Mercedes-Benz E-Class All-Terrain

In a market increasingly dominated by SUVs, Mercedes-Benz still offers a range of estate cars. One of the most intriguing is the E-Class All-Terrain with genuine go-anywhere capabilities.

Having missed the UK media launch, the good folk at Mercedes kindly sent me one to try on home turf.

Fast Facts

Mercedes-Benz E 400 d 4MATIC All-Terrain Edition
Price: £64,445
340hp 2,925cc diesel engine
700Nm torque
9G-Tronic automatic gearbox
0-62mph in 5.4 seconds
Top speed 155mph
Combined economy 29.7 – 36.2mpg
Emissions 168g/km CO2
BIK tax rate 37
Towing capacity 2,100kg (braked)
Load capacity 640-1820 litres

My week with the E-Class coincided with a long trip south to the SMMT’s annual test day at Millbrook Proving Ground. As a long-distance mile-muncher, there was no finer conveyance.

Adaptive cruise control set at 70mph, a little might music on the radio and the 200 or so miles passed in the blink of an eye. Best of all, I saw a little over 49mpg on the trip computer, scarcely credible for such a large and heavy car. It shows that a good diesel engine is hard to beat!

Away from the motorway the E-Class shone too. With sportscar levels of acceleration, overtaking dawdling traffic was easy and the all-wheel drive system ensured that the power could be easily deployed whatever the weather.

Ride comfort was exemplary at speed, but a little firm around town. The payback was controlled high-speed cornering. Fun… maybe not, but capable and reassuring, nonetheless.

As with all E-Class models, the All-Terrain has Dynamic Select as standard. This features five driving programmes, each offering different engine, transmission and steering characteristics. Sport was my default setting…

Selecting the All-Terrain option raises the chassis by 20mm at speeds up to 20mph. Although weather conditions were dry, I tackled a few local off-road routes and came away impressed. Traction was first rate and only a lack of ground clearance stopped me tackling some of the more challenging dales routes.

Suffice to say, the All-Terrain should excel as a tow-car, the 2,100kg towing capacity ensuring horse-box gymkhana excursions should be a doddle.

There’s ample room for all the tack too thanks to a capacious load area extending to some 1,820 litres with the back seats folded.

As one would expect from such a top-notch offering, equipment levels are high. The only option fitted to the test car was the Driving Assistance Plus package (£1,695) which brings with it a raft of systems designed to keep you in lane on the motorway and the correct distance from the car in front. Worth it I would say. Metallic Selenite Grey paint - £685. Surely this could be included.

The E-Class interior is a delight, with accommodating seating for five and soft-touch materials on every surface. The driver’s seat in particular deserves praise as it ensured this driver could spend many, many hours behind the wheel ache free.

So, the burning question is whether the All-Terrain should be chosen over one of Mercedes-Benz’s many accomplished SUVs?

Even though it sits slightly higher than the regular E-Class estate, you do lose that imperious driving position. However, the All-Terrain handles better thanks to the lower centre of gravity and will still take the intrepid explorer far off the beaten track.

In my opinion it looks good, is remarkably fast, yet extremely frugal. I would have one like a shot, suiting as it does my rural lifestyle rather well. Perhaps the good folk at MB would like to consider a long-term loan? I don’t mind what colour.