MERCEDES-BENZ has bolstered its native E-Class portfolio with the addition of the E350 triplets (sedan, Coupe and Cabriolet) designed to bridge at the least among the sizeable value and energy hole between the established E300 and the tickled-up AMG E53.
Checking in from $127,100 plus on-road prices in sedan kind, the E350 is priced $9200 upstream of the equal E300 ($117,900) however nonetheless $34,400 shy of the E53 ($162,300) – the margins for the opposite physique kinds fluctuate barely however usually hold with the developments set by the sedans.
It’s a comparable story underneath the bonnet and contained in the cabin with the larger asking value returning will increase in each energy and torque in addition to normal tools with the identical turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine discovered underneath the bonnet as the remainder of the non-AMG variants.
In E350 guise although it has been tuned to now produce 220kW/400Nm, up from the 190kW/370Nm produced by the E300 however nonetheless effectively in need of the six-cylinder E53’s 320kW/530Nm figures.
With an additional 10kW/150Nm periodically contributed from the EQ Increase 48-volt built-in electrical motor, the E350 sedan and Coupe will cease the clock from 0-100km/h in 5.9 seconds – 6.1 for the Cabriolet – with drive distributed to all 4 wheels by way of a nine-speed computerized transmission.
Gas financial system for the brand new mid-range choices are pegged at 7.7 litres per 100km on the mixed cycle for the sedan and Coupe whereas the Cabriolet makes use of barely extra at 7.8L/100km.
Being probably the most generously specced of all of the non-AMG E-Courses, the brand new E350 boasts multi-beam LED headlights and Mercedes’ ‘Air Physique Management’ air suspension with adaptive damping as normal, with the entire bundle rolling on 20-inch multi-spoke AMG alloy wheels.
Contained in the cabin, normal tools highlights embrace the MBUX widescreen cockpit with twin 12.3-inch digital shows, voice management, satellite tv for pc navigation, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, wi-fi smartphone charging, leather-based upholstery, heated entrance seats, dual-zone local weather management, Nappa leather-based steering wheel, keyless go and paddle shifters.
Normal security gear in the meantime extends to the ‘Driving Help Package deal Plus’ suite, that includes energetic distance help Distronic, energetic brake help with cross-traffic perform, energetic lane change help, energetic stop-and-go help, energetic blind-spot help, energetic lane retaining help, evasive steering help and route primarily based pace adaptation in addition to surround-view digital camera, site visitors signal help, pre-safe plus and pre-safe impulse aspect accident preparation programs.
Together with introducing the E350, Mercedes has used the New 12 months to usher in some minor and not-so-minor value adjustments throughout the vary, together with an $1800 improve for the entry-level E200 sedan ($98,700) and Coupe ($103,700).
The mid-range E300s have all remained agency of their pricing save for the E300e plug-in hybrid (PHEV) which has gone up $2100 to $123,500.
Within the higher reaches of the vary, the E53s have risen in value by $2400 throughout all three physique sorts to now begin from $162,300 (sedan) whereas the flagship E63 S has gone up $3500 to $253,900.
With no apparent model-year adjustments save for the brand new variant, GoAuto has contacted Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific for touch upon the pricing adjustments.
Persevering with its section dominance on from final yr, the E-Class has had issues all its personal approach to this point in 2021 with 58 gross sales in January in comparison with the 32 5 Sequence’ shifted by BMW and 23 A6s delivered by Audi, incomes the large Benz a 36.3 per cent share of the $70,000-plus giant automotive market.