-speed 9G-Tronic automatic transmission, with the electric motor, power electronics and transmission cooler now integrated into the transmission.

The global diesel range is made up of four- and six-cylinder inline turbo engines, with both likely to come to Australia given the current line-up includes each version.

Mercedes has fitted the latest generation of its MBUX infotainment system to the E-Class, meaning a new steering wheel is included, offered in three iterations – leather, wood/leather and a ‘supersport’ version.

MBUX is projected onto dual 10.25-inch digital screens, with 12.3-inch screens available optionally.

Four different design layouts are available, while the optional MBUX Interior Assistant uses gesture control functions for ease of use.

PHEV versions include a ‘PowerNap’ feature as part of the Energising programme, which is used at a rest stop when the car is charging, with three modes – falling asleep, asleep and waking – helping to stimulate a quick nap to help reinvigorate the driver.

Other interior changes include new colour combinations for the upholstery, fresh trim designs, and an adaptive seat design that automatically adjusts when told of the driver’s height.

Along with the E-Class update, Mercedes has also shown off the new E53 AMG, which brings a number of AMG-specific design changes including the front and rear aprons, AMG-specific grille, new colours, and fresh 19- and 20-inch AMG alloy wheels.

Like the rest of the E-Class range, MBUX is now offered, which goes with a new AMG Performance steering wheel.

The 320kW/520Nm mild-hybrid inline six-cylinder engine carries over unchanged, driving all four wheels via a nine-speed automatic transmission.

More details on the E-Class range including local pricing and specification will be revealed closer to the model’s arrival in Australia in the final quarter of the year.

In 2019 Mercedes sold 1228 examples of the E-Class, a 19.8 per cent dip over the previous 12 months but still enough to lead the premium large car segment, ahead of the BMW 5 Series (964).