The stalwart of Mercedes-Benz is back, and it seems determined to reinvent itself – wearing a sleek new suit and armed to the teeth with cutting-edge tech.

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Photos: Muhammad Mu’tasim

SINGAPORE

Figuring out the target demographic for the 2024 Mercedes-Benz E-Class was good mental exercise for me when it was first unveiled here last January.

Is it here to break the mould and seek a younger, more digitally-adept customer base? Or does it want to continue satisfying a proven, older crowd – playing it safe, in the process?

After spending some time with the E200 Exclusive, I finally understood who it was aiming for.

Summing it up concisely, it’s for the millennial towkay (or perhaps the young at heart, ha) who wants the latest bells and whistles, but still desires the security and prestige of an esteemed luxury marque.

Allow me to explain.

More than just a nip-and-tuck

The new E-Klasse does not completely abandon traditional Benz elements that have made it such a success for the past seven decades, but it’s definitely taken a leaf from its ultra-modern EQE sibling to keep up with the Joneses.

What you get is a neatly packaged amalgamation of the brand’s past, present, and future in one car.

From the past are Mercedes-Benz’s iconic hood ornament and a chrome radiator grille with horizontal slats, evoking a sense of occasion and luxury that can still be felt today.

It should be noted, however, that other trims of the E200 (Avantgarde and AMG Line) do not bear the ornament, and wear more contemporary star-patterned grilles instead.

EQE-inspired design cues extend to the blacked-out grille surrounds and retractable door handles that illuminate when unlocked.

Its classic three-box silhouette now takes on a far more sculpted look, with a tapered side profile and stronger character lines. Squint hard enough and you’ll even see similarities with its current S-Class and CLS brothers.

Also updated is the wheelbase, which has been extended by 20mm over its predecessor.

At the back, its LED taillights now sport Three-Pointed Star motifs, in case you forgot what car you’re driving. It’s a somewhat polarising design choice, and certainly caters to folks looking for a bit of flashiness.

Timeless elegance is the name of the game here, and the E200 Exclusive definitely has that in spades with the new design direction.

Old-school comfort meets new-age technologies

It’s just as modern and luxurious once you step inside. Occupants are cocooned in rich and supple Nappa leather upholstery, while an open-pore maple wood centre console provides a classy visual contrast.

Additionally, the latter provides occupants with a pair of cupholders, two USB Type-C charging ports, and a wireless charging pad.

You effectively sink into the leather seats, which are cosseting and very supportive, regardless of which row you’re sitting on. Much welcomed are the cooling ventilation functions for the front ones, which proved to be extremely effective during the day!

It’s also excellent in the practicality department. Thanks to the aforementioned 20mm-long wheelbase extension, even taller-than-average individuals at the back have plenty of legroom and headroom to play with.

And if you want to keep things decidedly cool and private while seated behind, there are side and rear window blinds that can be pulled up to block out sunlight, while dual blowers keep the temperature down.

Those looking to install child seats will find clearly-marked ISOFIX points on the 40:20:40 split rear seats. The process of bringing in child booster seats is also surprisingly easy, due to the wide door apertures.

The star of the party, however, is the Superscreen. Standard to all Singapore-bound E200 variants, front passengers can enjoy their very own 12.3-inch infotainment touch display on the dashboard.

Just like the 14.4-inch central display, this new screen can be used to select music, open up the navigation system, and even scroll through online websites.

It doesn’t stop there. Folks can indulge in playing Angry Birds on it while on the move, or even Sudoku, although I reckon the latter’s catered towards the most bored – and boring – of passengers (I jest).

While all of this adds to the in-cabin experience, it’s not that much fun wiping away greasy fingerprints and dust particles that inevitably collect on the Superscreen, which can be especially visible under bright sunlight. or when the screens are turned off.

Other noteworthy interior features include a dashboard-mounted camera that points into the cabin. Mercedes-Benz says it’s for driver recognition (storing up to seven profiles) before automatically applying their respective preferred settings. It can also be used for photo-taking or video conferencing via Zoom – the latter of which is currently in the works.

As glitzy as these innovations are, however, they are not crucial to the Benz experience that we all seek, and some may even find them to be frivolous add-ons.

Other areas of improvement Mercedes-Benz can also look into are the air vents, which feel a bit too plasticky and lightweight to the touch, despite their satin metal-look finishes.

Business Class on four wheels

On-road dynamics are exactly what you’d expect from a worthy Benz saloon: comfort-oriented but never hapless if you’re feeling the need for speed.

Under the E200’s bonnet is a 2.0L M 254 turbocharged inline-four engine, producing about 204hp and 320Nm of torque. Fairly conservative numbers for an executive saloon, but also nothing to scoff at. Nought to 100km/h takes just 7.5 seconds, before topping out at 240km/h.

It benefits from a 48-volt mild hybrid system as well, which explains its effortlessness when moving from a standstill.

The E200 has no problem engaging in daring overtaking manoeuvres, although you can clearly hear the engine straining a bit at full throttle. But that’s about as much external noise as you’re ever going to get, thanks to the car’s remarkable sound insulation qualities.

At cruising speeds, the E200 hunkers down quite nicely, with the wheels pointed dead-straight and chassis offering none of the sway or shakiness that plague lesser cars. Its nine-speed auto transmission is buttery smooth as well, changing cogs rapidly without hesitation.

The multi-links do a decent job at absorbing uneven surfaces and mitigating body roll too, although it must be said that they are tuned for comfort. Even with Sport mode on, the car prefers to waft around in a dignified manner.

Still, some fun can be had around the twistier sections of road, and the Nappa leather-wrapped steering wheel feels communicative enough to let you know what the front wheels are doing.

Six airbags come as standard on the E200, but you also get a comprehensive suite of active safety features for total peace of mind. Technologies like Active Brake Assist and Blind Spot Assist are useful to have, especially when road visibility’s poor.

The car can even identify parking slots and automatically reverse itself into them, although seasoned drivers will probably have very little use for this admittedly neat party trick.

Executive Express

Priced at S$388,888 with COE, it’s much more expensive than its counterparts from Munich and Ingolstadt.

But look at it this way: as far as executive saloons go, the E200 definitely sits high at the top of the food chain. It’s prettier than its rivals, and manages to outshine them in the luxury department. All this, while offering a competent and relatively quiet powertrain.

And more importantly, it’s still immediately recognisable as a proper Mercedes-Benz: infusing tomorrow’s technologies without sacrificing the crucial tried-and-tested elements that make a Benz…well, a Benz.

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Mercedes-Benz E200 Exclusive

Drivetrain Type	Petrol-electric engine
Engine	1,999cc, in-line four, turbocharged, mild hybrid
Power	204hp at 5,800rpm
Torque	320Nm at 1,600-4,000rpm
Gearbox	9-speed automatic
0-100km/h	7.5 seconds
Top Speed	240km/h
VES Banding	C1 / +S$15,000
Fuel Efficiency	14.3 km/L
Agent	Cycle & Carriage Mercedes-Benz
Price	S$388,888 with COE
Availability	Now
Verdict:	Comprehensive standard equipment list makes the E200 Exclusive a very competent and luxurious mini S-Class, but it’s extremely pricey.

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