The Mercedes-Benz E300 looks more modern, more edgy, in a good way

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class, particularly the W123 and W124 chassis, helped define a generation of motoring enthusiasts. Back in the day, toward the end of the martial law years and right after, the rich, powerful and influential all rode in Mercedes-Benzes. BMWs struggled with limited parts and servicing, Audi was hardly in the people’s consciousness, and the only thing better than a Benz was a Rolls-Royce, which was close to impossible to acquire.

A Benz back then and even to this day exudes an image of old rich, old money. Benzes were built properly back then by engineers, and not by bean-counters. As further proof, look at the number of old Benzes still being used today as daily driven cars: a whole lot really.

The introduction of the W210 and W211 E-Classes really killed Mercedes-Benz’s reputation (and reliability) when accounting and finance guys, not engineers, or at least car guys started wielding more influence on how a Benz should be built, which heralded a new era: corporate greed, for the lack of a better name.

I remember driving a W210 E55 AMG in light traffic and the electronically powered seats went crazy and the seat started pushing me all the way forward, with the steering wheel moving all the way down and forward as well to squash little old me, a scene straight out of the classic car horror film “Christine” by Stephen King and directed by John Carpenter were the car was a blood-hungry killer. Mercedes-Benz’s JD Powers Survey Ratings fell from the top-spot. Looking back, a lot of first generation technology was introduced in these cars, playing a crucial role to its reliability, or lack thereof. Had Benz kept it simpler back then, it would not have felt like a proper Benz if it were not a technological tour de force, packed with new features, gadgets and the occasional gimmicks.

Fast forward, and Benz has a new E-Class, codenamed W212 body, the ninth generation that started way back in 1953. Introduced in 2009, the W212 isn’t exactly new. But it’s only lately that more and more of these cars have started showing up on our roads.

Behind the wheel, the new E-Class feels better, sharper to drive than its predecessors. The steering feel is still somewhat dull, but more accurate, less woolly. The brake and throttle pedals are firm but somewhat mushy, and require a bit of getting used to if you want both swift and smooth progress. The once cushy ride is now replaced with a firmer one that gives more feel and feedback. No electronic gremlins on this baby so far, but the interior doesn’t feel as special as its key German rivals. The leather interior isn’t as soft and supple, a little of the plastics feel a bit like China-made toys, but otherwise, the simplified dash architecture, with far less knobs and buttons, does make the Benz more luxurious and classy, regaining some of the sparkle it once forgot. The seats are comfortable and supportive enough but the lack of softer leather really isn’t as satisfying to feel against your backside on long hours behind the wheel.

The powertrain of choice is a 3.0-liter V6 engine that produces 231 hp and 300 Newton-Meters of torque, sending power to the rear wheels through Mercedes-Benz’s 7G-Tronic 7-speed automatic transmission. It’s not exactly a proper ’bahn-stormer, but decent for most people, more so if you sit at the back and relegate driving duties to the chauffeur.

Safety of course is impressive, with Mercedes-Benz’s PRE-SAFE technology that rolls up the open windows, primes the brakes to get good brake fluid pressure, closes the moon-roof and straightens out your seats and tightens the seatbelts if it detects an accident about to happen, by sensing increased lateral or braking g-loading, combined with heavy and continuous brake pedal application. ABS-EBD brakes are standard, as well as multiple airbags, with curtain airbags and side-seat airbags for good measure.

The crucial question then: Is it better? I believe so. In the looks department, it looks more modern, more edgy, in a good way. It still has that elegant air about it. If the older Benzes were loose double-breasted suits with gold buttons, the new one is a simpler, yet slim-fitting 4-button suit that looks aggressive. Feels less and less like your old man’s Benz.

Mercedes-Benz has been hard at work driving down fuel consumption and the 7G-Tronic’s many gears means the E-Class has both better acceleration in-city yet still delivering inter-galactic legs for sustained high-speed highway runs, the engine turning over below 3,000 revs with the speedo nudging between 120-125 kph in seventh gear. Floor it, and you’ll be pleasantly surprised that there’s more to be had than the modest 231 hp and 300 NM of torque on paper.

The back seat is roomier than before, but still tight compared to an Audi A6 or a BMW 5-Series, but improved nonetheless.

Sadly, the E300 came with smallish 16-inch wheels. That said, bigger 18- or even 19-inch wheels will help improve looks tremendously, and probably help justify the firm ride better.

The E-Class is definitely worth looking into. But please, get something more fun: the E350 at least, or the E63 if you can afford it. If not, the smaller-engined E250 Blue Efficiency are better options because their turbocharged engines, seemingly unsuited for executive duties, offers surprisingly more punch thanks to turbo-charging. The diesels also look more attractive precisely because they offer more low-end grunt rather than high-end zing. And tick the big alloy wheels option.