So the Olympics has ended. What did you make of it? I’m still trying to figure out what was supposed to be happening at the closing ceremony. Very odd. Perhaps I missed the point of the whole thing. Mind you, the contrast between Paris and Los Angeles (after Tom Cruise had done his usual thing) was startling. As venues go it’s hard to think of a bigger contrast.

My personal highlight was during the opening ceremony. Watching Serena Williams and Rafa Nadal re-enacting a scene from Titanic as they stood in the bow of a boat bravely trying to hang on in the teeth of a gale and driving rain. The River Seine was a bit choppy and Serena looked decidedly queasy.

It was always good to see Snoop Dogg popping up on a regular occasion throughout the games. Perhaps he should now be called Snoop Chien.

Hauling cargo with style and flair

Anyway, the clearing-up should just about be done and the teams will have packed their gear and shoved off to the far fling corners of the globe. If they needed a hand carrying all of their stuff, they should have used the new Mercedes E-Class Estate. They’d have got everything in with some room to spare for the odd escargot, because hauling cargo is what this car is all about, but it’s done with style and flair.

And although it will be more than happy loaded to the gunwales as a classy workhorse, it will also double up nicely as a family express. Trips to the South of France wouldn’t get any better than this.

It’s also a viable and exciting alternative to the swathes of SUVs which now proliferate our roads.

The good thing about the Mercedes E-Class Estate is that it looks great and it’s built to do a job. I’ve always thought that, for the most part, estates look better than saloons (take the Audi A4 for example) but the E-Class never forgets that people generally buy an estate because they’ve got stuff that they need to shift. The 615 litres of boot space should be sufficient and when you drop the seats, you’re up to 1,830 litres. If you need any more, go and get a van. The boot area is also flat and square. I know it sounds daft to say, but that’s important when you’re humping a load of boxes or a French Renaissance table. 

Don’t rule out diesel

In terms of engine power, your choices are the same as in the saloon E-Class. Mercedes says there are 25 different options but, in a nutshell, you’re looking at petrol, diesel and a plug-in hybrid (PHEV).

I’ve tried the PHEV in saloon form and have to admit that it’s a seriously capable car. It’s probably the best all-rounder in the E-Class Estate if you intend using it more as a style statement than a workhorse.  

However, and this is where we risk cries of heresy, if you want a premium class estate that will earn its living, then do not discount the diesel engine. Okay, diesel power is fast becoming the Dodo of the engine world, but it still makes great sense if you do a high mileage and carry a hefty load on a regular occasion. With 2.0 litres and 217bhp (it’s a mild hybrid engine) on tap, you’ll still get very close to the Mercedes overall estimate of 56.5 mpg. On a long, steady journey you could crack the 60s mark. You’ll also manage a 0-60 mph time of 7.9 seconds. Top speed is 143 mph. Everything goes via a 9-speed auto ‘box.

It’s also worth noting that the Mercedes E-Class has a decent towing limit of 2,100kg, or 750kg for unbraked trailers. That should suit most horse owners for example.

Out on the road is where you’ll appreciate the amount of torque available with a diesel engine. Low-end lugging power is what diesels are all about, and this E-Class is no different. Even when fully loaded, there’s still an acceptable amount of performance. Once you’re on the motorway the car settles into a relaxed cruise. You only know there’s an oil burner under the bonnet when you first fire up on a morning, otherwise you’d never know.

For a lot of folk, diesel is unacceptable, but the latest diesel cars are clean, very efficient, surprisingly refined and offer a terrific compromise between performance and pulling power. Oh, and talking of power, if you really must have enough oomph to pin the Labrador to the rear window, head for the 6-cylinder all-wheel drive E 450d 4Matic engine. Sounds great and pulls like a train.

Interior

As for the inside, it oozes class. If you are the lucky owner of a current Mercedes S-Class, hop into the E-Class and you can instantly spot the similarities. The fascia can only be described as stunning.

The central display is 14.5-inch screen and you can also opt for a 12.3-inch screen in front of the passenger. The driver gets a 12.3-inch screen, although, to the naked eye, it all looks like one piece of fascia.

If you’re a techy sort of person, you’re in for a treat. The car will learn from what you do. There are loads of apps, 5G connectivity, a digital key, on-board camera so that you can do a video call and the list is endless. The car gets to know what sort of temperature you like, where you most frequently travel, your general driving style etc. It’s all aimed at making your life a little bit easier. Familiarity will convince you whether this works or not. The sat nav is one of the best I have tried.

It’s no surprise that passengers have plenty of room. There’s still a sizeable transmission tunnel for those people sitting in the middle of the rear row, but otherwise, there’s loads of space.

Pricing and test drive scheme

Prices start at £59,120 (Aug 24) for the entry level E 220 d AMG Line Estate trim, which is also respectable for this sort of high-end car. This engine and trim are a great combination.  

When it comes to luxury travel, the Mercedes E-Class Estate is terrific. It never forgets that this is a car that’s built to do a job. If you want class, flexibility and an alternative to an SUV, the E-Class Estate is hard to ignore.

And for my final point, Mercedes is offering 48 hour test drives. I’d encourage you to give it a go. The scheme runs until the 30th of September 2024, but if you’re nice to the sales guys I suspect they’ll be able to swing it for you.

words: Graham Courtney
pictures: Mercedes