Why settle for an E 200 when there's this?

Fast Facts

Verdict:
You might be thinking, why choose the E 250 when I can have the E 200? But the question is, why not?

Updated suspension provides a plush ride, and together with entertainment features, turns this into a sort of mobile lounge

Turbo lag is noticeable and build quality still needs improvement

In this car, you won’t be cursing when traffic lights turn red for you

By Andy Hum

EVER WANTED TO lie back and relax while waiting at the traffic lights? This is the right car for you. During the time I had with it, I kept finding myself wishing that the lights would turn red as I neared, mainly because I wanted to pay more attention to something else.

No, not a damsel nearby. It was actually the car’s 5.8-inch digital display on its dashboard, and America’s Funniest Home Videos was on. And because the image is projected sharply, it wasn’t tiring to watch despite the small screen. In fact, at one junction, I found myself trying to recline the snug leather seat to get even comfier, forgetting that I was in a car and not at home. And then the lights changed.

So, it’s got pretty nifty features that can transform the car into an elegant lounge, at least for as long as you’re holding up traffic. But even on the go, it’s quieter than most lounges, too, thanks mainly to its aerodynamically-efficient design.

During its development, Mercedes engineers tested two cars in an aero-acoustics wind tunnel, one with newly-developed side mirrors and another without any mirrors. The result? Both were equally quiet – a remarkable achievement for its mirrors’ designers. In fact, the E-Class Saloons, with an aerodynamic drag value of just 0.25, are even less wind-resistant than the new Ferrari 458 Italia.

But perhaps thanks to the reduced wind noise, a high-pitched whine from its drivetrain became audible. Still, it wasn’t anything that the radio (or television) couldn’t drown out. Or even its engine, which had a bit of turbo lag, but made up for it by sounding rather charming at higher revs, as if every time the engine passed 4,000rpm, it’d wake up Tom Jones, who was hiding under the bonnet.

There’s a little less to sing about inside, considering, again, its typical crowd’s preferences. The design and quality of the buttons and switches on the centre console could do with tighter tolerances between them, but at least they’re well laid out and in a convenient, sensible manner.

Where it could do with a bit more sense, though, is at the back, where folding rear seats are an option instead of standard equipment.

Still, its design and comfort will make you feel like you’re at home, lounging in your sofa and watching the telly. The main difference being that at home, you don’t have an engine. Nor electrically-adjustable lumbar support for your seats, a hands-free Bluetooth phone system, automatic headlamps or even LED lights on your mirrors, but you do get those in the E 250.

The E 250, then, seems to have found itself a nice, comfortable segment to slide itself into – one where buyers an afford more and wanting something not-so-commonplace.

NEED TO KNOW

Mercedes-Benz E 250 CGI BlueEfficiency (A)

NEED TO KNOW
ENGINE TYPE 1,796cc, 16V, in-line 4
MAX POWER 204bhp at 5,500rpm
MAX TORQUE 310Nm at 2,000-4,300rpm
GEARBOX 5-speed automatic
TOP SPEED 242km/h (electronically limited)
0-100KM/H 7.5 seconds
PRICE $204,888 with COE
WARRANTY 3 years/100,000km
CONTACT Cycle & Carriage
TELEPHONE 6298-1818