E220d 2.0 SE Premium Auto 4dr Saloon

Is it a remarkably good car? Yes.

I buy my cars with hard earned PAYE taxed cash up front, so years of research go into the selection of each purchase. This is my second E Class and I'm very pleased.

The new generation (aluminum 4 cylinder) diesel mated to the Mercedes 9 speed auto is quiet and combined with the incredibly smooth ride make driving a serene experience.

There are 5 immediately switchable modes which the driver can select at any speed ~ Custom, Eco, Comfort, Sport, and Sport Plus. Each of these progressively tighten up the steering, throttle response, gearshift and dampers. At any point, when the road conditions call for it, there is a 6th mode controlled by paddle shifters on the steering wheel to instantaneously convert the car into having a 9 speed manual gearbox.

The road tax is low, the miles per gallon is claimed by Mercedes to be 71 overall, and I have witnessed this is not impossible in real life, with a sensible driving style and when the journey is longish and kept within the speed limits. The engine produces a great deal of power at just over idling speed so the gearbox is always trying to climb up to that 9th speed. It is very odd to look at the RPM when cruising at high speed. Unusually the underneath of the car is covered in body panels to help make it aerodynamic, and a good proportion of the car is made from aluminum to make it lightweight.

There's key-less entry to the car, no clutch, no shifting of gears, no handbrake, and the lights including dipping or windscreen-wiper control ~ are also all automatic. Also automatic is a system which (very) gently reminds you when you are speeding even when there are temporary roadworks etc. All of this is done much better than any human could. I can control the phone, the sat-nav, the media player, the radio all by talking to the car. If I had paid more there is automatic parking (from outside the car!!) by using your mobile phone as the safety mechanism. The salesman told me he had just driven from Leeds to Stratford-on-Avon and hardly touching the steering wheel all the way in semi autonomous mode, but that was an option I did not want .. and could not afford. However there is a standard safety feature on my car (and my previous E Class) which looks at 70 things about my driving style every moment I'm driving ~ to warn me if I'm not well or tired etc. The car has it's own Sim card and a service person will proactively get in touch and speak to you to try and help when the car is in an accident or if you breakdown. Included in the purchase price is Mercedes own 3 year breakdown service as part of the warranty.

I only drive about 7k miles per year and thought my previous E Class was expensive to service. However the dealer persuaded me to part with £1000 and I got 2 for the price for one. I now think that was free because I got more than £1000 more for it in part exchange with the official Mercedes services in the records. These records along with all the component (coolant / electronics / battery / etc. etc. performance data) are kept digitally in the key.

Does it all cost a lot? Maybe. Is it good value for money? Definitely.
Is it a remarkably good car? Yes.

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