The year was 1996. The year marked the entry of the three pointed star in India. And what better car to make an entry with than the E-Class in its W124 iteration. There I was, as a teenager ogling at two gleaming W124s in the showroom itching to get behind the wheel someday. It’s been 20 years since that time and today the Mercedes E-Class is the highest selling model for the car maker with 34,000 examples of the car being sold in the country. Mercedes has now decided to redefine the segment with the all new E-Class in India. For the first time, we are getting the long wheel version of this luxury sedan. Long wheel base versions have so far been sold only in China and Merc has re-engineered the car to make it a right hand drive for our market. The focus this time is at the rear, considering this is where most owners spend their time. So does it work? Let’s find out.

2017 Mercedes E-Class E350d Exterior

The new Mercedes E-Class shares the current design language of Mercedes and similarities with the C-Class and S-Class are imminent. The large twin slat front grille with the three pointed star looks imposing. There are new all LED headlamps with new design DRLs which look striking. Look at the car from the side and you realize how long the car is. It measures over five metres long and has a wheelbase of 3,079 mm. There is an additional C pillar where the door ends after which there is a separate quarter glass. The quarter glass is part of the door in the standard car. A chrome strip runs along the side of the bottom of the car, which we feel the E-Class could have done without. The sloping rear along with the LED tail lights are also similar to its siblings. Notice the crushed crystal detail in the tail lights which looks classy. The E350d (reviewed here) comes with 10 spoke 17 inch alloy wheels as standard while the E200 petrol gets 5 spoke 17 inch alloys. The tyres have a good profile for our typical Indian roads. The new E-Class looks more elegant than before and the length gives it some serious road presence. We however miss the three pointed star hood ornament on the bonnet and traditional Mercedes grille on the new model. Contd…