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Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate

Expert Rating: 4 out of 5

What is it?

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate has been under pressure in recent years as the default choice of those looking for a classy way to transport people and luggage. Large SUVs and suave estate rivals from Audi and BMW provide plenty of competition and the previous generation E-Class wagon's less than perfect reputation for reliability have all played their part in the Merc slipping a few notches. Now, the all-new E-Class Estate is here and determined to put things right. The new Mercedes E-Class saloon has already impressed us greatly with its refinement, economical engines and a welcome return to form for Mercedes build quality. For the Estate, it's more of the same but with a simply huge load bay at the back accessed through an electrically operated tailgate that's standard on all models for the UK. There's also a simplified regime of trim options that mirrors the saloon's, with SE, Avantgarde and Sport models offered. All come with a long list of standard safety gear, including the Mercedes Pre-Safe system that helps brace the car and its occupants if an impending accident is detected.

Is it any good?

Let's start with the load bay, as this is the E-Class Estate's big selling point. When we say big, we mean massive as the boot can carry 695 litres of kit with all five of the seats in use, which should prove to be more than enough for the average family to strike out on holiday without resorting to fuel-sapping roof boxes or trailers. Tipping the 60/40 split and fold rear seats is a doddle too thanks to Merc's Easy-Pack system that places release levers in the pillars just inside of the tailgate. No need to fold headrests or fiddle with seat bases: just pull the lever and let the seats drop down. They don't fold completely flat as in some rivals, but when tipped they leave a huge 1,950 litres of cargo space and if you need more than that you should be considering a van.

Space for passengers is equally generous and the E-Class is one of the few cars in its sector than can truly accommodate five adults in comfort as the centre rear seat offers enough head, leg and shoulder space not to impinge on the other rear seats. Up front, the driver is treated to masses of seat and steering adjustment to create the perfect driving position. The instruments and controls are presented in the same way as in the saloon, so it's much less fussy and easier to find the right button than in the previous E-Class Estate.

Most E-Class Estate buyers in the UK opt for an automatic gearbox and it's really smooth in the E-Class, whether you choose an engine that comes with a five- or seven-speed auto. The smaller 2.1-litre turbodiesel in 170- and 204bhp forms comes with a five-speed auto (or six-speed manual), while the E 350 CDI and its 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel has a seven-speed auto as standard. The 1.8-litre turbocharged petrol comes in 184- and 204bhp forms with manual or auto options. There are also 3.5-litre V6 and 5.5-litre V8 petrol engines that are only offered with seven-speed autos. The smaller petrol engines are not as refined as their larger siblings, but the E 250 CGI petrol offers a good balance between performance, economy and refinement. The diesel engines are an attractive option and the E 250 CDI offers similar performance to the E 350 CDI (35.3mpg combined economy versus 32.1mpg respectively) and usefully lower carbon dioxide emissions (185g/km versus 206g/km).

As with the E-Class saloon, the Estate provides wonderfully composed ride comfort and makes light-footed work of bumpy roads. The Estate also deals with corners in an impressive way, offering more grip, poise and balance than you'd think possible for such a large load hauler. On the motorway, the engines are quiet and the E-Class Estate is the ideal way to travel long distances without any great effort or strain on the driver, passengers or cargo.

Should I call the bank manager?

The latest E-Class Estate is Mercedes' best wagon in years and makes a strong case for itself simply as a great way of transporting yourself, the family and luggage in superb comfort. With Mercedes raft of new safety technology, much of which is fitted as standard and includes nine airbags and Merc's Pre-Safe system, it's a serious contender for anyone's cash. The best bit, though, is Mercedes has upped the equipment count considerably over the previous model. It now comes with an electrically worked tailgate, self-levelling rear air suspension, parking guidance, heated front seats and climate control for all models. The Avantgarde adds larger alloy wheels, leather upholstery and LED daytime running lights, while Sport versions gain AMG 18-inch alloy wheels and body styling, Sports suspension and recalibrated steering for more feel.

Summary

Big is the best word to describe the new E-Class Estate. It's big on load space and passenger comfort, big on refinement and big on standard equipment. Mercedes also says prices have dropped compared to the old model - when you take into account the higher levels of standard equipment - so the Estate is also big on value. Just as importantly, it's now also big on quality, putting Mercedes back where it belongs. For all of this, we reckon it will be a big seller in its class.

Alisdair Suttie