Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate 250 CGI BlueEFFICIENCY Sport 5dr Car Review - March 2012

REVIEW
List Price: £38,135
Tax Band: G
Insurance Group: 33
MPG: 41.5
CO2: 163
0-62 Mph: 8.1 secs
BHP: 201 BHP
Range: 539 miles
CarSite Verdict:  4/5
The 250 CGI is a powerful engine and although the petrol engine is efficient, the diesel version is much more economical.

The Sport trim adds the Sport suspension, which is so firm it makes the drive quite uncomfortable. The SE trim is a better option is you don’t need any of the sporty additions, as it adds luxury touches to the cabin, doesn’t come with the firmer suspension and is cheaper.

The estate is a practical car with plenty of room for passengers in the front and back and for the boot too – the only downside is the cabin quality, which doesn’t live up to Mercedes expectations.

PROS:  The engine is refined and powerful and the estate is a practical choice with loads of room in the front and back and plenty of boot space too.

CONS:  The diesel engine is more efficient than the petrol version and the cabin of the E-Class is not as classy as you might expect with a Mercedes.

Behind the Wheel

The E-Class estate engines all vary vastly in performance, but the 250 is powerful and quick.

You can select which chassis setting you want for the E-Class and this affects handling and suspension of the estate. The suspension is absorptive and makes the drive fairly smooth even on rough surfaces.

The engine is 1796cc and uses unleaded petrol with a fuel tank capacity of 59 litres. There is a seven-speed automatic gearbox, which provides smooth acceleration.

The engine is fairly refined, although there is a little wind noise at high speeds, but otherwise the estates are quiet without too much exterior noise penetrating the cabin.

The 250 Blue Efficiency has a 201bhp engine delivering 228lb-ft of torque at 2000-4300rpm and reaches 0-62mph in 8.1 seconds with a top speed of 143mph.

Looks & Equipment

The interior of the E-Class estate is well-designed and high-quality, living up to the reputation of Mercedes-Benz as a stylish manufacturer, although some of the features look a little cheap.

The seat and steering wheel adjust comfortably and the dash is fairly comprehensive, although the controls are quite small and fiddly. The seats are supportive and comfortable and the visibility good.

The 250 Blue Efficiency Sport comes with cloth/man-made leather seats, power steering, cruise control, rear parking sensors, climate control, stability control, alloy wheels, Bluetooth, MP3 connectivity and stereo as standard, with optional extras including metallic paint for £695 and satellite navigation for £785.

The Sport trim also offers firmer suspension, more powerful brakes, intelligent lights and sharper steering.

For fuel economy, the E-Class estate has a start/stop system, which allows for great efficiency and low CO2 emissions.

Practicality, Safety & Reliability

The E-Class estate comes with all the safety equipment you would expect in a high-quality car including driver, passenger and front side airbags, alarm and immobiliser as standard. It also has the stability control, Attention Assist system, which alerts tired drivers, the Pre-Safe anticipatory crash-protection system and a pop-up bonnet to protect pedestrians in the case of a collision.

Mercedes-Benz has a great record in reliability and the E-Class estate should be no different.

The boot is fairly sizable, offering 695 litres with rear seats up and 1950 litres with the seats folded down. The E-Class estate seats five quite comfortably and there is plenty of head and leg room in both the front and the back.

Value for Money

The running costs are modest with the E-Class estate due to the efficient engine stop/start system, although the size of this engine does bump up the economy. The 250 Blue Efficiency model costs £38,155 and has a combined economy of 41.5mpg and CO2 emission rate of 163g/km.

The E-Class estate has good running costs thanks to the efficient engines. The diesel is much more efficient though.

The SE and Sport trim are both well-equipped models and offer good value for money. The luxury SE trim comes with leather upholstery, climate control and heated front seats and the Sport comes with firmer suspension, better steering, intelligent lights and powerful brakes. Each trim will suit a different driver, but the Sport suspension does make the drive a little uncomfortable and SE probably offers the best value for money.

The resale value on the E-Class estate is very good. Mercedes-Benz promise good service and reliability as well. Insurance costs are low, but servicing is expensive.

Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate 250 CGI BlueEFFICIENCY Sport 5dr Car Review - by 
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