Despite the ‘200’ billing, under the hood sits a 1,796cc in-line four-cylinder turbocharged engine, stepping away from the previous model’s supercharged one. Sure, one might think anything under two litres in a Benz is a waste of time, but the blower makes for 184bhp total (same as before), with impressive torque performance as well.

A healthy 270Nm is generated at a low 1,800rpm, but given the size of the E-Class (it’s a large, executive sedan, after all) the acceleration from 0-100km/h takes a reasonable 8.6 seconds. Like most modern engines the generous midrange allows easy overtaking and preppy take-off.

You can also get fabulous fuel economy out of it – the official figure is 12.7km/l, entirely achievable in real life.

Being the entry-level model, the E 200 lacks pricier features of its brethren, like the E 300, which the 7G-Tronic seven-speed automatic gearbox.

Our test car came with 17-inch wheels (16-inch is standard) riding on the ‘Direct Control’ suspension (see below), which deliver the expected cosseting ride on most surfaces. Strangely though, it sends small bumps straight to the cabin though this drawback will probably be less noticeable on the standard wheels.

The driving experience is top-notch if you’re a typical E-Class buyer where comfort, refinement and ease of use are the main draws. The steering is a little numb and the gearbox can’t compare to a 7G-Tronic, but this isn’t supposed to be a sport sedan anyway.

Bookmark with:		> What are these?
Delicious	Digg	reddit	Facebook