Mercedes-Benz E-Class

New-generation executive saloon aims to bridge the gap between old and new

Price £68,785 Power 194bhp Torque 325lb ft 0-60mph 7.2sec 30-70mph in fourth 7.7sec Fuel economy 45.5mpg CO₂ emissions 131g/km 70-Omph 56.2m

Quite a few all-new cars from all-new car makers enjoyed road test scrutiny last year, so let's start the new year with something very much the opposite.

No, not a classic car (we refer you to Classic & Sports Car for that) but the new 'W214' E-Class, which is one of the oldest model lines from one of the oldest car manufacturers. By Mercedes-Benz's own count, it is the 10th generation of a largely unbroken lineage going back to 1947.

Despite being very keen to refer to its heritage (and why wouldn't it be?), Mercedes isn't a particularly nostalgic company. It has come up with radical designs, such as the original A-Class and Smart City Coupé, while its electric cars are really exploiting the aerodynamics and design possibilities that an EV offers.

Unlike BMW with the 5 Series and i5, Mercedes is choosing to keep the electric EQE and combustionengined E-Class apart. According to the literature, the new E-Class needs to balance tradition with modernity and build a bridge' between traditional exec saloons and the tech-filled EVs of the future.

Plenty of buyers are not ready for their car to be a smartphone on wheels, so that mission could well strike a chord. To find out whether the E-Class might succeed, we have one with all the toys but probably the most traditional powertrain available: a 2.0-litre diesel engine.

DESIGN AND ENGINEERING