Ah, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. A car so dignified, so respectable, that even your local bank manager might blush while parking it. It’s the mid-size luxury sedan that’s been chauffeuring CEOs, diplomats, and overachieving uncles since 1953. And now, ladies and gentlemen, it’s back in its 11th-generation avatar for 2024 — longer, wider, shinier, and techier than ever. Welcome to the V214 E-Class: the saloon that politely reminds every other car on the road that they were born to be its rear-view background.
Let’s get the numbers out of the way first — it starts at ₹78.50 lakh (ex-showroom), and for that price, you’re looking at the E200 Long Wheelbase petrol variant, which is the one we’re reviewing. If you want the diesel or the six-cylinder petrol that’ll warp time itself, be prepared to spend more — up to ₹92.50 lakh if your wallet’s been doing CrossFit.
Looks That Whisper, “I Own a Golf Course”
First things first — the new E-Class has grown up. No, seriously, it’s massive. At nearly 5 metres in length, it could qualify as a mid-sized yacht in Monaco. Mercedes even made sure it looks important, with a gigantic, star-patterned illuminated grille that glows like a German Christmas market, complete with bonnet power domes that scream “Don’t cut me off unless you have a will ready.”
And the headlights? Oh, they’re not just any headlights — they’re Digital Light HD projectors with 1 million pixels per unit. They can paint topographical maps on the road, signal UFOs, and quite possibly double as a Netflix projector on a flat garage door. And if that wasn’t enough bling, there’s logo projection, surround lighting, and flush-fitting door handles that rise up like they’ve just remembered their manners.
The whole car sits on 18-inch, black-painted alloy wheels with Czech-made Nexen tyres that scream “This is the Michelin of Eastern Europe.” And yes, you get a spare wheel because Mercedes knows we live in India, not Autobahn Disneyland.
Interior: Business Class on Ground
Step inside, and it’s a tech-savvy Zen garden. You’re greeted with the MBUX Superscreen, which spans half the dashboard like the Louvre got digitized. There’s a 12.3-inch screen for the passenger (just in case your better half wants to watch Koffee with Karan while you’re stuck in Delhi traffic), a 14.4-inch infotainment system with more menus than a five-star buffet, and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster that lets you pretend you’re piloting a spaceship.
Let’s not forget the 17-speaker Burmester 4D sound system with 730 watts and Dolby Atmos, designed to make Kishore Kumar’s voice feel like he’s sitting in the back seat with you — sipping a Limca.
The seats? Recline like they’ve just finished a stressful week. The rear ones tilt back 36 degrees with extendable thigh support and come with neck pillows so soft, you’ll question your loyalty to your bed at home. And in case you were wondering, yes, the seat foam is certified recycled material, which means you can save the planet while being pampered like a maharaja.
Features? Oh, It’s Showing Off Now.
Where do we begin? Soft-close doors that behave more politely than most relatives at a wedding. Electrically adjustable front seats with memory, a four-zone Thermotronic climate control system that individually cools each family member’s ego, ambient lighting in 64 colours (because apparently, purple haze is a mood), a panoramic sunroof, and even a selfie camera — for those moments when the rear seat is just too majestic not to gram.
There’s even a feature to switch between front and rear seat adjustments with a single button — because Mercedes knows arguments over legroom are a serious threat to Indian family unity.
Safety: Safer Than Your Group Chat
It’s got more safety kit than a lab in Geneva. 8 airbags, a 360° camera system, blind spot monitoring, active brake assist, pre-safe systems, and something called “Guard 360° Vehicle Protection,” which probably alerts you if your neighbour even thinks about scratching your bumper.
A five-star Euro NCAP Advanced safety rating means it’s passed more tests than an IIT topper. There’s even a centre airbag to keep the driver and passenger from smooching unintentionally during a side collision.
Ride & Handling: German Sofa on Wheels
This isn’t a sports car, no. This is a rolling boardroom. It has Agility Control suspension with selective damping, which means it reads the road like a gossip columnist and adjusts ride comfort accordingly. Bumps are swallowed whole, potholes become polite suggestions, and speed breakers? You won’t even know they exist unless your coffee sloshes.
The long-wheelbase gives you the road presence of an emperor but turning radius of a concerned aunt — a whopping 11.6 metres. Great for highways, less so for parking near PVR on a Friday night.
Engine Talk: Business in the Front, Party in the Back
The base E200 gets a 2.0-litre inline-4 petrol engine with 204 hp and 320 Nm, backed by a 48-volt mild-hybrid system and a 9-speed automatic gearbox smoother than a politician before elections. 0–100 kmph takes 7.5 seconds, which is more than adequate for overtaking autorickshaws and your self-doubt.
Want more power? The 3.0-litre inline-6 has 381 hp and hits 0–100 in 4.5 seconds — that’s AMG lite. Or go diesel and get 197 hp with 440 Nm of torque and 20 kmpl mileage — the E-Class for the mileage-obsessed Dad who still doesn’t believe in electric cars.
Verdict: Big, Bold, Benz-y
The Mercedes-Benz E-Class is not just a car. It’s a philosophy on four wheels. It’s what happens when German efficiency meets Indian luxury expectations and throws in a Burmester concert for good measure. It doesn’t shout like an S-Class or leap around corners like a C-Class — it just glides along in the centre lane of life, sipping premium fuel and radiating silent authority.
Yes, it costs as much as a 2BHK in some cities. But let’s be honest — the E-Class isn’t about practicality. It’s about presence. About reclining your seat with a smug grin while your chauffeur whispers, “Sir, Agra tak traffic nahi hai.”
If the car world had a monarchy, the E-Class would be the well-dressed, ultra-polite crown prince who never forgets your anniversary and always opens the door for your mum.
