By BARRY LAKE
25 September 2006

Biggest selling model in the extensive Mercedes-Benz range, the E-Class luxury family sedan and wagon, has had a complete makeover and is poised to continue this role for the next few years.

Although the E-Class designation has existed only since 1993, it followed on from a lineage of the mainstream Mercedes-Benz model that goes right back to 1953 when the all-new, post-war 180 model was introduced.

Worldwide, the just superseded E-Class has sold more than one million units in the past four years. Since 1976, almost 50,000 examples of the E-Class and its predecessors have been sold in Australia.

While the car isn’t all-new, both the sedan and wagon versions have been restyled and a total of around 2000 components are either completely new, or are ongoing developments of the existing parts.

Of the six engine variations available for the E-Class, there is an all-new V8 and two of the others are extensively redesigned. Their various power outputs range from 135kW for the 2.0 litre, four-cylinder kompressor engine of the base car, up to 378kW for the high performance 6.2 litre V8 AMG version.

Between these extremes is a full range, including the mainstream V6 powerplants.

Major claim for the 2.0 litre kompressor (supercharged) engine is that it has greater power and torque than before, but without any increase in fuel consumption.

This E200 entry level car has a five-speed automatic transmission; cars in the rest of the range have the fuel-efficient seven-speed automatic.

Frontal styling is more aggressive now, with V-shaped grille and front bumper bar and headlamp glass has been restyled with horizontal louvres to give the cars a wider appearance.

In addition to further, mostly subtle, styling changes to exterior rear view mirrors, tail lamps - and side skirts on the Avantgarde models, the interior of the car includes new colour schemes. The four-spoke steering wheel design from the upmarket CLS model is now standard across the E-Class range.

Safety has long been a selling feature of Mercedes-Benz and the new E-Class continues the trend of supplying more with each new model.

Pre-Safe is now standard across the range. This system can detect an imminent collision, at which time it can activate protection measures such as the seat belt tensioners and airbags. Pre-Safe was introduced on the very expensive S-Class in 2002 and in just four years from then already has filtered down to the company’s mainstream model.

As well as all of the usual airbags, the E-Class also has Neck-Pro head restraints, which move forward in a collision to protect the heads of the drive rand front seat passenger. These are claimed by the company to be unique.

In addition to airbags, intelligent seat belts and active head restraints, the new E-Class meets the world’s most stringent international crash standards on the bodies’ ability to cope with impacts in collisions, including the US 80 km/h rear impact test.

Another feature that improves active safety as well as adding to driving enjoyment is the Direct Control package, which is standard across the entire range. This includes a 10 per cent increase in the speed of the steering ratio and suspension modifications to improve handling safety and stability.

A pleasing improvement is the elimination of undesirable "rack rattle" from the rack and pinion steering system in bumpy corners.

Of course there is the usual string of electronic safety features such as ABS brakes, stability control and even the adaptive brake system that also has filtered down from the ultra-luxury S-Class model.

Prices start at $84,500 for the E200K Classic, up to $227,600 for the staggeringly quick, yet sure-footed and also impressively docile when required E63 AMG high performance version. Estate (wagon) versions start at $105,500 and stretch up to $223,600 for the E63 AMG version.

All of the wagons are seven-seaters.