Mercedes Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate 350 BlueTEC 4MATIC, road test (Engine, performance, handling and fuel consumption)

Today we take the wheel of a wagon with character, both for its personal and unmistakable exterior design and for its high-performance engine combined with 4MATIC all-wheel drive. We are talking about the Mercedes E-Class Estate with the 350 BlueTEC diesel engine of 252 CV and all-wheel drive.

It is not the most sensible E-Class Estate, since the four-cylinder variant fully meets our expectations, but this is a wagon with sporting aspirations and an engine that will leave no one indifferent. Stay with us for this test and we will tell you everything about this powerful German estate.

Engine and performance

Under the 350 BlueTEC designation is a three-liter, six-cylinder V diesel block producing 252 CV; it is the most powerful diesel engine in the star brand’s range. As we already mentioned, the E-Class with the four-cylinder 250 CDI engine of 204 CV is a more than sufficient alternative for those seeking a balance between sportiness and consumption, but without a doubt the V6 represents the peak of performance.

Figures such as torque give an idea of this powerplant’s pulling capacity, specifically 620 Nm (an AMG has 720 Nm of torque), another figure is its 0 to 100 km/h acceleration in 7 seconds or its top speed of 240 km/h.

The advantage of this unit is its all-wheel drive, so that all that torque and power is delivered decisively to the four wheels without losing traction at any time. Certainly, if you opt for this 350 BlueTEC variant, all-wheel drive is a highly recommended extra, since we never lose traction when pulling away or on winding roads.

One thing it does not lack is smoothness. As a good V6 powerplant, it stands out for its performance but also for its smoothness. It makes you forget about a petrol engine, pushing from low revs at just 1,400 rpm and not fading until 4,500 rpm, with strong pulling between 2,500 and 4,500 revolutions.

The engine is paired with a seven-speed gearbox called 7G-TRONIC PLUS, which is quick to change gears and smooth in operation. It also features a Sport mode (although it has no specific snow mode) and paddle shifters on the steering wheel.

An interesting detail is that it also comes with Start&Stop as standard, to save fuel in the city.

Handling

More dynamic: compared with the previous generation, the Mercedes E-Class Estate has gained in dynamism and now sits more firmly on the road, with an agility unexpected in a family model, especially with its considerable dimensions. If we add the 4MATIC system, which automatically distributes power between all four wheels, then the final result is very good.

It is also true that our test unit was equipped with the sport chassis with lowered body height, an option that comes with the AMG Package. On the road it feels very stable, with hardly any body roll.

Soundproofing and interior comfort are simply sublime, isolating you from everything outside, even on uneven or poor road surfaces. The suspension is comfortable and the rear is air-sprung.

It has several driving modes: Manual, Sport and Efficiency. The throttle response and gearbox behavior change depending on the mode selected.

Finally, the brakes perform with authority; our unit also had large AMG brakes that stopped the E-Class more than adequately. Meanwhile, the steering is speed-sensitive: much softer when maneuvering and firmer at high speeds.

Fuel consumption

Despite the power and the all-wheel drive system, average consumption is quite modest. On the motorway on our usual route between Madrid and Vigo, the car averaged 7.1 litres per 100 km, a respectable figure.

Meanwhile, on country roads it normally hovers around 8 litres per 100 km, and if we are careful with the throttle we can even drop to 7.5 litres per 100 km. In town , however, consumption suffers the most, with an average of 10.6 litres per 100 km on our usual route through the hilly city of Vigo.

Photos | Diego G. Moreira