If you feel slightly underwhelmed by Mercedes-Benz’s new-generation EQ-brand battery electric vehicles, have we got something for you.
Meet the all-new E300. It’s a three-box sedan, old-school styles, it has a small-capacity petrol engine and it’s absolutely loaded with cutting-edge equipment - as is tradition for the E-class, which has often served as a technology leader for the Three-Pointed Star.
The new E-class is also magnificent; just wanted to get that out there at the start. Very cool in a classic Mercedes manner, but also deeply impressive in terms of features and functionality.
There’s definitely a taste of EQ in there, though. There’s a hint of the EQ “mask” on the grille surround for example, mild hybrid technology under the bonnet and the E-Class is the first petrol Benz to feature digital screens that stretch right across the dashboard, including an individualised control panel for the front passenger.
In the EQ models it’s called Hyperscreen, with one surface covering the entire trio of displays. It’s slightly different in the E-Class, because there’s still a separate binnacle for the driver’s main instrument panel, but in essence it’s the same thing; here, it’s called Superscreen.
The third-generation Mercedes-Benz user experience (MBUX) in the Superscreen is configured to be as much like a smartphone as possible.
You could own this thing for years and still be discovering new technology. Take it as read the E300 has every piece of active safety equipment you could imagine. But that’s the start.
The third-generation Mercedes-Benz user experience (MBUX) OS in the Superscreen is configured to be as much like a smartphone as possible (including the colouring of the graphics) and features “zero layer” design, meaning everything you need in a particular context should be there on the display without having to investigate sub-menus. MBUX contains Magic Modules that present apps or shortcuts when it thinks they might be required, or after particular prompts.
AI can give a helping hand, but M-B says its role will expand in the future with over-the-air (OTA) updates.
There’s wireless phone projection for Android and Apple, although you might not use it because the live services and augmented reality navigation in Merc’s own OS are very appealing. Apple users can also employ their phone or watch as a digital key.
MBUX has always been set up to learn owners' habits, but you can also manually set routines; for example, activating seat heaters when the temperature falls below a specified level. AI can give a helping hand with that already, but M-B says its role will expand in the future with over-the-air (OTA) updates.
The intelligent voice assistant has become a bit more... intelligent also. You no longer need to use the "Hey Mercedes" prompt: it's now clever enough to recognise when something is car-relevant and act accordingly. Sounds like a recipe for disaster, but we found it pretty reliable.
You might notice a small camera facing the occupants atop the dashboard; that’s for selfies (yes, really) or more grown-up stuff like Zoom calls, although it’s not currently functional in NZ models. Once M-B works it all out it’ll be activated via an OTA update.
The Plus Package ($9400) adds the likes of Airmatic suspension, rear-axle steering and power door closing. Worth it.
The 730W Burmester sound system is worthy of mention, offering multiple sound profiles including 4D surround that can thump you in the seatback if you’re in the mood (trust us, you won’t always be, it’s quite intrusive).
Your chosen options have quite an impact on the character of the car. Our $134,100 E300 was fitted with the Energising Plus Package ($5200) which adds multicontour front seats, Air-Balance, Seat Heating Plus with Warmth Comfort (heated armrests!) and heated rear seats.
It also had the Plus Package ($9400), with Airmatic suspension, rear-axle steering, power door closing, enhanced alarm system, upgraded lights (1m pixels per front lamp) and illuminated grille, MBUX interior assistant (an infrared camera anticipates your next move, like dipping the mirrors when you look at them), and 4-zone climate control.
Tick it all. Even at a total of $148,700, this seems like a lot of cutting-edge luxury car for the moment. You deserve it; more importantly, the car deserves it.
The door handles are flush, EV-style, and present as you walk towards the car with the keys. They’re the one aspect that’s sometimes less than elegant; they move with a clunk and on occasion we had to grapple ever-so-slightly with the handle to remind them to unlock.
The part of this car that verges on ubiquitous is the powertrain: the same 190kW/400kW 2.0-litre mild hybrid we’ve tested this year in the likes of the GLC and CLE. It’s modest but muscular down low thanks to an occasional 17kW/200Nm boost from the hybrid system’s integrated starter generator; the 9-speed gearbox doesn’t like being hurried, but with the classic-Benz long throttle travel, if you keep it smooth, the car does too.
So no, not a lot of wow-factor under the bonnet. But smaller engines have often been part of the E-Class’s charm, so this is on brand.
The rest of the car is indeed all-new - and a different platform to the new-generation EQ pure-electric models, despite the E300 being roughly equivalent in size and market position to the EQE sedan.
The four-pot engine has an aural presence that’s hard to ignore under load, but in motorway cruising the E300 is incredibly quiet, thanks partly to a highly aerodynamic shape. It’s really not a car for hammering along at high speed, but the Plus Package’s Airmatic and 4-wheel steering do help make it an astonishingly composed and fluid experience across quick backroads.
And of course rear-axle steering makes the E300 downright nimble in the city: the rears turn in the opposite direction to the front at up to 4.5deg below 60km/h. Above that they go in the same direction for smoother high-speed steering (up to 2.5deg).
Yes, we have seen a lot of this technology in the S-Class and other Mercedes-Benz models already. But the E-Class takes it all forward another step in a more advanced package… as it so often does.
What are the key statistics for the Mercedes-Benz E300?
This large luxury sedan is powered by Mercedes-Benz’s familiar 2.0-litre mild hybrid engine, making 190kW/400Nm. It drives the rear wheels through a 9-speed automatic gearbox.
Is the Mercedes-Benz E300 efficient?
For such a sizeable machine, yes. The official 8.0l/100km looks good when you consider it has fairly strong performance too, with 0-100km/h in 6.3 seconds.
Is the Mercedes-Benz E300 good to drive?
Lots of chassis technology means the E300 is very versatile depending on how you want to set it up - at least with our car’s option pack that brings adaptive air suspension and rear-axle steering.
Is the Mercedes-Benz E300 practical?
It’s a truly spacious sedan that also boasts a large boot. The longer wheelbase gives rear-seat passengers an extra 10mm of kneeroom and 17mm more legroom. Rear-seat elbow width has increased 25mm, to almost S-Class level.
A sedan is not as versatile as an SUV of course, but the new E-Class offers 540 litres of secure cargo space and the rear seats can be folded down from the boot via electronic latches.
What do we like about the Mercedes-Benz E300?
It looks effortlessly cool and is a showcase for the latest in M-B technology. It’s confidence-inspiring to drive, especially with our car’s steering and suspension options.
What don’t we like about the Mercedes-Benz E300?
The gruff 4-cylinder engine might not be to all luxury-buyer tastes and it’s easy to catch the transmission out if you’re not smooth with the throttle. The slide-out doorhandles can be clunky and a couple of times during our week the wireless phone project failed to boot up.
What kind of person would the Mercedes-Benz E300 suit?
Somebody who appreciates traditional M-B style and values, but also wants the very latest in the brand’s engineering and technology.