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The E-Class All-Terrain will appeal to a niche segment
Verdict – The Mercedes E-Class All-Terrain is a more practical version of the E-Class, only in the sense that it offers a bigger boot and 4-wheel drive, the latter not being of much use unless you hate SUVs and want to go off-roading in an estate. Aimed squarely at the better kitted Volvo V90 Cross Country which also happens to look more appealing, the E-Class All-Terrain is going to find it hard to attract buyers in India as most are averse to estates. With Mercedes having the fantastic E-Class sedan on one side and the GLE on the other side, all the USPs of the All-Terrain are better offered by the latter, making us wonder if a go-fast version of the All-Terrain would have made drastically more sense?
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As expected from a Merc, the car has great quality all around
What’s Cool
* Excellent quality in and out
* More practical than the E-Class sedan
* Driving dynamics similar to sedan
What’s Not So Cool
* 220d tune isn’t too exciting
* General acceptance of estates in Indians
* Looks a bit plain-jane
Alternatives: Volvo V90 Cross Country
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How many of you like estates?
Testers’ Note:
“I like the off-beat styling of the E-Class All-Terrain that hides the bulky character of a station wagon. The interior too looks rich and classy. However, it doesn’t feel that spacious for the rear passengers. We Indians are already spoilt with the amount of space E-Class LWB offers. Compared to that, it feels a little impractical but nonetheless a cool Merc that catches eyeballs on the road.” – Aariz Rizvi, Assistant Editor, MotorBeam.
“I like the looks of station wagons and I feel they offer a great package because they have sedan-like dynamics along with increased practicality. The E220d is good but I feel Merc should have plonked in the 3.0 V6 engine in the 350d guise and that might have made more sense since it offers a lot more power too. ” – Parth Gohil, Associate Editor, MotorBeam.
Further Reading –
Mercedes E-Class LWB Review
Mercedes E-Class LWB Video Review
Mercedes E220d Review
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