Introduction

Indians love flaunting their cars. From a basic hatchback owner to someone who bought a luxury sedan, we just love to flaunt them. The points are higher when you own one of the premium brands like Mercedes-Benz for which the valet at the five-star restaurant will hold his smile longer. Mercedes’ first car in India was the E-Class and over the years the car has maintained its aura of being an executive luxury sedan and the upgrade in the right direction for C-Class owners. The updated E-Class was launched in mid-2013 with only two regular variants E250 CDI and the E200 CGI and then there was the sinister AMG-spec E63. The E350 CDI was missed for more than a year and now the 3.0-litre V6 variant is finally here.

The pre-facelift E350 CDI was imported as a CBU, but now the company has started assembling it locally. The E350 CDI gets a 3.0-litre V6 motor producing 261bhp and 620Nm of torque; on paper, these figures are the second best in class after the Jaguar XF, so how does this new powerful oil burner change the E-Class? We drove it on the crowded streets of Mumbai, took it for a quick dash on a fast highway and ended our drive with a hill climb to find out if the new variant is really worth the extra cash over the E250 CDI.

Exterior and Interior

The E-Class seems to have shed the typical German understated styling with its sharp features and styling elements that make it look longer than it actually is, from the side profile. All of its 4.8 metre length is evident with large overhangs at the front and rear. The large grille takes centre-stage at the front flanked by the beautiful headlamps. It is good to look at from any angle, be it the sharp lines that define its silhouette, the smart frontal styling or the discreet yet attractive rear (the striking LED tail lamps are a big attraction). I like the overall styling of the car, but if I had to pick up one particular angle that it looks best from – it is a tough choice between the front and the rear tilting towards the front.

However, if you are expecting it to look different from the standard E250 you have all the rights to be disappointed. The car has nothing much to differentiate it from the regular four-cylinder variants save for the multi-spoke alloy wheels and the badge. The twin tail pipes at the rear which are present in the E250 CDI as well seem more suited here. While the alloy wheels look classy we expected a sportier design instead.

The cabin of the E350 CDI is similar in layout to the E250 CDI apart from a few additions. There is a new trim line - high gloss black ash wood. The interior is well-appointed and all details like the silver chrome frame, ambient lighting beneath the dashboard trim and the four door trim strips lend a special feel inside. The seats are really supportive and comfortable, the rear gets a separate climate control AC and the rear seats are one of the best in its segment.

A few additions to the feature list include a 360 degree parking camera, a larger 17.8cm high resolution colour display screen in the centre. These additions apart, the Harman Kardon speakers offer good sound quality and the Bluetooth telephony works seamlessly. A few features like heads-up display and digital driver info-graphics found in the BMW/Jaguar are missing. The steering feels good to hold and all the dials fall easily to hand, however the array of buttons on the centre are not to my liking.

Engine and Gearbox

This variant is all about a big engine with dollops of torque in total of 620Nm and 261.5bhp of maximum power. The engine is one of the most refined big capacity diesel motors available on sale in India, it is near-silent and makes its presence felt only when the revs climb. Mercedes claims a 0-100 acceleration time of 6.6 seconds. An educated guess, will be that in right driving conditions the car won’t veer too far from that number. The engine just wakes up to life when you stomp the accelerator pedal and you can feel all that torque flowing through the differential to the rear wheels.

Part throttle responses are crisp and out on the highway there is no scope of complaining and the engine is very tractable even at city speeds. Overtaking is effortless and slow moving traffic soon becomes a spec in the rear-view mirror. The car gains speed very quickly and also masks it well. The Michelin tyres are noisy at speeds above 120kmph making high speed cruising on the highway a noisy affair.

There are three modes on this car - Economy, Sport and Manual, in economy mode the car shifts gears as quickly as possible to extract the best fuel-economy. In Sport mode the car feels like it has been transformed and one can feel the g-forces build up, it revs higher and lets you use most of the engine’s power. In manual mode it’s up to the driver to decide the shift points, however shifts aren’t quick in this mode and it won’t let you hold the revs if you are close to the redline.

The transmission duties are done by a 7G-TRONIC plus seven-speed gearbox that utilises the power of this engine really well. It always has the optimum ratio for the mode that you are driving in and operates smoothly and is nearly jerk-free. On a few occasions, coming downhill, the transmission did jerk a couple of times shifting down but that can be forgiven as it is not a sporty gearbox with a rev-match downshift function.

With a V6 engine, the 350CDI won’t be as frugal as the four-cylinder diesel variant, but expect it to return at least 13kmpl on the highways and 8-9kmpl in the city. An overall figure of 11kmpl is achievable and that I think is a very respectable number for the kind of performance it has to offer .

The engine really impresses, it is quick on its heels when you demand it and will hit an electronically limited top speed of 250kmph. It is brilliant and has given the firepower to the E-Class in the performance department; it doesn’t sound as good at high revs, but that apart it deserves full marks.

Ride and Handling

Despite riding on low profile 17-inch rims, the ride is supple and it makes mincemeat of broken roads. It has good high speed manners and its composure at those speeds is commendable. The car is comfortable going through potholes, climbing speed humps and it is a task to unsettle its composure. The suspension setup is well balanced, it isn’t too soft and neither does it give a feeling of stiffness. In comparison, the BMW 530d M Sport has a stiff ride and keeps the occupants informed about every minor undulation on the road. There is a small price the buyer will pay for the car’s good ride, it is not as good as the 5 Series around the bends, but then it is not too far behind it either.

If you are expecting it to dance to your tune then it is not a great handler, but then neither are any of its competitors equipped with six-cylinder engines. These are diesel executive sedans meant to transport their owners from point A to B in utmost comfort, despite being fast.

It is not easy to go tail-sliding in this car with the electronic watchdogs guarding those tyres for loss of traction even with the ESP off. However, if you position the car right and work on the gas pedal modulation with ESP off, you will have a few smiles - a little until ESP kicks in and ruins the fun.

In short, the E-Class rides like how an executive sedan should, it keeps its occupants comfortable driving through broken roads and assures the driver with its good high speed manners and decent handling.

Verdict

The E350 CDI is a fast executive luxury diesel sedan that will do everything that the E250 CDI will do, but with style. It competes with the 530d M and the A6 3.0 TDI Quattro and the Jaguar XF S diesel in our market. It is the second powerful after the Jaguar in India and at Rs 57.42 lakh it matches its competitors on the pricing front. But, being the first luxury car entrant in the market, Mercedes has the highest number of dealers and service outlets that gives it an edge over its competitors. Apart from its six-cylinder peers it also has competition from the E250 CDI that is cheaper by Rs 8.95 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).

Let’s face it, the additional cost is for that large V6 engine and the higher performance this variant offers over the E250 CDI and this is the only major difference between the two. There are those different alloy-wheels, and a few additions to the feature list for the taking, but this variant is for people who want performance.

If you have decided on buying an E-Class but don’t know whether to go for the V6 and gain more flaunting rights or choose the E250 CDI in similar trim and save money Then, the choice is simpler than you thought. If performance is not high on your agenda then the E250 CDI is the one for you. But, if you want performance and comfort in the right balance then the E350 CDI makes a strong case for itself. For a combination of superb performance and diesel efficiency, you have a brilliant option in the BMW 530d M. The Mercedes may not be as much fun, but it will offer you a better balance in terms of looks, comfort, performance and appeal.