Mercedes_E250_V6_Review — 2010 Mercedes E-Class – Click above for high resolution picture gallery

Car Tested: 2010 Mercedes E250 V6

Price OTR Mumbai: 47,67,630/-

If there is any company in India which deserves an award for aggression, it is undoubtedly Mercedes-Benz. In a matter of months, the company has launched four different engines in the W212 E-Class. Following the launches of E350 (petrol and diesel), the company went on to launch lower end (read cheaper) variants of the E-Class, the E250 (in both petrol and diesel guise). We tested the petrol variant which costs approximately Rs. 5 lakhs cheaper than the high end E350 petrol, but is the Mercedes E250 any good? We find out.

Exteriors – Our test car came in silver shade (thankfully not white, we are tired of white now) but we would have loved darker shades like brown and black which does complete justice to the design of the car. The E250 comes in Elegance trim whereas the E350s come in Avantgarde trim. The basic difference being the grille (three slats for the E250, four slats for the E350) and different alloy wheel design (10 spoke alloys for the E250, 5 spoke for the E350). Never the less the car looks stunning and has a very mature design appeal to it.

Interiors – The interior of the E250 is exactly the same as the E350 except the wood finish. In the E350, the complete interior is black with carbon finish on the dashboard and steering wheel. However in the E250, there is wooden finish which looks stunning. Mercedes should have thrown in beige on the dashboard, which would make the interiors very airy (atleast an option should have been present).

Built Quality – When a luxury car maker designs a car, they don’t have to compromise on quality and the E250 is no different. Quality is surreal and everything feels just right. No squeaks, rattles or falling parts here.

On the Move – Just like all other E-Class variants, the E250 starts with a silent roar. Engine stays absolutely muted and you are isolated from the external environment. Steering is light and precise and gains weight as speed increases (the DIRCET CONTROL speed sensitive hydraulic steering ensures just that). Controls can get a bit confusing at times due to the gear stalk being placed where the head light stalk usually is. Cruise control works very effectively and is very sensitive, a slight dab on the accelerator or brakes and the cruise function goes off.

Ride, Handling and Braking – If there is any car in India (sub 50 lakhs) which can give you a carpet ride then this is it. The adaptive shock absorbers ensure excellent ride quality. Handling is excellent too (this engine is quite light) and the car corners very well on Continental rubber. However Mercedes could have made the car sharper then it already is. But we guess the company has managed to give a good balance of both worlds (ride and handling). The E250’s brakes work very well, stopping in line at any speed.

Performance – The one and only reason why we were so eager to test this car was to gauge its performance. Powered by a 6-cylinder petrol powerplant, the E250 produces all of 204 horses but that is not enough to make this heavy car lightning fast. In auto mode, step on the gas and there is a slight lag before revs rise and the E-Class starts accelerating brutally between 4000-6000 RPM (peak power at 6100 RPM). Acceleration at high revs is not all that brutal and the engine feels slightly relaxed. However the engine produces a humble roar which will almost certainly make you shut the audio system. Reaching speeds in excess of 220 km/hr is not exactly a cake walk (you will most likely need an airport to do that) but remember this is not the most powerful E-Class in the country (infact we feel it is the slowest).

The sluggish characteristic post 200 km/hr is surprising considering Mercedes claims a top speed of 250 km/hr. One of the primary reasons for the engine not being as insane as we expected is the low torque figures. But then, how many people look at 200 km/hr+ acceleration when buying a luxury car. Most buyers would buy a diesel and most likely occupy the rear bench. If you intend to do just that, then the E250 is perfect for you. If not and you prefer driving and feel the need, the need for speed, there is always the E350 which is not only quicker but nosier too. We do agree the comparison with the E350 is a bit unfair considering the E250 is almost Rs. 5 lakhs cheaper. Thus, with price in consideration the E250 offers more than decent acceleration.

Conclusion – The addition of new variants in the E-Class range will give a variety of options to prospective buyers. Although all the variants are excellent, it is the E250 which will sell the most due to the value it offers at this price point. You get everything which the E350 offers minus a few horses (but does that even matter) which is enough to seal the deal for luxury car aficionados.