Tenth generation E-Class raises the bar to new heights

By Gerry Murphy

In bygone days the traffic on Racecourse Avenue would be peppered with the odd Mercedes, BMW or Jaguar. These were usually driven by the wealthiest bookies, horse trainers and visiting business men.

When money was being splashed around in the ‘naughties’, every Tom, Dick and Harry was parading a big car and nobody turned a blind eye to the plethora of big Beemers, Mercs and Jags that flooded in.  Even when a racy Maserati drove by, there would only be the meekest recognition.

But, now though things are on the up again, you will see far more modest SUVs and less costly cars heading for the track. The Mercedes-Benz E-Class is not so modest and it is a statement car that many aspire to own at some stage in their driving life.

Maybe it is because I have reached a certain age but after a week testing the E220d Automatic Saloon Avantgarde version with AMG Line exterior and interior, I now know what they are all talking about.

This is the tenth generation of the car and from day one the E-Class has been the standards setter. Luxury mixed with looks and quality underpins the character of this classic sedan.

Even with a growing numbers of competitors, this car is still the one to match and while there are some that have come close, the latest E-Class has raised the bar once again. In Avantgarde specification the attention to detail is obvious from every angle.

One example of that is the 360 degree surround camera system. The clarity and accuracy is the best I have seen in any car. It has been designed, developed and manufactured by Valeo in their Tuam plant right here in county Galway. There are almost 1,200 people working in the plant and the quality of the system fitted in the E-Class is testament to the expertise of the Tuam workers.

The same degree of excellence is evident, too, in the interior furnishings. The fully automatic, leather seats and interior trimmings, the state-of-the-art infotainment system and the bright cabin are just what you would expect from a modern Mercedes-Benz of this standard. And, there is a wide range of driver-assist technology.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.