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The Mercedes E220 d – winner of our luxury midsize sedan comparison test in 2017 and current segment bestseller – was in no need of an update. It shook-up the segment by offering a longer wheelbase and a pair of sumptuous 37-degree reclining back seats; then combined that with cushy ride quality, a good engine and top-notch interior quality – and it wasn’t even the most expensive…
The Mercedes E220 d – winner of our luxury midsize sedan comparison test in 2017 and current segment bestseller – was in no need of an update. It shook-up the segment by offering a longer wheelbase and a pair of sumptuous 37-degree reclining back seats; then combined that with cushy ride quality, a good engine and top-notch interior quality – and it wasn’t even the most expensive car in the class.
The main reason for the update was to bring it in line with Mercedes E220 d commitment to making all its cars BS6-compliant as soon as possible. So, like the C-class and CLS, it now gets the updated version of the OM654 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine with a diesel particulate filter (DPF), a Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) unit, and an AdBlue dosing tank so it can run to BS6 emission standards even on today’s BS4 fuel. The E 200 petrol has also been updated to BS6, but the 3.0-litre, V6-powered E 350d has been dropped for now (it could return later with the S-class’ BS6-compliant straight-six).
But that’s not all. They’ve used this opportunity to add a new ‘Exclusive’ variant above the ‘Expression’ variant (formerly called Avantgarde). This adds a bit more equipment, which is always welcome. One much-missed item is now on the list – Merc’s brilliant 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster; it’s arguably the best screen in the business and a vast improvement on the old analogue dials, which looked like an afterthought in the E-class.
Other bits include the 590W, 13-speaker Burmester Hi-Fi audio system from the E 350d, soft-close doors all around, wireless charging at the rear and even a touchscreen in the rear armrest that controls everything, from the air-con, to the music, to the sun blinds. One bit of equipment we wish was included was a memory function for the powered front seats; yes, the back seats are the focus of this car – and the back seats do, in fact, have a memory function, but we still feel the driver(s) would find more use for it.
Speaking of the drive, not much has changed with this diesel engine. Mercedes E220 d remains one of the smoother and more refined engines in its class (in fact, it proved slightly quieter compared to the BS-IV version when tested against our equipment) and isn’t rev-happy or racy like the one in the BMW 520d or Jaguar XF. If there is a change, however, it’s that some of that mid-range punch you would get before is now gone.
The results show in the performance figures. At 9.24sec, it’s about 0.4sec slower from 0-100kph this time around, and the gap is similar in kickdown acceleration. The 194hp and 400Nm of torque are still all there; it’s just that they come on a little more gently this time. The dynamics also remain unchanged, with a steering that’s surprisingly quick and sharp, but with a suspension that’s soft and wallowy – great at low speeds but a little bouncy as you go faster in Mercedes E220 d .
this Mercedes E220 d is Rs 4 lakh more expensive than the regular Expression variant (BS-6 engine but none of the added gizmos) and is now the most expensive car in the class. While it is more expensive than a BMW 520d, however, it’s still Rs 1.4 lakh cheaper than the equivalent 620d GT, a car which is arguably a closer rival. Would you pay the premium, though? It may not get you a six-cylinder engine or anything close to driving thrills, but given the back seat is really the focus of such a car – and that’s where the focus has been kept – it still remains the car to beat.