Mercedes-Benz E200 CGI : ENTRY-LEVEL ANIMATION

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Can the E-Class still produce the goods with 1.8-litre petrol power? Steve Walker takes a look.

Motorists who stretched their new car budget to breaking point so they could just squeak into an executive saloon used to take a serious risk. There were some pretty uninspiring engines fitted to basic models in this sector just to produce an attractive entry-level price. Nobody wants an executive model that can't drive its way out of a wet paper bag, no matter how affordable it is and attitudes are no different on the used market where residual values of underpowered prestige models routinely take a pummelling. Mercedes wasn't about to make this mistake with its latest E-Class and aimed to combine economy and affordability with reasonable performance in the E200 CGI petrol variant.

There are no prizes for pinpointing the cars which the Mercedes E-Class would count as its main rivals. The BMW 5-Series and Audi A6 are longstanding enemies of Stuttgart's finest and we also need to count Jaguar alongside them these days, such is the competence of its XF. The E200 CGI model competes at the lower end of the executive car sector with a sub £30,000 price point. There's no XF in direct competition with this model but BMW and Audi both have four-cylinder petrol-engined cars that bear direct comparison. Running costs are crucial with so many buyers at this level spending their company car allowance or acting on behalf of a company fleet and this is where the E200 CGI looks to get ahead. The engine in the E200 CGI is actually a 1.8-litre turbocharged one that uses Mercedes' electronically controlled direct injection system. With 184bhp, it looks adequately powerful but Mercedes only offers it with a five-speed automatic gearbox. This would indicate that it sees the engine as catering more for those wanting a relaxing time at the wheel than for the enthusiastic driver. Performance is still far from sluggish with an 8.4s 0-60mph time and a top speed of 143mph. The trump card though, is the refinement. The E200's cabin stays hushed through the full range of driving conditions.

"The Mercedes E200 CGI works very well with its 1.8-litre engine, refinement and ride comfort being particularly noteworthy"

The E-Class sets the standard for ride quality in the executive class. Other manufacturers tend to prefer a firmer suspension set-up to give a sporty feel but the Merc has the edge when it comes to devouring long journeys. The E200 CGI is available in the Sport and Avantgarde trims which lower the suspension by 15mm and firm up the adaptive shock absorbers but even here, the ride is pretty cushy. Mercedes was never the manufacturer most likely to push the stylistic boat out and come up with a brave new design direction. Instead the E-Class is typically reserved, displaying many of the handsome squared-off elements seen on its smaller C-Class cousin. Inside, the S-Class luxury saloon is the inspiration with quality materials and switchgear in evidence. The amount of technology shoehorned into the E-Class really is remarkable and the most eye-opening features are aimed at improving the car's safety credentials. Mercedes likens the systems to an `intelligent partner' who can detect and react to danger, which sounds like an automated back seat driver chiming in every time they think you're going to fast or too close to the car in front. The reality is that the systems are designed to be as unobtrusive as possible until stronger intervention is absolutely necessary. Adaptive High Beam Assist uses a camera on the windscreen to detect approaching vehicles when you're driving at night to modify the headlamps and give an optimum field of vision at all times. Lane Keeping assist vibrates the steering wheel when it senses that the car is drifting out of its lane. Blind Spot Assist warns you when there's a car in your blind spot and Attention Assist measures 70 parameters to detect if you're falling asleep at the wheel. Then there's Brake Assist Plus that automatically applies optimum braking pressure to help you stop in time during emergency braking. We're used to paying more for the extra torque and superior economy of a diesel engine but Mercedes breaks with tradition in the E-Class. The E200 CDI diesel is £2,000 cheaper than the E200 CGI petrol and even the impressive E220 CDI undercuts it. The discrepancy can be explained away in part by the petrol car's standard automatic gearbox and the fact of its 184bhp. The E200 CDI only has 136 horses but the E220 CDI is more directly comparable with 170bhp and 130Nm more torque than the petrol car - plus it's available as an auto too. Many buyers then, will be sorely tempted by that more powerful diesel model. The basic SE trim level gats you 16" alloy wheels, a leather multi-function steering wheel, an eight speaker stereo with Bluetooth compatibility, a large central display screen to marshal the car's various functions and the Advanced Parking Guidance system. Aside from that there's the Sport with its styling accessories and the more luxurious Avantgarde. Like most of the affordable E-Class models, Mercedes badges the E200 CGI BlueEFFICIENCY in reference to the modifications it has made aimed at improving fuel economy. The car features a stop-start system that kills the engine when it's stationary, then automatically restarts when you pull away. There are also aerodynamic tweaks and various complex systems within the engine itself. It's tempting to expect miracles on reading what's been done but even Mercedes can't get more than 37.7mpg and 177g/km out of a 1,600kg car with an automatic gearbox. A major issue for the E200 CGI is that the E220 CDI diesel gets 53mpg as a manual or nearly 49mpg with the automatic. The default message was once to avoid entry-level executive cars - the old big car, small engine formula rarely adding up to a barrel of laughs. That's changed markedly in the modern marketplace with the latest engine technology giving smaller units the ability to cope. The Mercedes E200 CGI works very well with its 1.8-litre engine, refinement and ride comfort being particularly noteworthy. Despite the presence of a stop-start system and advanced aerodynamics, economy isn't outstanding, partly because of the standard automatic gearbox. The E200 CGI is a very adept car but by most measures, the E220 CDI is a better one that's available for similar money.

Facts At A Glance
CAR: Mercedes E200 CGI
PRICES: £28,238-£32,233 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 14 [est]
CO2 EMISSIONS: 171g/km
PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 8.4s/ Max Speed 143mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 27.7mpg / (extra urban) 47.1mpg / (combined) 37.7mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Nine airbags, ABS, ESP, Brake Assist, PRE-SAFE.
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height (saloon), 4868/1854/1470mm