2017 Mercedes E-class long-wheelbase review, test drive

What’s it like to drive?

It's a limo, so let’s begin with what it is like to ride in. In ‘Comfort’ mode, it really does ride like it's floating on air. The four pillars of air soak up everything the road throws at them very well and this feels nice. But in Comfort, as you go a bit faster, it also feels ‘floaty’ and boat-like at times, and that sometimes can make passengers feel queasy. Shifting to Sport or Sport+ helps sort this out and what’s great is that the ride does not get harsh either. In fact, so good is the ‘Sport’ mode that I found myself using it as the default mode. A benefit of having a full air suspension is the ability to lift the body and increase the ground clearance. Given the long wheelbase, this is a boon when it comes to our speed breakers. We managed to clear most speed breakers, but one or two big ones did scrape the bottom when we were four people in the car; the lift mechanism takes too long to lift up the car to be effectively used regularly on an obstacle like a speed breaker.  

Also, hugely impressive is the V6 diesel engine – an absolute delight. To begin with, it's so silent you just can’t hear it when you sit in the rear – the refinement and insulation is just staggering. And that feeling is then reinforced when you get behind the wheel. What we really love is that it almost never feels strained, pulling smoothly and cleanly all the way past 4,500rpm. With the nine-speed transmission you can cruise at 100kph, with the engine ticking over at just 1,500rpm. And then, soon after unleashing such a savage burst of acceleration, you forget this is a limo. There's little doubt why Mercedes has chosen to carry this engine onto the new generation, it's brilliant. The engine makes a massive 620Nm of torque from just 1,600rpm, and by 3,400rpm the V6 is wringing out 258hp. Mercedes claims a 0–100kph time of 6.6sec, and that's no surprise because the car actually feels seriously quick.

The handling isn't great in ‘Comfort’. The car feels sloppy and rolls and pitches around every other corner, and the steering feels disconnected and devoid of feel; it's best not to drive in this mode. The default mode that you use should be ‘Sport’. It's not sharp and sporty per say, but drive in this mode and the new E delivers more directional stability and better body control, and this allows you to use the fabulous engine and nine-speed gearbox to better effect. The ‘Sport plus’ mode is nicer still, as the suspension tightens up the car even more.