2017 Mercedes-Benz E 220d review

• Published On: 5 June 2017
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This version debuts the company’s new 2.0-litre, four-cylinder diesel engine in India and comes at a significantly lower price point.

At ₹57.14 lakh (ex-showroom, Pune), the E220d, the car you see here, is a whole lot more affordable than the range-topping E-class, the E 350d. This car also sees the debut of Mercedes’ brand new 2.0-litre, four-cylinder diesel engine in India.

This motor will slowly make its way into Mercedes-Benz Cars that currently use the 2.1-litre, four-cylinder diesel motor – basically any car in its India line-up with a 200d, 220d or 250d badge (other than the GLS and S-class).

On the outside
Nothing has been changed on the outside on this Merc, except for the new badge and a set of smart, five-spoke alloy wheels (a different design of the same 17-inch wheels of the E 350d).

It’ still got the same regal, limousine-like look with those signature ‘dual slash’ LED accents in the headlamps. The big, three-pointed star grille and the elegant teardrop-like tail-lamps make this car stand out in a parking lot.

On the inside
The interiors are very slightly different - there’s a lighter shade of wood grain on the dash and the design of the Artico faux-leather upholstery is different. Like the E 350d, this car doesn’t come with adjustable dampers with a ‘lift’ function, the Burmester hi-fi system, memory settings for the front seats and 360-degree parking cameras.

It comes loaded with tech though - there’s automatic, adaptive LED headlamps, push-button start, five driving modes, three-zone auto climate control, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a huge panoramic sunroof and electric sun blinds.

Under the hood
The most important change is the car’s diesel engine - it’s a new modular unit (codename: OM654) with a displacement of 1,950cc across four cylinders, and an all-aluminium construction. The engine weighs a mere 168kg – that’s a full 31kg lighter than the outgoing 2.1-litre motor.

This motor is paired to the company’s 9G-Tronic nine-speed automatic gearbox. The new engine makes 194hp - the outgoing 220d makes 170hp; torque, at 400Nm, remains the same. The ‘250d’ engine, however, puts out 204hp and 500Nm.

From behind the wheel
This engine is extremely refined – the old 2.1-litre engine was clattery, both at idle and higher revs. There’s very little noise at low revs and it only gets audible at around 2,500rpm, where it’s nowhere near as rough sounding as before. It sounds quite sporty now, in fact. The gearbox is superb and ensures you’re always in the meat of the power band. The gearbox ensure power is smooth and silent for the most part – you can feel a slight ‘kick’, understandably, in Sport+ mode though.

This car doesn’t have that strong hit of power that you got with the old car but feels a lot smoother and more linear across its rev band. Its 0-100kph time of 8.81sec is it pretty quick but its about 1.8sec slower than the 350d and about 0.5sec slower than the old E 250d. Drive modes make a difference – Eco is for your chauffeur, Comfort is good for the city and Sport for when you’re in the mood.

The car’s suspension has been altered as well. The outgoing E 350d has an air suspension all round but this car features conventional steel springs. This means you miss out on adjustable damping and the lift function (which raises the car for big bumps). This car is nowhere near as stiff-kneed as the C-class though and it even manages to maintain good body control over a rough patch of road.

The downside is you do lose out on that ultra-soft plushness of the air suspension but the car’s not as floaty over bumps and at high speeds. The rear is set up softer than the front, so you will bounce a bit if you’re sat in the back. But overall, the E 220d offers a good blend of stability and comfort.

The car handles a whole lot better. There’s a lot less roll than in the air-suspension-equipped car. The steering is quite light at city speeds and weights up well when you switch the car up into Sport or Sport+. This unit is quick and accurate too.

Is it worth the money?
The E 220d is priced so well that you might choose not to spend the extra ₹12 lakh extra for the V6-powered diesel car. Sure, you lose some equipment, but there’s still a whole lot on offer in this car, it really doesn’t feel like a ‘lesser’ variant. The new engine is far more refined than the one it replaces and performance is good. Overall, this car looks likely to dominate sales for the E-class range.