SA Road Tests

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This is the home of automobile road tests in South Africa. I drive South African cars, SUVs and LCVs under real-world South African conditions. Most, but not all, the vehicles driven are world cars as well, so what you read here possibly applies to the models you get where you live.

My most recent drive is on the home page. Archived reviews and opinion pieces are in the active menu down the left side. Hover your cursor over a heading or manufacturer's name and follow the drop-down.


E is for Enigma: The 2016 Mercedes-Benz E 200

Want to need it

Posted: 16 September 2016

The numbers
Base price: R709 608
Engine: 1991 cc, DOHC, 16-valve, inline four, turbopetrol
Power: 135 kW at 5500 rpm
Torque: 300 Nm between 1200 and 4000 rpm
Zero to 100 km/h: 7.6 seconds
Maximum speed: 240 km / h
Real life fuel consumption: About 8.8 l / 100 km
Tank: 66 litres
Luggage: 540 litres (seats up)
Warranty and maintenance: 6 years / 100 000 km

Highlights
•    Wide-screen cockpit with high-resolution double display, individually configurable.
•    Steering wheel touch pads for controlling the entire infotainment system using finger swipes
•    New, intelligent graphic design with high-resolution visualisations and animations, together with simplified logic
•    Comprehensive smartphone integration: digital vehicle key, wireless charging, capacitive aerial coupling, support of smartphone based infotainment systems (Apple's CarPlay and Google's Android Auto) 
•    Extended Driving Assistance package with Drive Pilot, Distance Pilot Distronic with extended restart function in stop-and-go traffic, Active emergency stop assist, Active brake assist with cross-traffic function, Evasive steering assist, Active lane keeping assist, Active blind spot assist and Pre-Safe Plus
•    New Parking Pilot functions
•    Improved Pre-Safe protection concept with new Pre-Safe triggering scenarios
•    Pre-Safe Impulse side in driving assistance package Plus

Mercedes-Benz’s new E-Class boasts the latest autonomous driving technology, making it capable of piloting itself (within reason) at speeds up to 210 km/h. The system uses a complex array of motion- and radar sensors and cameras to scan the road ahead, but requires the driver's hands to be on the wheel at all times.

For example Impulse Side, a function in the optional Driving Assistance Plus package, detects imminent sideswipes. It then puffs up the seat airbag on the danger side to nudge its occupant a few inches further from the door, so keeping them away from the worst of the impact.

Want more? Should the car detect that its driver is no longer actively engaged in the process, it will, after giving a few warnings, automatically stop itself. And if you can wait until 2017 (production begins this October), you will be able to order an E-Class that, controlled by a smartphone app, will go away to park itself, turn its engine off and lock its doors. When summoned it will restart, exit the parking bay and come back to you. Remember how we shook our heads disbelievingly at KITT, the wondrous black supercar, 30 years ago?

Although yesterday’s science fiction may well be today’s reality, is this still a luxury car designed and equipped to satisfy the wants and needs of its supposed target market? We mean median-age 45, and well-heeled, discerning business people. Or has it become a boxful of cool gadgets aimed at 15-year-old boys?  We wonder whether Mercedes-Benz and other carmakers aren’t perhaps losing the plot.

Moving on: The local sedan range consists of five models; a petrol-engined E200, 220d and 350d diesels and, since August, petrol driven E250 and E400 4Matic. All are fitted as standard with M-B’s nine-speed G-Tronic automatic gearbox.

Our test unit was an E 200, so its standard equipment included a reversing camera, park pilot (normal self-parking), parktronic (proximity alarm), collision prevention assistance, pre-safe belt tightening and brake loading, tyre pressure monitoring and dynamic select (driving modes). Other features were a through-loading split in the rear seatback, dual-zone climate control, halogen lights with LED daytime running lamps, underbody protection, adaptive brake lights and lumbar support on the front seats.

Options include, as usual, appearance kits, different wheels, satnav (two levels), upgraded entertainment centres, sunroofs, steel suspension upgrades, air suspension, special headlamps and an assortment of sophisticated safety systems and powered gadgets.

The car raised a few questions: It is beautifully built and appointed, and performance is lively, but one expects that of an E-Class. Be careful which options you choose however. Our example had an optional AMG body styling kit that includes AMG wheels with low profile, 19” tyres and different widths front and rear. The resulting ride was harsher than one expects of a luxury car. The standard 17-inch wheels with 55-profile tyres would probably suit it better.

A further concern was that, although equipped with Dynamic Select that offers choice between Eco, Comfort, Sport, SportPlus and Individual modes, the manual override button has been deleted. The result is that, when trying to drive dynamically, you’re thwarted because you can’t hold lower gears as long as you choose to. After selecting a gear, using the paddles, the transmission overrides your choice about 20 seconds later and up-shifts to whatever it decides – usually right in the middle of a corner. It’s unsettling and begs the question; if this is purely a luxury cruising car without manual override on the gearbox, why bother with the sporty settings at all?

Practicalities: The new car is 43 millimetres longer than the old one, on a wheelbase extended by 65 mm. Tracks, front and rear, were made slightly wider to enhance handling but the overall benefit is more comfort and people space. The boot remains as was. Its loading lip is 65 centimetres above ground level and the sill is 14 cm deep, so loading and unloading shouldn’t be a chore.

The cavity is long, wide and fairly shallow. It’s fitted with four lashing rings, a pull-down bag hook and a light. There is no spare but a well, not quite big enough to accommodate a wheel, remains. The release levers for the 40:20:40-split seatbacks are in the boot, with no secondary tabs or straps inside. Automatic opening and closing of the boot lid is available at R4000.

Space in the back seat is generous as far as head- and knee room goes, but feet won’t fit under the front chair if it has been lowered all the way. Temperature and airflow can be regulated via a remote set of air conditioning controls. While we were happy to note the usual fold-down oddments tray and pair of cup holders in the armrest, these turned out to be a R2200 option this year. Again we ask: Why fill the car with toys for teenagers but make expected items optional?

As good as the E-Class may be, its makers seem to have forgotten to whom they are selling it. The result is that “we want to need it,” but can’t quite get there. And that’s unfortunate.

Test car from MBSA press fleet



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What We Do

This is a one-man show, which means that every car reviewed is given my personal evaluation and receives my own seat of the pants judgement - no second hand input here.
Every test car goes through real world driving; on city streets littered with potholes, speed bumps and rumble strips, on freeways and if its profile demands, dirt roads as well.

I do my best to include relevant information like real life fuel economy or a close mathematical calculation, boot size or luggage space, whether the space is both usable and accessible, whether life-sized people can use the back seat (where that applies), basic specs of the vehicle and performance figures if they are published. In the case of clearly identified launch reports, fuel figures are of necessity the laboratory numbers provided with the release material. If I ever place an article that doesn't cover most things, it's probably because I have dealt with that vehicle at least once already, so you will be able to find what you want in another report under the same manufacturer's heading in the menu on the left.

Hope you like what you see, because there are no commercial interests at work here. As quite a few readers have found, I answer every serious enquiry from my home email address, with my phone numbers attached, so you can see I do actually exist.

Comments?
Want to ask a question, comment or just tell me you completely disagree with what I say? If you want advice or have a genuine concern, I will be happy to hear from you. All I ask is that you write something in the subject line so I know which vehicle you're talking about.

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