In the battle for your spot in the motorway fast lane, the big players have really gone all out. The BMW 5 Series, Jaguar XF and Audi A6 are all stunning cars in their own right, and now Mercedes – the oldest player on the block – has delivered its all-new E-Class. So, is it a masterclass in long-distance express travel?

Well, it’s certainly designed to cosset the driver. There’s an almost incomprehensible amount of technology in the E-Class, which could just about drive itself if legislation allowed it to. Until such a time arrives, it instead makes the E-Class as effortless, safe and efficient to drive as possible.

Performance

As you’d expect from such an important car, there’s a wide range of petrol, diesel and even hybrid engines available. Arguably the most important is the E 220d, because it’s the version you’ll see most often in the UK. Despite the badging, it’s actually Mercedes’ all-new and long-awaited 2.0-litre diesel, with 191bhp and 400Nm of torque, the latter coming in from just 1,600rpm.

While the engine in the previous 220d had enough poke, it was a bit grumbly from cold starts and was starting to fall behind in the economy stakes. The new model is smoother, punchier and far cleaner. Mated with a nine-speed automatic gearbox, it feels unruffled, yet can get this large car from 0-62mph in 7.3 seconds and on to a top speed of 149mph.

This is partly because new construction methods and the new all-aluminium engine make the E-Class around 100kg lighter than before. Not only that, but its incredibly slippery aerodynamics (it has a drag co-efficient of 0.23 for you aero buffs) means it slices through the air very cleanly indeed.

Ride and Handling

In Comfort, passengers in an E-Class wouldn’t feel much less shaken if they were in the back of a long-wheelbase S-Class

It seems there are two flavours emerging in the executive class, with the Jaguar XF and 5 Series aimed more at sporty drivers, while the A6 and E-Class offer high-tech living rooms on wheels. We are talking degrees here of course, and the E-Class actually shows high levels of body control and grip, but it’s just not very involving. The steering is too light, and in the pursuit of refinement and comfort, you feel removed from the road surface. But, it seems like that’s exactly what Mercedes wants, because comfort is excellent. The car we tested was fitted with air suspension, which certainly helps because even in its firmer Sport setting, it still takes the sting out of bumps beautifully. In Comfort, passengers in an E-Class wouldn’t feel much less shaken if they were in the back of a long-wheelbase S-Class. Of course, standard cars with a non-adjustable chassis may be slightly less well resolved. Perhaps comfort will become ever more important too, particularly if you’re not actually driving. Yes, Mercedes is pushing the boundaries of autonomous tech, so not only is it possible for the E-Class to now detect hazards and hit the brakes at higher speeds, Drive Pilot can allow it to follow the car in front at up to 130mph and even change lanes to overtake if you hold the indicator – although this function is currently disabled in UK cars.

Interior and Equipment

During development of the E-Class, parts of the car are traditionally fitted into Berlin taxis to test their durability.

Step into a well-appointed E-Class and you’re immediately struck by a mix of the old and new. The old being the gorgeous use of wood trim and its peerless quality, the new summed up by twin 12.3-inch displays for the infotainment system. These screens bring customisable gauges, and they can even be controlled by touch-sensitive pads mounted on the steering wheel. The E-Class is renowned for its spacious and hard-wearing interior, in fact they are even the number one choice for German taxi drivers, such is their comfort and ability to shrug off the mileages of a moon lander. The leather seats are comfortable and you feel a bit higher up than in the low-slung XF or 5 Series, so if you like a more upright driving position, the E-Class should suit you. Another quirk is the steering column-mounted gear selector for the automatic, which frees up more space around the centre console for cup holders and the Comand infotainment controller. Space in the back seats is commodious for tall passengers and the 540-litre boot can swallow an impressive number of full-sized suitcases for the airport run, or even a family driving holiday.

Cost

You certainly get a lot of car for your money

It’s quite staggering to think the entry-level E 220d SE costs from under £36k, when it’s easy to spend that much on an A-Class, or even a Golf. You certainly get a lot of car for your money, even if it’s possible to spend much more if you want a faster or more tech-laden E-Class. The E 220d AMG Line we drove came in at £46k as tested, with the Driver Assistance Plus, Premium Plus and Comand Online packs all adding to its price. Economy is a real plus, with a claimed 72mpg and 102g/km of CO2 possible (when fitted with 17-inch alloy wheels), impressive figures which place it ahead of the 69mpg BMW 520d. With such a great reputation for longevity, residual values are also expected to be strong.

Our Verdict

If you simply love the act of driving, the Jaguar XF might be a more involving choice. But, if you just want to get from London to Inverness in serene comfort, with every conceivable gadget, it’s hard to argue with the might of the E-Class. Drive it, and you get a sense of the evolution and thousands (perhaps millions?) of man hours spent engineering and developing this powerhouse of a car.