Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate 220 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY SE 5dr Car Review - February 2012

All E-Class models come with electrically adjustable front seats, which are firm and give excellent support, so you should have no problem finding your ideal driving position. The seats are very comfortable and there’s plenty of space upfront to get comfortable. Passengers in the rear have ample head-room and leg-room too.

On the dash, everything is well laid out and easy to use with one central dial which controls many of the functions. It all has a quality feel to it, as you’d expect from Mercedes. In general the interior feels and appears to be well built using quality materials, but it doesn’t offer the same level of elegance as those found in its rivals from Jaguar and BMW.

The E-Class estate offers a wide range of engine options to suit any needs. This diesel model is the 168bhp CDI which has plenty of power to propel the large estate. The 4 cylinder, 16 valve power unit has plenty of pulling power (295lb-ft of torque) and will take you from 0-62mph in only 8.8 seconds. A top speed of 137 mph – and impressive fuel economy of 54.3mpg - make this diesel option one of the best all-round performers.

The E-Class Estates are big on refinement levels and comfort: there’s hardly any wind or road noise entering the cabin and while the diesel engines can make a bit of noise when first starting up, on the move they’re nicely hushed.

The E-Class looks elegant and refined from every angle. No mistaking its heritage.

All the E-Class estate models are fitted with an electric rear-tailgate and Attention Assist (MB’s system for detecting and warning when a driver is tired) along with stability control, 16-inch alloy wheels, climate control, electric door mirrors, electric front windows, cruise control, rear parking sensors, man-made leather seats, alarm, immobiliser, CD & MP3connectivity and Bluetooth. Metallic paint (£645) and satellite navigation (£785) are also available as options.

The boot is simply massive, boasting 695-litres available with the rear seats in position and an even more impressive 1,950-litre (equal to some small vans) if the seats are folded down. There are load retaining bars and straps fitted too which are a nice touch. You can add an extra pair of rear seats for children as an option – if you need more passenger carrying ability. All models have excellent levels of equipment as standard and self-levelling suspension at the rear which compensates automatically for different loads.

Safety equipment abounds in the E-Class estate; all models come with a minimum of seven airbags, and you can order up to nine if desired. Electronic stability control and intelligent driver tiredness detection system also come as standard. The bonnet is designed to pop-up in case of a frontal collision – to help protect pedestrians.

The E-Class estate has scored well in customer satisfaction surveys related to reliability and Mercedes has worked to continue improving this. The E-Class estate comes with Merc’s 3 year – unlimited mileage warranty.

At £32,050 the E-Class is a bit pricier than some of its rivals – but it’s an enormously practical executive estate that's stylish, comfortable and refined. Performance and economy for its class is good and it incorporates Blue EFFICIENCY technology which was developed by MB to optimize economy and reduce CO2 emissions. The E 220 CDI returns 54.3mpg, and emissions are 136g/km, with the 6-speed manual transmission fitted.

Other running cost such as insurance in group 32 and Road Tax in VED band E are comparable with rivals such as Audi.

Resale values for the E-Class estate are strong and it will be a popular used buy in the future due to its carrying ability and reputation for reliability.