• Published On: 24 July 2018
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The new All-Terrain is a rugged, all-wheel drive estate. So, what’s it like to drive?

The All-Terrain is the rugged all-wheel-drive-equipped, estate version of the E-Class. This car will also be powered by the BS-VI-compliant version of Mercedes’ latest-gen OM654 2.0-litre diesel engine, which we saw for the first time in the E 220 d sedan last year. The revised OM654 can meet BS-VI emission norms even when powered by lower-grade BS-IV fuel.

The section after the B-pillar is what your eyes will dart towards when you first see the car. While the rear overhang is long, the large 19-inch wheels and plastic cladding on the lower section of the bodywork and bumpers helps make the All-Terrain look sleek. Up front, the All-Terrain gets bespoke styling - its bolder, comes with a twin-louvre grille and a different bumper.

If you’ve seen the cabin of a new-gen E-class before, this one will look familiar. The fully digital display offered on Es sold abroad won’t be available on the All-Terrain for India; the speedo and tacho dials are analogue. The cabin is of high quality and almost all of what you touch feels rich. The view outside is decent but not what you’d call commanding; and ingress/egress is similar, too. Seat comfort is excellent and those seated at the back will have nothing to complain about. There’s less rear legroom than in the long-wheelbase sedan, and the seat recline function and soft pillow headrests aren’t available, but those are minor complaints. As an estate, it must come with a massive boot - luggage capacity is 640 litres and adjusting the rear backrests by 10 degrees frees up another 30 litres. Completely folding the 40:20:40-split rear seat backrest takes capacity to 1,820 litres. You also get a large storage bay under the boot floor. Unfortunately, instead of a spare wheel, you get a space saver spare.

As standard, you get air suspension, a panoramic sunroof, ambient lighting, three-zone climate control and an electrically operated tailgate. The air suspension comes with three levels for the ride height. The ride height can be raised by up to 35mm at the touch of a button – but bear in mind that with a maximum ground clearance (laden) of 156mm, this is no SUV. Also, its 2.9m-long wheelbase also means the All-Terrain is not the most manoeuvrable of cars to take through rough stuff. The 4matic all-wheel drive system however did great, the Merc didn’t lose its footing – neither in the rough, nor on the rain-drenched tarmac. You can pick from five drive modes (including an ‘All-Terrain’ mode and ‘Individual’ mode) to alter the driving experience.

The All-Terrain’s 2.0-litre diesel engine makes 194hp and 400Nm, just like it does in the E 220 d sedan. Performance and refinement levels are similar, and the engine is smooth in the way it delivers its power. You’ll be happy with the nine-speed auto gearbox – it shifts as well but it does tend to trip, at times, when you accelerate aggressively. The company claims this car can hit 100kph in 8sec.

Should I buy one?

The All-Terrain is an interesting package – it’s distinct, luxurious, more than pleasant to drive, and offers the practicality of an estate. But, this is no off-roader, but the all-wheel drive helps get you out of tough situations. Trouble is, at an estimated Rs 65 lakh (estimated, ex-showroom), the higher-specced Volvo V90 Cross Country offers a better package at the same price. In the same price bracket, you also could get a full-blown SUV, even one from Mercedes, so as good as this car may be, the All-Terrain is not the first Merc you’d look at if your spending Rs 65 lakh on a car.