Mercedes-Benz E 400d All-Terrain test: A cocoon of old-world wonder

If we are witnessing rapid changes somewhere, it is in the automotive industry. Brands are competing, which will sooner switch to electromobility, carbon-neutral production or materials that were not the exterior of an animal. In addition to the carbon neutrality with these changes, many may have a bit of a problem looking for a new car to sit in and in which the world will still be fine. The one he knows, the way he feels safe and secure. . Sure, it’s not a sedan, it’s a raised station wagon with plastic coating, and it’s white with a brown interior, which won’t fit everyone either.

, and has the correct silhouette of the body seated slightly backwards against the wheelbase. The engine is mounted correctly, ie longitudinally above the front axle, not transversely in front of it, and primarily drives the correct wheels, ie the rear wheels.

I sit down and when the door slams behind me with a gentle thud, the world around me seems to cease to exist. The start button brings the engine to life with a gentle rocking of the body, which reminds me that I have 700 newtonmeters of torque available at full throttle. he will convince even the most ardent opponent of oil that it too can be extremely cultivated if you give it enough cylinders. He is doing so well that I have to look at the display many times to make sure the engine is running, that the start-stop has not stopped.

What can I touch? , it’s nice

There are two displays, as in almost all current Mercedes – one is the instrument panel and the other, right next door, the infotainment headquarters. I could suggest a little better variability to the instrument panel, but in two circles you can display a fairly wide range of information – and in the end they also contribute to the impression of old world.

The central display – at least most of it, I can’t see the lower left corner through the steering wheel rim – contains great navigation with reliable traffic data, the only drawback of which is a bit complicated work

But it replaces a few tricks up your sleeve – for example, at an intersection you can use a camera in the windshield to look at a traffic light and display it, so You don’t have to twist your neck when you stand on the lights first. And navigation can display the so-called augmented reality in this way – it will show you exactly which street to turn onto. Compared to other cars that try to do this in the head-up display, it looks like an intermediate step, but it’s not bad in the end.

Add to that a pleasant, albeit a drop, hard seat with semi-fabric upholstery, of course a completely electrically adjustable, gray wood paneling that is amazingly pleasant to the touch, and buttons with exactly the haptic response they should have. And also a beautiful steering wheel, which will first dial you by touch control, but if you get used to it, you will not want otherwise.

Should I look for mistakes? I’m bothered by the light control drowned somewhere at the knee and I’m not a fan of the color combination of this piece – neither from the outside nor inside. Black and brown just don’t go together and I’d rather have light gray seats with wood of this color. But of course it’s a matter of taste.

I’m also bothered by the completely ostentatiously false exhaust tailpipes and a somewhat inconspicuous stern, on which the chrome line between the lights looks a bit like a fused eyebrow. But the E-Class Estate has never exaggerated it twice in the back with design interest, and I can clearly see the continuity from previous generations, so probably everything is fine.

Lights to excellent

I would like honest front fog lamps, although I cannot complain about the function of the headlights – on the contrary, I must praise them. Their LED Matrix function for high beams is excellent and it also uses these segments to “bounce” the low beams to the right and up, which can therefore also react to the situation in front.

Adaptive cruise control also works with it, for the function of which I have only one complaint – the car sometimes sees an unpleasant late. Otherwise, it works well together with the lane guidance and the motorway ride is pleasant.

However, when traveling like this, I have to switch the chassis to Sport mode. In basic comfort, it is swaying, which is pleasant when driving quietly through the city or the countryside, but it does not suit me for fast movements. In sports or sports plus it stiffens and is safer, but still not uncomfortable – it is comfort in all circumstances that is characteristic of him. But at the same time it is known that I am not sitting in any sports car.

To the engine under full throttle would like to say something else. The mentioned 700 Nm is a good portion for more than a two-ton machine, so it can push me into the seat like nothing else. Although it is a heavy turbodiesel, thanks to the correct mounting in the body, I do not feel as if he has his own opinion on the direction of travel, as often happens in cars with an engine across the front axle.

I also enjoy the consumption – an average of 8.7 l / 100 km for the whole week of brisk riding and 7.6 l / 100 km on a cold Monday morning, when I don’t like to go back with a light foot, the newton meters are also worth the occasional need to top up AdBlue. In addition, the car has a large enough tank to report a range of over 300 kilometers with barely a third of the remaining fuel.

The essence of the great among cars

As a result, the really bad thing about it is that I have to return it. Its ability to swallow piles of kilometers while keeping the crew in amazing peace and quiet is addictive.

So so much that I could imagine spending the rest of my life with him. To close into him and be immune in modern times, sometimes useless. And that’s, I think, an excellent certificate from a man as demanding of the whole and the details as I am.