The latest executive saloon variant of the 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class has been named by critics over at Auto Express as the executive car of the year, citing the vehicle for its imperious quality and refinement, reports The Week of UK.
Apart from being the plushiest and the priciest entry in the market from the German luxury carmaker, the 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class is a comfortable and luxury-tinted option to the driver-focused luxury cars from BMW and Audi.
More than its great and stylish design, the 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class executive saloon also features an interior that is packed with technology and a slippery shape mimicking the S-Class and the C-Class.
The vehicle comes with diesel, petrol, and plug-in hybrid powertrain options. In addition to a saloon or estate variants, there shall also be the coupe and cabriolet models arriving in the showrooms soon.
The design of the E-Class is heavily inspired by Mercedes-Benz’s flagship executive car, the S-Class saloon, and even the smaller C-Class, which also boasts of similar touches.
The E-Class is the final piece in the jigsaw, making for a saloon range with Russian doll-like qualities in a bid to promote a premium image right across the forecourt.
The fluid shape is best seen in the curved shoulder line running down the top of the doors, feeding into a curvy rear end and downward roofline. At the front is the trademark large grille and Mercedes badge.
The feel of the luxury S-Class
The cabin of the 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class saloon also feels like the luxury S-Class, the company’s flagship saloon, because it has the same four centrally mounted vents and infotainment screen arrangement highlighted by a wide center console pouring out from underneath the dashboard with plenty of controls.
The German carmaker also used plenty of high-quality gloss plastics, leather upholstery and aluminum trim for the interior. The wheelbase is 65 mm longer than the previous E-Class, allowing for more passenger space inside.
There are plenty of customization options, from a plethora of display set-ups to trim inlay choices and seat colors, as well as different interiors.
As a brand that is high on technology, the Drive Pilot feature is the E-Class’s headline act when it comes to technology, which would cost the buyer a £1,696 (about US$2,082) optional extra that introduces autonomous driving features.
On highways, the car will practically take over. It can accelerate, brake and steer, keep in the lane, and maintain a safe distance from the car in front, all at speeds of up to 125 mph. To change lanes, all the driver needs do is put the indicator on and Drive Pilot will work out when it is safe to move.
A very safe car
The new 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class promises to be a very safe car too. It features nine airbags, as well as automatic emergency-braking features, and tyre-pressure monitors. Blind spot assist and lane-departure warning features also make the cut.
Equipping the Driving Assistance Plus package introduces a handful of other safety-related additions. Building on the automatic emergency braking feature is Active Brake Assist and Evasive Steering Assist, which work in tandem to detect potential hazards and prevent collisions.
The system can warn the driver of an upcoming hazard and step in if necessary, particularly the steering assist function detects an evasive action and rapidly applies extra steering lock.
If a collision is inevitable, the car’s bolsters rapidly inflate to move occupants as far away from a side impact as possible, while some crashes will see the speakers rapidly blare ‘pink noise’ ahead of the impact, preparing the occupants’ ears for the loud noise to come.
Incidentally, there is the 2017 Mercedez-Benz E400 wagon variant that is considered the middle ground in the E-Class, notes the Autoblog.
While it first hit the retail markets in Europe, the E400 wagon will be coming to the United States, and in only one trim level – the 3.0-liter, twin-turbo V6 backed up with a 9G-Tronic nine-speed automatic and 4Matic all-wheel drive.
The E400’s wheelbase and overall length are slightly greater when compared to the E300, but width and height are down.